CQA Career Benefits

CQA Career Benefits

Ken Love, chairman of ASQC's certification board, was awarded the first CQA, #101. He offers unique insights into the career benefits of the CQA. He recently observed:

"A quality professional needs to establish credentials. Unlike many fields, there are few degrees from established universities in the quality discipline, and the job title 'auditor' or 'quality auditor' can cover a wide range of duties and levels of expertise. The CQA and other ASQC certifications allow quality professionals to distinguish themselves from others based on demonstrated proficiency in a recognized body of knowledge.

"The value of ASQC certifications has proven itself in the workplace. The most recent ASQC salary survey of quality auditors [November 1996] shows that auditors with a CQA earn an average of 20 percent more than auditors without ASQC certification ($48,070 vs. $39,866). Job ads often request 'CQA preferred.' It seems to me that many employers recognize the value of the CQA and compensate accordingly. Continuing education and professional development are critical to a successful career. Preparation for a certification program provides an ideal opportunity for learning the broader application of a profession -- as opposed to 'how we do it here' -- and demonstrating that knowledge by achieving certification.

"ASQC certifications provide a reasonably priced way to establish meaningful credentials. ISO 9000 leader auditor certificates are earned by more than 90 percent of attendees, who spend about $1,600 for an approved training course. For a much more modest $90 fee, typically, less than half of the applicants who take a rigorous five-hour examination will earn CQA certificates. I personally think the ASQC certification is far more valuable to the individual."

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