GovWire

You must get approval from DVSA to audit operators for DVSA earned recognition.

As a DVSA earned recognition authorised audit provider, you can:

• audit operators who want to join the scheme
• audit operators who are already on the scheme
• advertise that you carry out DVSA earned recognition audits
• use the DVSA earned recognition logo

DVSA will add you to the list of authorised audit providers on GOV.UK.

Check if youre eligible

You can be part of an organisation or working on your own. If youre part of an organisation, you must make sure that any auditors working for you meet the eligibility criteria.

You can apply to audit operators that use heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), operators that use buses and coaches (PSVs), or both.

Youre eligible if all of the following apply:

• youre not prohibited from acting as a transport manager
• you have a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence in Road Haulage (if you want to carry out HGV operator audits) or Passenger Transport (if you want to carry out PSV operator audits), or a two day refresher Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence if your original qualification is more than 5 years old
• you have at least 2 years of experience in haulage or passenger transport as a transport manager, operations manager or a similar role in transport compliance or enforcement
• you have the ISO 9001:2015quality management system in place from a certification body accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)
• you have taken auditor training

Your auditor training qualification

You need to have covered these topics:

• Plan Do Check Act and other quality management principles
• business process auditing
• risk management
• quality management system implementation
• effective auditing techniques and good audit practice

When you apply, DVSA will let you know if your auditor training qualification meets our standards.

Apply to become a DVSA earned recognition authorised audit provider

You can apply now if youre eligible. To apply, you need to send DVSA:

• an application form
• evidence that youre eligible
• recruitment and monitoring evidence
• audit documents

Application form

PDF, 616 KB, 6 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email govuk@dvsa-publishing.zendesk.com. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

How to apply

1. Download and save the application form on your computer before you start to fill it in.

2. Open the form on your computer, fill it in and save it again.

3. Email the form to er_aap@dvsa.gov.uk. You need to attach any documents to support your application.

Evidence you must send DVSA

You need to send DVSA evidence that youve met the eligibility criteria including:

• copies of training certificates
• quality management certifications

If you run a company, you need to send DVSA evidence of recruitment and monitoring for any auditors that work for you, including:

• information about how you manage certificates of professional competence
• evidence that auditors have up to date qualifications
• details of relevant experience

Audit documents you must send DVSA

You also need to send documents that youll use when doing an audit including:

• an example of the contract you ask operators to sign
• a copy of your complaints procedure for operators

What happens after you apply

DVSA will complete relevant checks, including a centre verification meeting to check documents and processes. This meeting will take place on Microsoft Teams.

If you meet all the standards at the centre verification meeting, DVSA will send you an approval letter confirming that you are accepted as a DVSA earned recognition authorised audit provider. Your details will be added to the list of authorised audit providers on GOV.UK.

At this stage, you must contact the DVSA earned recognition team to:

• get a copy of the DVSA audit template documents
• arrange an audit standards familiarisation session with the earned recognition team before conducting an earned recognition audit

When an operator contacts you for your first audit, you need to email dvsaer@dvsa.gov.uk with the date, time and address of the audit. If a member of the DVSA earned recognition team is available, they will go to the audit to check that you meet the auditor standards.

Quality checks of your audits

DVSA will do desk-based quality checks of the DVSA earned recognition audits carried out by your organisation. If your audit does not meet the DVSA earned recognition standard following the quality check, the DVSA earned recognition team will give you feedback and work with you to help you meet the standards.

Once an auditor meets the required level, a risk-based approach is implemented. This is to make sure that audit report standard is set at the right level and consistent across all audit providers

View the original news story