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Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) Certification
The Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) is the American Society for Quality's professional certification exam measuring comprehension of the CQA Body of Knowledge (2026 CQA BoK effective April 1, 2026, superseding the 2019 BoK): a one-part, open-book, multiple-choice exam administered by Prometric — computer-based 165 questions (150 scored, 15 unscored) with 5 hours 18 minutes of exam time in a 5.5-hour appointment, or paper-based 150 questions in 5 hours — offered in English only, with approximately 10–15 percent of the test presented as audit case studies, for a USD 550 exam fee (ASQ members save USD 100; USD 350 retake) and a passing score of 550 points out of a possible 750.
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QuestionsComputer-based: 165 multiple-choice questions, of which 150 are scored and 15 are unscored. Paper-based: 150 questions.
Testing timeComputer-based: 5 hours 18 minutes of exam time in a 5.5-hour appointment. Paper-based: 5 hours.
ScoringPass/fail; a score of 550 points out of a possible 750 is required to be certified (ASQE criteria-based standard; scores of passing candidates are not disclosed beyond pass status)
Exam feeUSD 550 exam fee (ASQ members save USD 100 on the initial examination fee); USD 350 retake fee
Prep options
Study resources for CQA
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Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- ASQ
- Category
- Quality & Process Improvement
- Current version
- 2026 CQA Body of Knowledge (effective April 1, 2026, tested starting with the April 2026 testing window; superseding the 2019 CQA BoK)
- Where it applies
- Global
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- Scaled points out of a possible 750 (passing score 550)
- Testing provider
- Prometric (computer-based testing at Prometric test centers and ProProctor live remote proctoring)
- Format
- Computer-based at Prometric test centers or via Prometric ProProctor live remote proctoring from home; paper-based in certain locations; all exams open book with bound references
- Availability
- Computer-based exams are delivered in scheduled monthly testing windows (e.g., October 1-31, 2026 with application deadline September 14, 2026; December 1-31, 2026 with deadline November 9, 2026; February 1-28, 2027 with deadline January 11, 2027)
- Results
- Computer-based: preliminary results immediately on-screen at the test center, official results emailed by ASQ within 7 days (pilot exams with a revised BoK within 4-5 weeks); paper-based: official results by email within 2 weeks
- Remote testing
- Available
Exam structure
One-part, open-book, multiple-choice exam over the CQA Body of Knowledge with four-choice answers; approximately 10 to 15 percent of the test is devoted to case studies, each presenting a brief audit scenario supported by related audit documents; candidates bring their own bound reference materials
Where rules vary
ASQ delivers the exam worldwide through Prometric test centers and live remote proctoring (remote proctoring is unavailable only in China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Pakistan, where test centers are required); ASQ serves members and customers in over 130 countries.
Eligibility
8 years of on-the-job experience in one or more areas of the CQA Body of Knowledge, of which at least 3 years must be in a decision-making position, in a full-time paid role; a completed degree waives part of the experience requirement (trade school diploma 1 year, associate 2, bachelor's 4, master's/doctorate 5)
Retake policy
No limit on the number of retakes, each at the USD 350 retake rate; the exam must be retaken within two years of the last attempt (otherwise a new application with full certification fees is required), and not within the same testing window as the initial attempt