CQI IRCA ISO 14001:2026 Lead Auditor (EMS)

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Overview

This CQI and IRCA Certified ISO 14001:2026 Lead Auditor course is designed to meet CQI/IRCA course criteria PR376 and develop the knowledge and skills required to audit environmental management systems.

Learners study how to perform first-, second-, and third-party audits against ISO 14001 in accordance with ISO 19011 and ISO 17021, where applicable.

The source brochure states that successful completion within the five years before applying for auditor certification satisfies the training requirement for initial certification as an IRCA Environmental Management Systems auditor.

Course Objectives

On successful completion of the course, learners should be able to:

Explain the purpose of an environmental management system

Explain the business and societal benefits of improving environmental performance

Explain an auditor's role in planning, conducting, reporting, and following up an EMS audit

Plan an environmental management system audit

Conduct an audit to establish conformity or nonconformity with ISO 14001

Report audit findings and follow up the audit in accordance with ISO 19011 and ISO 17021, where applicable

Target Audience

People who need the competence to plan, conduct, report, and follow up first-, second-, or third-party audits of ISO 14001 environmental management systems.

Expected Prior Knowledge

Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle

Core management-system elements and the relationships among leadership responsibility, policy, objectives, planning, implementation, review, and improvement

Intended EMS outcomes: enhanced environmental performance, fulfilment of compliance obligations, and achievement of environmental objectives

ISO 14001 requirements and commonly used environmental-management terms and definitions

Prior knowledge may be gained through the CQI and IRCA Certified ISO 14001:2026 Foundation (EMS) course FD135 or equivalent

Learners without acceptable evidence of prior knowledge must take and pass the pre-course evaluation

Assessment

Continuous assessment based on attendance, participation, classroom exercises, homework, audit role-plays, and performance, followed by a final 40-question MCQ assessment through the CQI/IRCA online proctoring portal, as stated in the source brochure.

Course Details

Course Duration

40 Hours

Delivery

Classroom or VILT

Attendance

All Sessions Mandatory

Final Assessment

40-Question Online MCQ

Available Schedules

Classroom day course: 5 days x 8 hours, Sunday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Classroom evening course: 10 days x 4 hours; source also states 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, which is inconsistent

Classroom weekend course: 5 Fridays x 8 hours, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

VILT day course: 5 days x 9 hours, Sunday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

VILT evening course: 10 days x 5 hours, Saturday to Wednesday over two weeks, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM

VILT weekend course: 5 Fridays x 9 hours, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

The source states that VILT schedules are longer to accommodate CQI/IRCA-recommended screen breaks of 5 to 10 minutes after each hour. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory.

Certification

Successful learners receive a Certificate of Achievement for the CQI and IRCA Certified ISO 14001:2026 Environmental Management Systems Lead Auditor Training Course, as stated in the source brochure.

The course covers the following environmental-management and auditing topics:

Course Topics

Course introduction

Introduction to environmental management systems and environmental standards

Introduction to auditing

Audit process

Stage 1 audit activities

Stage 2 audit activities

Conducting an onsite audit

Audit reporting and closing the audit

Course closure and final-assessment guidance

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