New Authentication Application - Level Selection Guidance
IAQG Authentication offers both Level 1 (Audit Team Leader) and Level 2 (Audit Team Member) authentication, as explained in the Authentication Levels section. Applicants should select the level that matches their work and audit experience, along with their current level of Aviation, Space, and Defense (ASD) Industry Knowledge. Review Requirements by Authentication Level.
This guide is to help applicants who may be unsure which level is most appropriate for them during their initial authentication application for each standard.
9100 & General Guide
Section titled “9100 & General Guide”Training Requirements
Section titled “Training Requirements”When applying for 9100 initial authentication, both Level 1 and Level 2 authentication impose the same baseline training requirements: successful completion of an IAQG-approved ASD Lead Auditor Course and the IAQG Auditor Authentication Course. During 2026, IAQG Authentication will also accept a QMS (ISO 9001) Lead Auditor Course as an alternative to the ASD Lead Auditor for those who successfully complete the Aerospace Auditor Transition Training (AATT).
Work Experience
Section titled “Work Experience”When applying directly for 9100 Level 1 Authentication, applicants must demonstrate at least 5 years of qualifying full-time work experience within the ASD industry within the last 8 years. This work experience must “be full-time employment or full-time contracting either from a major equipment manufacturer or integrator organization, an ASD Prime Organization, or an ASD Regulatory Agency outside of the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) context.” Therefore, this limits initial Level 1 authentiction to those who have significant recent work experience in major ASD organizations.
9100 Level 2 Authentication only requires 3 years of full-time work experience in any industry with a similar scope to the ASD industry. For example, this could be automotive, nuclear, maritime, medical devices, or other high risk safety critical industries. Level 2 authentication is thus achievable to a wider range of applicants.
In either case, applicants must demonstrate direct involvement in engineering, design, manufacturing, quality, or process control activities.
Audit Experience
Section titled “Audit Experience”Both Level 1 and Level 2 Authentication require 15 audit days in qualifying full QMS second-party or third-party audits within the last 2 years. However, 9100 Level 1 Authentication requires all this experience be in a Lead role. In either case, third-party audits must be either Stage 2, Recertification, or both parts of Surveillance (for the same organization) to demonstrate coverage of the full QMS. Second-party audits must cover all AQMS/QMS requirements and processes, and applicants must be an employee or contractor appointed by a company to audit that company’s supplier facility.
Therefore, as it relates to Audit Experience, the only factor in deciding between Level 1 or Level 2 authentication is whether the applicant’s audits were conducted in a Lead Auditor role.
ASD Industry Knowledge
Section titled “ASD Industry Knowledge”IAQG expects auditors applying for Level 1 Authentication to have a higher degree of ASD Industry Knowledge, reflecting their increased work and audit experience. Applicants for Level 1 will be required to achieve a higher degree of performance on the ASD Industry Knowledge Examination than those who apply for Level 2.
Summary
Section titled “Summary”The Work Experience requirements are the most significant difference between initial applications for Level 1 and Level 2 Authentication, as Level 1 applicants need more, and more recent, experience within major ASD organizations. Initial Level 1 applicants are also required to have Lead Auditor experience (not just audit experience), and demonstrate a higher degree of ASD Industry Knowledge.
Applicants who do not initially meet the Level 1 criteria may gain experience as a Level 2 auditor and later apply for Advancement.
9110 Guide
Section titled “9110 Guide”Prerequisites
Section titled “Prerequisites”All applicants for 9110 are required to already be actively authenticated to 9100. In addition, applicants cannot apply for a higher level of 9110 authentication than they already have for 9100.
| Level of 9100 Authentication | Possible 9110 Initial Authentication Options |
|---|---|
| 9100 Level 1 | Either 9110 Level 1 or 2, depending on other criteria |
| 9100 Level 2 | 9110 Level 2 |
Because of this prerequisite, all requirements listed above for 9100 apply automatically, and applicants for 9110 at either level will be considered to have already met the related 9100 requirements.
Work Experience
Section titled “Work Experience”When applying directly for 9110 Level 1 authentication, applicants must demonstrate an additional 2 years of aviation maintenance work experience. This work experience must include direct involvement in all major aspects of MRO operations: overhauling, disassembling, inspecting, testing, replacing, rectifying defects, and installing modifications & repairs. This is in addition to the 5 years of qualifying non-MRO work experience within the past 8 years required for 9100 Level 1 Authentication (see explanation above). Therefore, direct applicants to 9110 Level 1 authentication must demonstrate significant and recent work experience in the ASD industry in both MRO and non-MRO contexts.
Meanwhile, 9110 Level 2 authentication does not require any particular MRO-related work experience; it requires the same 3 years of related work experience that applied to 9100 Level 2. Because there is no time restriction for this work experience, applicants for 9110 Level 2 could use the same work experience used to qualify for 9100 Level 2 previously.
Audit Experience
Section titled “Audit Experience”The audit experience required for 9110 authentication does not need to be specific to MRO organizations, whether applying for Level 1 or Level 2 authentication. As with 9100, audit experience when applying for Level 1 must be in a Lead Auditor role, whereas Level 2 audit experience can be as an Audit Team Member.
MRO Industry Knowledge
Section titled “MRO Industry Knowledge”Aligned with the very high level of work experience expected of 9110 Level 1 applicants, IAQG requires a high level of Industry Knowledge for MRO-specific topics. This is in addition to the Industry Knowledge required for 9100 Level 1 authentication. Applicants must also successfully complete the IAQG-sanctioned 9110 AATT Online Component.
Summary
Section titled “Summary”Only those with extensive recent MRO work experience, covering the full range of MRO operations, should consider applying directly for 9110 Level 1 Authentication. For all other applicants, 9110 Level 2 is recommended, with the possibility of Advancement after gaining more 9110 audit experience as an Audit Team Member.
9120 Guide
Section titled “9120 Guide”Prerequisites
Section titled “Prerequisites”All applicants for 9120 are required to already be actively authenticated to 9100. In addition, applicants cannot apply for a higher level of 9120 authentication than they already have for 9100.
| Level of 9100 Authentication | Possible 9120 Initial Authentication Options |
|---|---|
| 9100 Level 1 | Either 9120 Level 1 or 2, depending on other criteria |
| 9100 Level 2 | 9120 Level 2 |
Because of this prerequisite, all requirements listed above for 9100 apply automatically, and applicants for 9120 at either level will be considered to have already met the related 9100 requirements.
Work Experience
Section titled “Work Experience”IAQG Authentication does not impose any additional or distributor-specific work experience requirements at either level of 9120 authentication. Depending on timing, work experience used for 9100 Level 1 Authentication could also be used in a 9120 Level 1 Authentication application.
Audit Experience
Section titled “Audit Experience”The audit experience required for 9110 authentication does not need to be specific to distributors, whether applying for Level 1 or Level 2 authentication. As with 9100, audit experience when applying for Level 1 must be in a Lead Auditor role, whereas Level 2 audit experience can be as an Audit Team Member.
Distributor Industry Knowledge
Section titled “Distributor Industry Knowledge”Applicants for 9120 Level 1 Authentication are required to demonstrate a higher level of industry knowledge for distributor-specific topics than those who apply for 9120 Level 2. This is in addition to the Industry Knowledge required for 9100 Level 1 authentication. Applicants must also successfully complete the IAQG-sanctioned 9120 AATT Online Component.
Summary
Section titled “Summary”IAQG Authentication does not impose any additional 9120-specific requirements for either Level 1 or Level 2 authentication, besides the distributor-specific ASD Industry Knowledge requirement andt the IAQG-sanctioned 9120 Auditor Authentication Course. Therefore, applicants who already achieved 9100 Level 1 Authentication and meet the knowledge/training requirements could apply directly for 9120 Level 1 Authentication if their qualifying work experience is within the last 8 years. Otherwise, applicants choosing 9120 Level 2 Authentication may consider Advancement after gaining more 9120 audit experience as an Audit Team Member.