IMPORTANT: This article ONLY applies to New Auditor Candidates (and non-auditors) who entered the qualification process in 2025 or later. Auditors who started the qualification process prior to 2025 must complete the Knowledge Assessment and any related retakes at a ADP Proctored Assessment session.
Each Knowledge Assessment module consists of 25 questions focused on one of the five Knowledge competency areas: IATF 16949, Rules, FMEA, MSA, or SPC.
Once you enter the timed section, you will have 50 minutes to complete the module. Once started, you must complete each assessment module uninterrupted in a single session.
Knowledge Assessment modules are non-proctored and can be completed at any time at your discretion, without making prior scheduling arrangements.
Initial Attempt
If this is your initial attempt completing the Knowledge Assessment modules, you must complete all five (5) individual modules (one per knowledge competency area) to meet the initial Knowledge Assessment requirement. You must also complete the Application Assessment at a proctored session (in-person or Live Virtual). CB auditors must complete these requirements within 90 days of attending the New Auditor Training class. Once you complete all these requirements, you will be informed of your initial assessment results and necessary next steps.
If you fail to acheive a passing score of 80% or higher in one or more Knowledge competency areas, you will be required to complete the related Knowledge Assessment module(s) again as a retake, with a maximum of four (4) retake attempts per competency. The necessary Knowledge Assessment module(s) will be automatically assigned to your ADP Dashboard, with no purchase or scheduling necessary, after you fully complete all initial assessment requirements (Knowledge & Application). If you are a CB Auditor who also received one or more red scores in Application competency areas, you will be required to attend the New Auditor Training class again before attempting any online retakes (including any needed Knowledge retakes).
Retake Attempt
If you are completing a Knowledge Assessment module as a retake, the same number of questions and timing apply as in your original attempt. After completing the module, please review the ADP Dashboard to see your score and understand any required next steps. If you fail to achieve a passing score in your retake attempt, but still have additional retake attempts remaining, another copy of this Knowledge Assessment module will become accessible right away with no purchase required. In this circumstance, since you have a limited number of attempts, we strongly recommend taking additional time to study the subject matter before trying again.
If you pass this module and this results in an overall change in your qualification status (overall achievement of yellow or green status), CB auditors will be notified by email and receive a new identifying number automatically. (Non-Auditors will have their results processed manually by the responsible Oversight Office.)
NOTE: The competency profile scores on the ADP Dashboard will always reflect your best score in a given competency area. If you attempt a retake and your resulting score is lower than a previous attempt, your comptency profile score will not change, since the ADP will preserve your best score.
Permitted Materials
You are permitted to use physical/print (non-digital) copies of the following documents as part of the assessment process, including these Knowledge Assessments:
- ISO 9001:2015 standard
- IATF 16949:2016 standard, Sanctioned Interpretations (SIs), and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Rules for Achieving IATF Recognition document (latest/relevant edition), Sanctioned Interpretations (SIs), and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Translation Dictionary
If you are completing the Knowledge Assessment module for IATF 16949 or Rules, a copy of the relevant standard/document will also be accessible using the Standard Explorer feature.
What to do if you get disconnected
In the event your device disconnects from the Internet or your web browser closes/crashes while completing the assessment, please reconnect and re-enter the module as soon as possible by clicking the assessment module link on the IATF ADP Dashboard again. You will not be penalized for the disconnection and your existing answers will be preserved automatically. However, you will have a limited amount of time to reconnect and a limited number of re-entry attempts. If you experience an extended technical issue or connection outage and cannot reconnect within these time/entry limits, please submit a Support Request on the IATF ADP Help Desk to explain your situation and request re-entry.
This disconnection/reconnection allowance is only intended to address legitimate technical difficulties that may occur outside of your direct control. You should otherwise complete each assessment module in a single uninterrupted session once the timer starts. Please take necessary precautions to avoid disruptions or interruptions while completing assessments, such as closing your door, terminating unnecessary software on your computer, turning off mobile devices, and so on.
Integrity of the Qualification Process
As noted in IATF CB Communiqué 2024-005, IATF-recognized certification bodies must employ appropriate measures to ensure the integrity of the qualification process, including the non-proctored knowledge assessment. This assessment module must be completed individually by the identified person on the account accessing the ADP website. In addition, as agreed in the ADP Terms of Use, "any violation of the integrity of assessment material (including this assessment module) constitutes grounds for loss of IATF-recognition for the certification body and loss of IATF-issued auditor credentials for the individual auditor involved. The IATF may take additional action, including legal action, if the violation results in any compromise of assessment material."
Reporting problems/concerns
If you encounter problems or have important concerns while completing the assessment, click on the menu button in the top-right corner and choose "Log Issue." You can send feedback about "Technical Problems" (technology issues in the ADP), or "Content/Translation Issues." Your assessment timer will pause automatically while you are entering/submitting your Log Issue report, so you will not be penalized. If your concern is critical and preventing you from proceeding with the assessment, or may severely impact your timing or scoring, please close the Assessment module after submitting your report and wait for feedback from the appropriate team.
Issues submitted after completing/submitting the assessment (especially after receiving your result) without following the Log Issue procedure identified above will not be considered.
The Log Issue feature is intended only for technical problems or important concerns with the assessment questions themselves. If you have general questions or concerns about the subject matter/requirements covered in this assessment, please contact your CB or an IATF Training Organization separately.
NOTE: For content or translation-related concerns, we will not be able to provide immediate feedback or apply immediate corrections. Please log the issue and continue with the assessment, and your concern will be reviewed in due course. If an issue is discovered that could have improved your overall assessment result (caused you to pass), we will apply the necessary scoring correction to the assessment and notify you. The ADP Support Team is not able to alter assessment scoring on an individual basis, and is not able to provide any detail about the questions you answered incorrectly or how they were scored.
Sanctioned Interpretation Applicability
IATF updates the ADP assessments periodically to align with published Sanctioned Interpretations (SIs). However, as this review occurs on a periodic basis, some SIs may not yet be applied. Sanctioned Interpretations are also not included in the built-in Standard Explorer. You may refer to a printed copy ("hardcopy") of IATF-published Sanctioned Interpretations and FAQs during all ADP assessments.
To view which SIs have been incorporated into this assessment, please visit the link below: