ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) Courses

Validates knowledge of quality auditing, including audit fundamentals, planning and performing audits, auditor competencies and quality tools.

CQA is an open-book exam where two answers often look right, so a good course follows the 2026 Body of Knowledge and teaches best-answer judgment. We compared the main options on coverage, format and price.

Most people should start with ASQ's CQA Certification Preparation course, which the exam owner built on the 2026 Body of Knowledge. Choose the Quality Gurus Udemy course for a cheaper video option, and buy the ASQ Handbook as your open-book reference.

Course	Best for	Format	Price
CQA Certification Preparation	Official prep course	Interactive	$850
Certified Quality Auditor Training	Low-cost video	Video	$140
ASQ Certified Quality Auditor Handbook, 5th edition	Open-book reference	Book	$135

Official prep course

CQA Certification Preparation

ASQ's self-paced course of 30 hours covers the five Body of Knowledge sections and is built on the 2026 outline. It includes a diagnostic pre-test, practice questions and a post-test.

Great fit if you want structured lessons from the exam owner

Poor fit if you want the lowest cost; choose Quality Gurus' Udemy course

Low-cost video

Certified Quality Auditor Training

4.5(1.9k ratings)

Video lessons of about 14 hours follow the CQA sections, with short quizzes and lessons on what changed in the 2026 outline. It costs a fraction of ASQ's course.

Great fit if you want a low-cost video course that follows the ASQ outline

Poor fit if you want ASQ's own materials; choose ASQ's preparation course

Open-book reference

ASQ Certified Quality Auditor Handbook, 5th edition

ASQ's companion text for the five Body of Knowledge areas, a 393-page hardcover with example audit situations. It works as your open-book reference for study and exam day.

Great fit if you learn well from reading and want one reference for study and exam day

Poor fit if you want lessons and practice questions; choose ASQ's course or Quality Gurus

How to choose a CQA course

Use the 2026 Body of Knowledge. The new outline took effect in April 2026. ASQ's course is aligned to it and Quality Gurus updated its course, while the Handbook is from 2020, so check ASQ's comparison map.
Practise best-answer questions. Two options often look right, and case studies are built on audit documents. A good course explains why one answer is best.
Plan for the open-book format. You can bring references into the exam. Choose one reference, such as the ASQ Handbook, and learn where things are in it.
Spend time on your weak sections. Candidates often score lowest on statistics and quality tools, such as sampling and Cp and Cpk. Check that your course covers them well.

Recommended CQA course combinations

Lowest cost: The ASQ Handbook ($135), Quality Gurus' free 25-question mock exam and ASQ's CQA Question Bank ($119).
Learning by video: Quality Gurus' Udemy course ($140) with ASQ's CQA Question Bank ($119) and the ASQ Handbook ($135) as your reference.
Official all the way: ASQ's preparation course ($850, or $750 for members) with ASQ's CQA Question Bank ($119).
Extra mocks: Quality Gurus' CQA Practice Tests on Udemy ($65) after you finish ASQ's bank. They follow the 2019 outline.

Compare all CQA practice tests →

CQA course FAQ

What is the best CQA course?

For most people, ASQ's CQA Certification Preparation course, built on the 2026 Body of Knowledge by the exam owner. Quality Gurus' Udemy course is the cheaper video option.

Is a Udemy course enough for CQA?

Quality Gurus' course follows the 2026 outline and costs $140. Pair it with ASQ's question bank ($119) and the Handbook for an open-book reference.

How long does a CQA course take?

ASQ's course is 30 hours and Quality Gurus' about 14 hours. Plan for about 80 hours of preparation in total, from 50 to 100 depending on how often you audit.

Is the CQA exam open book?

Yes. It has 165 questions, of which 150 are scored, and you can use references during the exam.