Last Updated on November 3, 2025 by Melissa Lazaro

Why an Internal Audit Checklist Is Your Best ISO/IEC 17024 Compliance Tool

When certification bodies prepare for accreditation, the internal audit is often their biggest blind spot. Many think a quick review of procedures is enough—until assessors start asking for evidence they didn’t verify.

In my experience helping certification bodies get accredited under ISO/IEC 17024, the difference between smooth and stressful audits often comes down to one thing: a well-structured internal-audit checklist.

It’s not just a form. It’s your roadmap for compliance—covering every clause, every process, and every record that proves you’re doing what you say. In this guide, I’ll show you how to use the checklist effectively, avoid common pitfalls, and grab a free downloadable version you can adapt to your own certification schemes.

Understanding the Purpose of Internal Audits Under ISO/IEC 17024

The standard isn’t vague about it—Clause 9 requires internal audits to verify that your management system and certification processes are effectively implemented.

But here’s the real point: an internal audit is your rehearsal before the accreditation body arrives. It’s your chance to find weaknesses on your own terms, fix them, and walk into the external audit confident.

Pro Tip: Treat every internal audit like a risk scan, not a paperwork check. Look for system behavior—how processes work in practice, not just on paper.

Common mistake: Limiting the audit to documents. ISO/IEC 17024 is about competence and impartiality in action. If you never interview assessors or review live certification files, you’re missing the essence of the requirement.

Key Clauses Covered in the ISO/IEC 17024 Internal-Audit Checklist

A good checklist follows the structure of the standard—but interprets it in practical terms. Here’s what it should cover:

1. Clause 4 – Impartiality and Confidentiality
   • Are risks reviewed regularly?
   • Are conflicts of interest documented and mitigated?
2. Clause 5 – Structural Requirements
   • Does the organizational chart clearly define responsibilities?
   • Are impartiality and decision-making functions separated?
3. Clause 6 – Resource and Competence Requirements
   • Are assessor competence files complete and current?
   • Is there a process for periodic re-evaluation?
4. Clause 7 – Certification Process and Scheme Development
   • Is the certification scheme documented, validated, and updated?
   • Are exam results reviewed and approved objectively?
5. Clause 8 – Management System Documentation and Records
   • Are all procedures controlled and traceable to the latest version?
6. Clause 9 – Management Review, Internal Audit, and Improvement
   • Are audit results analyzed and discussed during management reviews?

Pro Tip: Don’t just audit “by clause.” Map the checklist to your actual workflow—how certification happens in your organization. It makes findings far more meaningful.

Pitfall: Reusing a generic ISO 9001 checklist. It misses the unique aspects of competence, impartiality, and certification decision controls that define ISO/IEC 17024.

How to Use the Internal-Audit Checklist Effectively

The best checklists are simple, structured, and consistent. Here’s how to make yours work:

1. Define scope and objectives. Decide whether you’re auditing the full system or specific schemes.
2. Assign trained auditors. They must be independent of the area being audited.
3. Review clause by clause. Record objective evidence—not opinions.
4. Categorize findings. Mark conformity, opportunities for improvement, or non-conformities.

Pro Tip: Use color-coding—green for conformities, yellow for minor issues, red for non-conformities. One glance tells management where to focus.

Common mistake: Rushing through questions. Each “Yes” must be supported by actual evidence—a record, an interview, or a demonstration.

When you take your time and document clearly, your internal audit report becomes your best defense during accreditation.

Sample Audit Questions from the Checklist

Here’s a glimpse of what the right checklist looks like in practice:

• Clause 4 – Impartiality:
  “Is the impartiality committee meeting at planned intervals, and are all risks reviewed annually?”
• Clause 6 – Competence:
  “Are assessors’ qualifications and training records up to date?”
• Clause 7 – Certification Process:
  “Is each certification decision independently reviewed before approval?”
• Clause 9 – Improvement:
  “Are corrective actions from previous audits verified for effectiveness?”

Pro Tip: Add scheme-specific questions. For example, a technical certification scheme may require evidence of exam validation or field observation records. The more tailored the checklist, the stronger your audit.

Turning Audit Results Into Actionable Improvements

An audit is only valuable if its results lead to change. Once findings are identified, analyze their root cause and turn them into corrective actions.

Here’s a simple approach:

• Categorize: Major, minor, or observation.
• Investigate: Why did it happen? Was it a system gap or training issue?
• Plan: Define the action, responsibility, and timeline.
• Verify: Check effectiveness during follow-up audits.

Pro Tip: Feed your audit results into your next management review. It keeps improvement active and visible.

Pitfall: Filing the audit report and never revisiting it. Continuous improvement only happens when audit results are tracked, measured, and discussed regularly.

Download the Free ISO/IEC 17024 Internal-Audit Checklist

To make things easier, I’ve included a free downloadable checklist built specifically for ISO/IEC 17024 certification bodies.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• Clause-by-clause questions aligned with the latest standard.
• Sections for objective evidence, findings, and corrective actions.
• Editable format (Word and Excel) so you can adapt it to your own schemes.

Pro Tip: Customize your version before your next internal audit—add your scheme codes, assessor names, and evidence reference fields. It saves hours when auditors ask for proof.

FAQs – Internal-Audit Essentials Explained

Q1: How often should we perform internal audits under ISO/IEC 17024?
At least once a year, or more frequently if you add new certification schemes or experience significant process changes.

Q2: Who can perform internal audits?
Auditors must be competent and independent of the area they’re auditing. You can train internal staff or bring in an external consultant.

Q3: Do we have to use a checklist?
No—but you should. It ensures every clause is reviewed consistently and makes it easier to demonstrate objectivity to assessors.

Make Internal Audits Work for You

A strong internal audit program is your built-in quality assurance. It’s what separates reactive certification bodies from those that consistently pass audits with confidence.

Once you use a structured checklist, you’ll notice the difference—audits become faster, findings become clearer, and improvements become measurable.

In my experience, certification bodies that treat internal audits as strategic tools, not administrative chores, always impress accreditation assessors.

Download the ISO/IEC 17024 Internal-Audit Checklist today and make your next audit the easiest one you’ve ever done. If you’d like help customizing it for your certification schemes, QSE Academy can walk you through it step by step.