Environmental Management Systems ISO 14001:2015 Lead Auditor

You will learn how to plan, conduct, report and follow up the results of environmental management system audits. You will learn how to audit an environmental management system for continual improvement and understand the role that processes such as internal auditing and management review play in the continual improvement cycle.

The course will cover the following in the context of 1st, 2nd & 3rd party audits:

• Audit planning and checklist development
• Performing the audit, including interviewing, following audit trails, process and procedural auditing
• Audit report writing and feedback techniques
• Following up the results of audits with an emphasis on continual OHS system improvement
• Leading an audit team

Course Learning Objectives:

• the purpose of an ISO 14001 Conforming Environmental Management System (EMS)
• the principles of aspect and impact identification and the implementation of appropriate EMS controls and mitigations
• the purpose, content and uses of ISO 14001 and ISO 19011
• the requirements of ISO 14001 in the context of an audit
• the roles and responsibilities of auditors and lead auditors in the planning and execution of an audit in accordance with ISO 19011
• reporting the results of an audit, including writing valid, factual, and value-added reports
• audit follow-up activities, including the evaluation of the effectiveness of corrective action.

Pre Reading

Training will include some pre course reading to understand primary environmental legislation and gain some familiarity with ISO 14001. You will be sent a 40 page online pre reading document in advance of the course.

You will also be required to obtain a copy of the ISO 14001:2015 (at no cost) from the British Standards Library online through the MOD’s corporate licence – full details are provided within your course Joining Instructions.

You will be provided with an online student pack covering all course content which includes the following:

• Management Systems
• Ecological Systems, Human impacts, Ecosystem services, Pollution, Climate Change, Sustainability, the role of NGO’s
• ISO 14001:2015 Structure & Principles and Requirements
• Audits – First party, Second Party, Third Party
• Managing an audit from initiating, preparing and conducting the audit to preparing conclusions, completing the audit and follow up activities.
• The Lead Auditor role and responsibilities and also accreditation and certification bodies.

Exam Information

The Lead Auditor exam is 1 hour 40 minutes and will take place AFTER the course at any point within 30 days. An extra 30 mins is provided for those who have submitted evidence of dyslexia, or where English is not your first language.  You will be provided with a Unique Learner ID from CQI during the course and this will give you access to the online portal which has practice exam questions and a link to complete the actual exam.
You will require access to a laptop or PC with a webcam and microphone, which will allow access to EasyProctor to complete your exam.
The exam will be open book and questions will be a mix of multiple choice, multiple response, fill in the blanks, matching items and sequencing responses in the correct order.
The last 2 exam sections will include scenario questions relating to conducting, reporting on, and closing out audits. You will be asked to evaluate the scenario presented to you and select the correct course of action.


The pass mark is 50% and results will be available within one month and those successful will be sent Certificates through CTP within 6 weeks of course completion.