Last Updated on September 25, 2025 by Melissa Lazaro

Training Staff on ISO/IEC 17043:2023: Full Training Roadmap

Let’s be honest—updating your documents for ISO/IEC 17043:2023 is only half the job. The real test comes when your auditor starts talking to your staff.

I’ve seen it happen more than once. A PT provider had perfect procedures on paper, but their staff couldn’t explain what changed in the new version. The result? A handful of nonconformities that could’ve easily been avoided with the right training.

That’s why this article isn’t just about delivering information. It’s about building real understanding and confidence across your team. Below is a full roadmap for training your staff on the 2023 version of the standard—designed to be practical, efficient, and audit-ready.

Why Training Is Crucial for ISO/IEC 17043:2023 Success

When ISO/IEC 17043 was revised in 2023, it wasn’t just a cosmetic update. It brought structural changes (thanks to the Annex SL format), introduced new emphasis areas like risk-based thinking and impartiality, and clarified expectations around leadership and improvement.

Training ensures your staff:

• Understand what has changed and why it matters
• Can apply the new requirements in their daily work
• Are prepared to speak confidently during audits
• Stay aligned and consistent across technical and quality functions

It’s not just about compliance—it’s about competence and culture.

Step 1: Conduct a Training Needs Analysis

Before designing your training, take stock of who needs what.

Questions to Ask:

• Who’s responsible for implementing scheme processes?
• Who handles impartiality, risk, or corrective actions?
• Do all staff understand the new clause structure?

Map out who interacts with which parts of the standard. For example:

• Technical staff → Clause 7 (Process)
• Management → Clause 5 (Structure), Clause 10 (Improvement)
• Quality staff → Clauses 4, 8, 9 (Impartiality, Management System, Risk)

From there, you’ll have a clearer idea of how to structure your training sessions.

Step 2: Develop the Training Curriculum

Don’t throw all the content into one long session. Break it into manageable, role-specific modules.

Sample Curriculum Structure:

• Module 1: Overview of ISO/IEC 17043:2023 and Key Changes
• Module 2: Responsibilities by Clause and Role
• Module 3: Risk-Based Thinking and Impartiality in Practice
• Module 4: Scheme Design, Implementation, and Reporting
• Module 5: Management System Updates and Internal Audits

Include definitions, examples, and context—not just text from the standard. People retain better when they understand how the content applies to their actual work.

Step 3: Choose the Right Training Format

You don’t need fancy software or expensive consultants to run effective training. The key is matching the format to the audience.

Format Ideas:

• Live workshops for collaborative discussions
• Short e-learning videos for flexibility
• Quick reference sheets or job aids for daily use
• Case studies based on your actual PT activities

Track attendance, but also include some way to assess understanding—a short quiz, group discussion, or feedback form goes a long way.

Step 4: Train-the-Trainer and Leadership Engagement

Start from the top. If leadership doesn’t understand the changes, it’s unlikely they’ll support or enforce them.

Train-the-Trainer Actions:

• Identify internal champions—often your quality manager, lead PT coordinator, or compliance officer
• Provide them with deeper context so they can answer questions
• Let them lead sessions for their teams to encourage ownership

Involving leadership early reinforces Clause 5 (Structure) and Clause 10 (Improvement), which both emphasize management involvement.

Step 5: Ongoing Training, Refreshers, and Evaluation

Training isn’t a one-and-done event. To build a culture of compliance and improvement, you’ll need to integrate training into your yearly QMS plan.

Actions to Take:

• Include ISO 17043 training in new hire onboarding
• Schedule annual refreshers and link them to recent audit results or changes
• Use real nonconformities as examples in future sessions
• Collect feedback and adapt the format as needed

Example: One provider I supported began logging questions from staff during audits. They used those as case studies in future training—and saw audit findings drop by half the following year.

Pro Tips

• Pro Tip: Always reference the clause number during training. When people see how their tasks link directly to the standard, they retain more.
• Pro Tip: Keep sessions short—30 to 45 minutes works best. Break longer content into multiple sessions over a few weeks.
• Pro Tip: Record sessions and make them available on a shared drive or internal LMS for easy access.
• Pro Tip: Include a Q&A section at the end of each session. Often, the best learning happens through questions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Passive Training

Don’t rely only on slides or reading the standard aloud. People need interaction, discussion, and examples.

Mistake #2: Skipping Documentation

Even informal training needs to be logged. Keep records of who attended, when, and what topics were covered. Auditors will ask.

Mistake #3: Assuming Management Doesn’t Need Training

Clause 5 places new emphasis on leadership commitment. Managers need to understand their role in the system—not just sign policies.

FAQs

Q: Is ISO 17043:2023 training mandatory?
Yes. Clause 6 (Resources) requires that personnel be competent. That includes understanding the QMS, relevant procedures, and new standard requirements.

Q: How often should staff be retrained?
Annually is best practice. More frequent refreshers may be needed if there are major changes or audit findings.

Q: Can internal staff lead the training?
Absolutely. In fact, internal trainers are often more effective because they can relate the content directly to your lab’s actual operations.

Training Is the Bridge Between Paper and Practice

Documents don’t build compliance—people do.

When your staff understands ISO/IEC 17043:2023—not just memorizes it—you build a resilient, competent team that can stand up to any audit and adapt to any improvement need.

The organizations I’ve seen succeed in this transition made staff training a central part of the plan—not an afterthought.

If you’d like a customizable training roadmap template, I can send you one to get started. Or, if you’re building out a full QMS training calendar, I’m happy to help map that with you too.