Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Auditing for SA8000
Training
– Course Offerings
– Registration
– Fee and Payment
– Cancellation Policy
– Course Materials
– Exam
– Certificate of Completion
– Miscellaneous

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Auditing for SA8000

How do I become an SA8000 Auditor?

Auditors interested in conducting SA8000 audits can be employed by a certification body accredited by Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS) or they can work as individual auditors.

The most basic requirements are:

SA8000 Lead Auditor

• qualified by a SAAS-accredited certification body
• qualified ISO 9001:2000 or equivalent lead auditor by a SAAS-accredited certification body or by a recognized auditor certification body
• trained at SAAS-approved courses as specified in SAAS Procedure 201B for both basic and continuation curriculum
• experienced, demonstrated by having:
  • satisfactorily served as a lead auditor on at least three accredited ISO 9001 or 14001 certification audits or equivalent
  • participated in at least three SA8000 certification or surveillance audits (or equivalent) as a team member

SA8000 Team Auditor

• be employed by or under contract to a SAAS-accredited certification body or working as an individual auditor
• qualified ISO 9001:2000 or equivalent auditor by a SAAS-accredited certification body or by a recognized auditor certification body
• trained at SAAS-approved courses as specified in SAAS Procedure 201B for both basic and continuation curriculum
• have conducted as a team member at least three accredited ISO 9001 or 14001 or equivalent audits
• participated in at least one SA8000 audit as an observer.

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Training Questions

Course Offerings

I would like to attend a training course, but do not see any location convenient for me on the schedule. How can I find out if SAI plans to conduct training courses in my country?

The training schedules available online accurately reflect the courses that SAI will offer in the near future. We usually target the countries with most demand for SAI-organized training and where there are no local agencies accredited to conduct our auditor training.

To receive a notification the next time we are offering training in your preferred location, complete our Training Interest Form. We also use this form to determine course demand and may expand training offerings based on the information you share. Additionally, we will gladly organize a course in any location if there are more than ten participants. If you are able to organize this number of participants for a training, please contact training@sa-intl.org.  

I’ve heard SAI is revising the SA8000 Standard. Does that mean I should wait to take the auditor training courses?

In 2023, SAI is undertaking a revision of our SA8000 Standard for Decent Work. Any changes to the Standard will be implemented in 2024 and beyond, including updates to SA8000 training. As with previous revisions, SA8000 auditors will need to take a short revision training to maintain their training credential. This revision training will also be available to anyone who has taken an SA8000 Basic or Advanced training.

Because we cannot yet predict when the SA8000 Basic Training will be revised and revision training made available, we encourage anyone considering SA8000 training to proceed with the current version. Participants who complete the SA8000 Basic Training in 2023 or later will be able to take the revision training for free when it becomes available.

Registration

How do I login to the SAI Training Center?

New Users

• Click here to access the SAI Training Center.
• In the Login menu, select “Sign Up.”
• Enter “New Account” as your Key Name (case-sensitive). Click “Sign Up”.
• Create your account with a unique username and password.
• Follow the instructions on the screen to log back into the Training Center.

Returning Users

• Click here to sign in to the SAI Training Center.
• If you have forgotten your password, click “Forgot Password?” in the Login menu to set a new one.
• If you have a new email address, please contact training@sa-intl.org to update your information. Please do not create a new account.

How do I register for a training course?

To register for an SAI training course, click ‘Enroll Now’ in the respective course section on the SAI website. You will be provided with detailed instructions on how to enroll. Unless otherwise noted, SAI only accepts training registration through its online system.

Fee and Payment

What is the course fee?

SAI’s course fees depend on the location of the training and vary from country to country. Visit the Training schedule to see fees for upcoming trainings.

What does the course fee cover?

The course fees cover training materials, exam (including one free re-test), course certificate, and lunch and coffee breaks on each day of the training. They do not cover the cost of travel or accommodation. Arranging travel and accommodation is the responsibility of the participant.

Does SAI arrange or offer any special discount rates on hotel accommodation?

SAI does not arrange or offer any special discount rates on hotel accommodation. It is not possible for SAI to guarantee a certain number of reservations to secure a discount since participants are free to choose their accommodation.

What forms of payment are accepted for training courses?

Unless otherwise noted, payments may be made using a credit card or a bank transfer. Please note that you will not be admitted to a course unless you have completed the online registration process and your full payment has been received before the course date.

Does SAI offer sponsorship or discount to attend its training courses?

SAI offers discounts on a case-by-case basis for Trade Unions, NGOs, SAI Corporate Members, employees of SA8000-certified organizations, and groups (Details for each below). To request any of these discounts, contact SAI at training@sa-intl.org prior to enrolling in a course. All discounts are subject to verification and availability. 

Trade Union and NGO Discount

Trade unions and NGOs may be eligible for special rates. Please write to us at training@sa-intl.org with these requests at least three weeks in advance of the course. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

Corporate Member Discount

SAI’s Corporate Members are eligible for a 20% discount of course fees for all SAI courses.

SA8000-Certified Organization Discount

Full-time employees of currently SA8000-certified organizations are eligible for a 20% individual discount on all SAI in-person training courses, or a 25% discount if multiple employees register together. Please include a letter from your employer verifying your employment status when inquiring for this discount.

Group Discount

Group discounts are negotiable if several participants attend SAI’s training course from the same organization.

Cancellation Policy

Once I register, can I cancel my reservation?

Classroom Training

Cancellation and full refund of a confirmed reservation will be accepted at no charge up to 14 days prior to the first day of the course. Cancellation within 14 days prior to the first day of the course will result in a 50 % cancellation fee. Once the course has started, SAI will not accept any cancellation. No refunds will be given on any course no-shows.

Refunds will be processed the same way the payment was made whenever possible (either bank transfer or credit card). Refund processing time is about four to six weeks.

Alternatively, the participant can request SAI to hold on to the course payment as credit to apply to a future course of choice. The participant will be responsible to cover any additional fees when applicable. The course fee credit must be used within 18 months of the original course date.

Online Training

SAI does not accept cancellations for online training courses.

Are the courses guaranteed to take place?

Each SAI training course shall have no less than 10 participants. SAI may cancel a course up to four weeks prior to the course start date if there are not enough enrolled, paid participants. Participants are not entitled to reimbursement from SAI for any travel arrangements in the case of course postponement or cancellation. Please check with SAI on course confirmation status before booking travel if this is a concern.

Course Materials

How do I access my course materials?

You can access the course materials after you have enrolled in a course. To access course materials, log in to SAI Training Center and navigate to the course you are enrolled in. Click on the ‘Resources’ tab in the top menu to view and download materials. Materials will also be shared by email one week prior to the course start date.

Exam

Do all of the training courses have an exam?

No, only certain courses have exams. Check course descriptions for details.

When will I know the results of my course exam?

Exams are graded within 3 weeks from the last day of the course.

What is the passing grade on a course exam?

A score of 75 percent or higher is required from the course exam for passing a course. Participants who successfully pass a course will receive a certificate of course completion. Participants are notified of their result only on a pass or fail basis. SAI does not release numbered exam grades or copies of completed exams. Students with a score lower than 75 percent are offered the chance to take a free online re-test exam.

What should I do if I fail the exam?

If you receive a score of less than 75 percent, you can schedule an online re-test exam by sending an email to training@sa-intl.org. You will be able to select from three upcoming re-test date and time options within three months of receiving your initial your exam result notification. At the scheduled time, you will receive a link to the online exam. You will have 2.5 hours to complete the exam. You may refer to PDF copies of the course materials only during the exam. The exam covers the same content and is similar in format to the classroom version.

If you do not complete the re-test exam within 3 months of the original exam date, you will need to retake the entire course.

What can I do if I fail the online re-test exam?

If you fail the online re-test exam, you are required to take the entire course again, along with the final exam. For up to a year after taking and not passing the online re-test exam, participants are offered a 50% discount to retake the course from SAI. This offer does not apply to participants who took the initial course and exam from an external course provider.

Certificate of Completion

When and how do I receive my course Certificate of Completion?

Once you pass the course exam, complete the post-course survey, have paid the course registration fee in full, your certificate will be issued to you in your SAI Training Center account under the “Certificates” tab. We no longer issue print certificates.

If you do not receive your certificate within four weeks following the course and have completed the exam, survey, and payment, please send an email to training@sa-intl.org. 

How long is the Certificate of Course Completion valid?

SAI’s course certificates do not have an expiration date. The date of the training, however, is printed on the certificate. Once the content of the course changes substantially, we suggest that auditors interested in pursuing SA8000 certification or an auditing career attend the course again. 

When the SA8000® Standard is revised, auditors must update their qualifications to audit against the new version of the standard by completing revision courses. The current version of the standard is SA8000:2014.

Miscellaneous

What is the dress code for SAI training courses?

The dress code for SAI training courses is business casual.

If I am traveling outside of my country can I receive help with obtaining my visa?

SAI can provide you with an invitation letter to facilitate your visa application for the country in which the training course is organized. SAI is not able to provide you with further help in obtaining your visa.

To receive an invitation letter, send a request to training@sa-intl.org with the following information:

• Full Name (as shown in your passport)
• Date of Birth
• Nationality
• Passport Number
• Passport Authority
• Date of Issue
• Date of Expiry