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

Level Lead auditor Duration 5 days

Available to book: Live online training £2495 + VAT View dates and book now

Available to book: Duration 4 days Classroom-based training £2495 + VAT View dates and book now

Available to quote: In-house Request a quote

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

Earn a BSI Auditor Qualification

Combine courses and earn an industry-recognized BSI Qualification. Available at three levels, each stage builds your knowledge, and upon completion, you earn a BSI Mark of Trust to showcase on your professional profile.

Learn more about BSI Auditor Qualifications >

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
- Detailed course notes
- CQI and IRCA certified training course certificate
This course is certified by CQI and IRCA (the Chartered Quality Institute and the International Register of Certificated Auditors) and meets the training requirements for CQI and IRCA Environmental Management Systems Auditor Certification.

Due to changes announced by CQI and IRCA we must make you aware that:

In order to accurately record the delegates that they are certifying, CQI and IRCA now require that we provide them with your contact details (name, surname and email address).

We have been assured by CQI and IRCA that delegate data will be handled and stored confidentially and securely, and that any marketing communications between CQI and IRCA and you will be limited to the promotion of CQI and IRCA and their qualifications programmes, and that this will be strictly on an opt-in basis.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this change, please do not hesitate to contact the BSI training team on +44 345 086 9000.
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