CQI IRCA ISO 14001:2015 Lead Auditor course on Environmental Management Systems

Review of audit fundamentals and standard knowledge (ISO 14001:2026: e.g., risk, climate change, planning)

Guidelines for audits (ISO 19011:2026 and ISO 17021)

Structure of environmental law (fundamental principles, EU, federal, state, and local laws, general provisions)

Planning, preparation, and conduct of audits

Monitoring activities, follow-up

Audit Methods and Communication as an Auditor

Questioning Techniques, Opening the Audit, Audit Questions, Active Listening, Communication Problems

Interfaces between environmental, occupational safety, energy, and quality management systems in auditing

Online exam

Syllabus

DAY 1

• Course assemble, registration of delegates
• Introduction to the course, the aims and objectives, rules and continuous assessment; study of the delegate profile s obtained before the course
• Module A - Essential Knowledge
  • Refresher & Exercise ISO 14001, Exercises ISO 14001
• Module B - Audit Standards
  • Feedback on Pre-course Questionnaire
  • ISO 19011 Presentation & Exercises
  • ISO 19011 Exercises (continued)
  • Duties of the Audit Team
  • Guides and Observers and Auditors’ Personal Attributes
  • Introduction to the specimen examination

DAY 2

• Module C - Introduction to & Preparation for Audit
• Start of day, administration, recap and further learning points
• Exercises: Overview Document Review; Reviewing EMS documentation; and Document review reports to management and delegate self assessment of their performance
• Audit Preparation (Stage 1 & 2 audit, audit plans and audit check-lists) and exercise on preparation of audit plans and audit check-lists
• Tutors will be available for 1 - 2 hours for 1 to 1 tutorials with delegates

DAY 3

• Module D - Carrying out the Audit and Reporting the Findings
• Start of day, administration, recap and further learning points and opening meeting
• Exercise on opening meeting including preparation and delegate self assessment of performance
• Auditing techniques and auditing techniques exercises
• Presentations on the performance of the auditors
• Reporting the audit findings and closing meeting
• Tutors will be available for 1 - 2 hours for 1 to 1 tutorials with delegates

DAY 4

• Start of day, administration, recap and further learning points
• Exercise - preparation for the closing meeting including audit findings , re port writing, carrying out the closing
• Exercise - preparation for the closing meeting including audit findings , re port writing, carrying out the closing meeting and delegate self assessment of performance
• Exercise on non-conformance, observation reporting and follow up action
• Module E - Post Audit Activities
  • Follow -up activities
  • Exercise & Summary
• Close of day and hand out of extra curricula exercise to be self marked by the students
• Tutor(s) available for one to one tutorial

DAY 5

• Module F - Learning Consolidation
• Start of day, administration, recap and further learning points
• Delegate feedback on their assessment of their strengths and weaknesses and where they require further assistance
• Review of the complete course
• Continuation of review of the complete course
• Delegate feedback on the course and suggested improvements. Completion of the course feedback form
• Module G - Accreditation and Auditor Registration
  • Schemes
  • Overview of Accreditation and the IRCA registration scheme; requirements for registration; visit to the IRCA website
  • Refreshment break and rearrange tables into classroom style for exam
• Module H - Examination
  • IRCA examination
  • Finish of course for native language speakers
  • Finish of course for non-native speakers