About the Course

This intensive, case study-based program prepares participants to plan, conduct, report, and follow up third-party audits of food safety management systems against FSSC 22000, using ISO 19011 and ISO 22003, including ISO/IEC 17021 as applicable. A realistic company scenario runs through the entire course, so participants practice audit planning, opening and closing meetings, interviewing and sampling, tracing audit trails across PRPs, HACCP, and management system clauses, writing clear nonconformities, and evaluating corrective action responses, with emphasis on capability, effectiveness, and improvement, not only clause by clause conformity.

Delivery Format

• Public or Private delivery.
• Five sessions (Live remote).
• English delivery, Spanish available upon request.
• Maximum 9 participants.
• Exemplar Global Certified course, materials provided to all participants

Who Should Attend

Food safety professionals who audit or will audit FSMS against ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, and ISO/TS 22002-1, auditors and HACCP leaders seeking a widely accepted qualification, and consultants who want to strengthen audit techniques and nonconformity handling Participants are expected to have working knowledge of management systems in a food sector context, relevant legislation, PRPs per ISO/TS 22002-x, HACCP principles, and ISO 22000 requirements, with Implementing FSSC 22000 recommended.

Course Agenda

1. Introduction to audits, audit purpose, audit cycle, sampling fundamentals
2. Auditors, roles and responsibilities, principles, skills, and behaviors
3. Process and risk-based auditing, planning the audit and audit trails
4. Conducting the audit, meetings, interviewing, sampling, value-add focus
5. Reporting, writing clear nonconformities, evaluating corrective actions
6. Managing the audit program, objectives, risks and opportunities, competence
7. Second-party audits in the supply chain, correlating audits to hazard analysis
8. Certification process, ISO/IEC 17021, ISO/TS 22003 rules, sector categories
9. Planning for professional auditors, audit duration, pre-audit activities, remote auditing
10. Stage 1 and Stage 2, readiness, outcomes
11. Surveillance and unannounced audits, subsequent activities, auditor development
12. Case study familiarization, staged audit practices, reporting, closing meeting
13. Review and follow up, final exam

Learning Outcomes

After this course, participants will be able to

• Plan, conduct, report, and follow up FSMS audits in accordance with ISO 19011 and ISO 22003, including ISO 17021 as applicable
• Evaluate conformity with ISO 22000, ISO/TS 22002-1, and FSSC additional requirements
• Write clear, traceable nonconformities and evaluate corrective action responses
• Lead audit teams effectively and manage the audit program lifecycle
• Use risk-based, process-focused techniques to add value during audits

Why this course will positively impact your business

• Better supplier and site assurance, auditors focus on capability and effectiveness, improving confidence in your own sites and in your supply base
• Stronger findings, clear, risk-based nonconformities lead to corrective actions that actually reduce exposure, not just close paperwork
• Consistent evidence, a common approach to audit trails, sampling, and reporting improves comparability across plants and reduces variance between auditors
• Faster improvement cycles, audit outputs align to management review and priorities, making follow through measurable and timely
• Integrated view, audits connect PRPs, HACCP, and management system elements, helping you see how processes, risks, and results fit together.

Completion Requirements

Full attendance, active participation in all exercises and role plays, completion of assigned prework if applicable, and passing the final exam. A minimum overall score of 70% is required to pass.