CQI and IRCA Certified ISO 14001:2026 Lead Auditor Training Course (PR376)

Level Lead auditor Duration 5 days

Available to book: Virtual instructor led training View dates and book now

Build the confidence and expertise to lead high-impact Environmental Management System (EMS) audits against ISO 14001:2026.

This CQI and IRCA Accredited ISO 14001 Lead Auditor course equips you with the practical skills and leadership capability to plan, manage and deliver first-, second- and third-party audits in accordance with ISO 14001:2026 and ISO 19011 auditing guidelines. You’ll follow a structured, step-by-step audit methodology - from initiation through to reporting and follow-up – developing the competence to lead audit teams and manage audit programmes effectively.

Aligned with current thinking in sustainability and ISO 14001 requirements, the course helps you to evaluate strategic environmental risks and opportunities, compliance assurance, leadership engagement, life cycle perspective, management of change, and continual improvement.

By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to lead audits that not only satisfy certification requirements, but also deliver measurable value by strengthening environmental performance and organizational resilience.

CQI and IRCA course reference number: (PR376)

How will you benefit?

This course will help you:

Lead and manage EMS audits with confidence
Apply ISO 14001:2026 requirements in real-world audit situations
Plan, conduct and follow up audits that add measurable value
Evaluate strategic risks, compliance and leadership effectiveness
Strengthen audit programmes using risk-based and process-based techniques
Enhance audit efficiency using digital tools and auditing software
Build stakeholder trust through professional audit leadership
Meet CQI & IRCA Lead Auditor training requirements

By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Explain the purpose of an EMS, EMS standards, management system audit and third-party certification, and the business and societal benefits of improving environmental performance
- Explain the role and responsibilities of an auditor to plan, conduct, report and follow-up an environmental management system audit in accordance with ISO 19011 and ISO/IEC 17021, as applicable
- Gain the skills to lead, plan, conduct, report and follow-up an audit of an environmental management system to establish conformity (or otherwise) with ISO 14001, and in accordance with ISO 19011 and ISO/IEC 17021 as applicable
Anyone with the need to manage and lead audit programmes relevant to their organization’s ISO 14001:2026 Environmental Management System.
You should have a good knowledge of ISO 14001:2026 requirements, key concepts and principles of an EMS, and a foundation in EMS auditing. If not, we strongly recommend you attend our ISO 14001:2026 Requirements and ISO 14001:2026 Internal Auditor training courses.

Delegates are expected to have the following prior knowledge:

a) Management systems
- The Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) cycle
- The core elements of a management system and the interrelationship between top management responsibility, policy, objectives, planning, implementation, measurement, review, and continual improvement
b) Environmental management
- The intended outcomes of an environmental management system:
- Enhancement of environmental performance
- Fulfilment of compliance obligations
- Achievement of environmental objectives
c) ISO 14001
- Knowledge of the requirements of ISO 14001:2026 and the commonly used environmental management terms and definitions, as given in ISO 14001:2026
As part of our CQI and IRCA accreditation requirements, BSI must ensure that delegates have the necessary prior knowledge before attend this course, as the requirements of the standard are not covered within this Lead Auditor Course. You should have good knowledge of ISO 14001:2026 and its key principles. If you do not have this knowledge, we strongly recommend attending our ISO 14001:2026 Requirements course prior to this training. Once enrolled, you will be provided with a prior knowledge check, which must be completed before the start of the course
On successful completion of the training, participants will receive an internationally recognized certificate

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