About this certification
Confirms advanced competence to lead complex, multi-site and cross-border AIMS audit programmes.
Format: Multiple choice and audit-scenario items. Delivered online with AI-assisted proctoring or at an approved test centre, under the published exam rules.
Who it is for
- Audit team leaders on complex engagements
- Lead auditors moving to programme level
- Senior assurance leaders
Free documents
Everything you need to prepare and to check your eligibility is published free of charge, with no account required:
Eligibility
Required training: completion of at least 40 contact hours of structured Senior Lead Auditor training (Modules 1–23) delivered by GAICC-authorised providers or equivalent recognised institutions. Students can also fulfil this requirement by completing GAICC self-paced courses.
Note: Holders of ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Auditor meet the prerequisite knowledge requirement.
Three ways to complete your training
Option 1 — GAICC self-paced course
GAICC offers its own optional self-paced course covering 40 contact hours of structured Senior Lead Auditor training (Modules 1–23). It is one way to meet the requirement — it is not mandatory, is not required for certification, and confers no advantage in the examination.
- Fully self-paced eLearning on the GAICC learning platform
- Certificate of completion evidencing your contact hours
- Purchased separately from the examination fee
Option 2 — GAICC authorised training partners
Authorised Training Partners deliver the required hours in your region, instructor-led or online. Partners are approved against published criteria and are audited; they have no access to live examination content and no role in certification decisions.
- Instructor-led (in person or live virtual) or partner-delivered eLearning
- Certificate of completion stating provider, programme, hours and date
- Find a partner via the GAICC partner directory
Option 3 — Any equivalent recognised institution
You may complete the required hours through any equivalent recognised institution — a university, professional body, employer training function or independent provider — provided the training addresses the learning outcomes in the Exam Content Outline and you can evidence it.
- Training may be online or in person
- Must be evidenced by a certificate of completion stating the provider, programme title, duration (contact hours) and completion date
- Hours may have been earned at any time in your career, before application
- Applications may be selected for audit to verify training documentation
Training must be evidenced by a certificate of completion stating the provider, programme title, duration (contact hours) and completion date. Applications may be selected for audit. Full education and experience criteria are in the Exam Content Outline.
What the examination tests
The examination is built to the published Exam Content Outline. Domains and approximate weightings:
| # | Domain | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| I | Strategic Governance and Leadership in AI Management Systems | 25% |
| II | Advanced Audit of Implementation and Operational Control | 35% |
| III | Performance, Maturity and Continual Improvement | 25% |
| IV | Ethics, Transparency and Cross-Border Engagement | 15% |
Weightings are approximate and may vary slightly by form. The current Exam Content Outline is the authoritative blueprint.
Fees
| Item | Non-member | Member |
|---|---|---|
| ISO/IEC 42001 Senior Lead Auditor examination | $299 | $199 |
| GAICC Annual Membership (optional) | $99 | — |
Examination fee only — it does not include any preparation course. Training is purchased separately from the provider you choose. See all fees.
How to get certified
- Download the Candidate Handbook and Exam Content OutlineBoth free, above.
- Complete 40 contact hoursVia any of the three routes above.
- Apply with your evidence and pay the examination feeReviewed within five calendar days when complete.
- Sit the examination and receive an independent decisionScored objectively; decided by the independent Certification Decision Authority.
- Maintain your credential40 CPD hours per 3-year cycle — see recertification.
Register for the 42001 Senior Lead Auditor examination Compare all certifications