On June 15, 2026, the IAQG published Resolution 176, and the way aerospace auditors get credentialed changed immediately. The resolution eliminates the network of regional Auditor Authentication Bodies that have long governed who gets recognized to perform audits within the IAQG certification scheme, replacing them with a single centralized system called IAQG Authentication. If you hold an aerospace auditor credential or work for a certification body that assigns auditors to AS9100 audits, this one affects you directly and it’s already in effect.
What Did the Regional Authentication Model Actually Look Like?
For years, aerospace auditors earned their credentials through a network of regional organizations called Auditor Authentication Bodies. These bodies reviewed training records and audit experience, then granted official recognition to perform audits within the IAQG certification scheme. The setup worked, but it created variation. Different regions operated through different bodies, which meant decisions about individual auditors’ standing weren’t always made from the same reference point.
Resolution 176 ends that model entirely. The IAQG is now the sole authority on who gets credentialed to audit within its certification scheme. Former authentication bodies can still operate independently if they choose to, but credentials issued through them no longer carry weight inside the scheme. Going forward, only auditors recognized directly through IAQG Authentication are authorized to perform audits within the IAQG scheme.
What Auditors Need to Do Right Now
There’s no grace period. Resolution 176 took effect immediately upon publication, which means if you’re currently credentialed through one of the regional authentication bodies and you want to remain active in the scheme, your next step is clear.
You need to apply through IAQG Authentication. The application portal is live at authentication.iaqg.org, where you’ll find application instructions, new credential levels, and everything else you need to get your standing squared away under the new system.
A few other things worth addressing now:
- If your training materials, internal procedures, or documentation reference the old authentication process, those need to be reviewed and updated. The sections of the auditor requirements standard that covered the regional authentication model are no longer recognized for scheme purposes.
- If you work for a certification body, verify that the auditors you assign to aerospace certification audits hold current recognition through IAQG Authentication rather than credentials issued solely through the former regional bodies.
- If you’re an assessor involved in certification oversight, two previously active resolutions have been revised to remove references to the old authentication model. Make sure you’re working from the current versions.
What This Means for Certification Bodies
The responsibility for verifying auditor competence and standing has always sat with the certification body. That responsibility now has a new reference point. Internal procedures that describe how auditors are selected and credentialed should be reviewed, and any language referencing regional authentication bodies as recognized scheme entities is no longer accurate.
This isn’t a complicated change to implement, but it does require attention sooner rather than later. Certification bodies that continue assigning auditors based solely on regional body credentials are operating outside of what the scheme now recognizes.
Where APEX QA Stands
APEX’s AS9100 training courses are approved through Probitas as an IAQG-recognized Training Provider Approval Body. That status is unaffected by Resolution 176.
Here’s why: Probitas held two separate roles within the scheme. One was granting individual auditor credentials. The other was approving training providers and their course content. Resolution 176 eliminates the first role but leaves the second intact. Probitas has confirmed it will continue operating as an IAQG-recognized training provider approval body, which means APEX’s courses remain IAQG-recognized training.
For auditors who train with APEX, the practical difference is straightforward. The training itself hasn’t changed. What has changed is where you go afterward to get your personal credential, which is now IAQG Authentication directly rather than through a regional body. APEX is reviewing course content that covers the credentialing process to make sure it reflects the new model as details continue to roll out.
The Bigger Picture
Resolution 176 fits a clear pattern. The IAQG has been steadily consolidating authority over its certification scheme, from standardizing audit duration calculations to moving all aerospace standards under a single IA prefix. The direction is consistently toward tighter central control and less regional variation.
For auditors and the organizations that work with them, that means staying closer to primary IAQG sources rather than relying on intermediary bodies to filter and interpret what the scheme requires. The IAQG resolutions log, the OASIS database, and now authentication.iaqg.org are the places to watch.
Resolution 176 is a real change that happened immediately. For auditors who act on it promptly, the path forward is clear.
IAQG Resolution 176 and Aerospace Auditor Authentication: Common Questions Answered
What is IAQG Authentication and what did it replace?
IAQG Authentication is the IAQG’s new centralized credentialing system for aerospace auditors. It replaces the network of regional Auditor Authentication Bodies that previously granted and maintained auditor credentials within the IAQG certification scheme.
Do I need to reapply for my aerospace auditor credential under the new system?
Yes. Existing AA and AEA auditors who want to remain active in the IAQG certification scheme must apply through IAQG Authentication. The application portal is live at authentication.iaqg.org.
When did Resolution 176 take effect?
Immediately upon publication on June 15, 2026. There is no grace period or transition window.
Does Resolution 176 affect how certification bodies assign auditors to AS9100 audits?
Yes. Certification bodies are now responsible for verifying that auditors assigned to aerospace certification audits hold current recognition through IAQG Authentication rather than credentials issued solely through the former regional bodies.
Does this change affect APEX QA’s IAQG-recognized training status?
No. APEX’s AS9100 training courses are approved through Probitas as an IAQG-recognized Training Provider Approval Body. Resolution 176 eliminates the auditor credentialing role of regional bodies but leaves training provider approval intact.
