PR376
Develop your auditing competence based explicitly on the new ISO 14001:2026 standard, replacing the previous 2015 version. This Lead Auditor training has been fully aligned to the updated requirements and reflects the latest expectations for environmental management systems (EMS), including enhanced strategic integration, lifecycle thinking and strengthened accountability.
Want to book a local CQI & IRCA course? You can find our locations here.
Do you have a general question about our course offerings?
The course is a new qualification programme, not a auditor conversion course. However, it is suitable for conducting audits in accordance with the new version of the standard. It provides a structured foundation for auditing against ISO 14001:2026 and prepares you to apply the updated concepts and requirements of the revised standard.
You will acquire the skills to plan, conduct and lead audits of environmental management systems in accordance with ISO 14001:2026, applying the guidance of ISO 19011 and ISO/IEC 17021 where applicable. This enables you to perform first-, second- and third-party audits in a professional and structured manner, aligned with current international expectations.
In detail, the training course will provide students with the basis to become a competent Lead Auditor, including via the following:
To book the course, please contact our training locations.
Participants are expected to know the requirements of ISO 14001, as well as commonly used environmental management terms and definitions. They should also be familiar with the intended outcomes of an environmental management system, including environmental performance, the fulfilment of compliance obligations and the achievement of environmental objectives.
In addition, knowledge of the PDCA cycle, the key elements of a management system, and the interrelationships between top management responsibility, policy, objectives, planning, implementation, measurement, review and continual improvement will support successful course completion.
Attendance of an EMS Foundation Course in advance is recommended.
ISO 14001:2026 introduces a more strategic, organisation-wide approach to environmental management, strengthening the integration of environmental considerations into leadership, governance and business processes. It is driven by increasing ESG expectations, regulatory developments and the need for improved environmental performance, risk management and cultural alignment.
A new requirement is the explicit need to consider:
These factors must be explicitly integrated into EMS planning and decision-making.
Top management assumes stronger responsibility for environmental performance. This includes embedding environmental objectives into strategic direction, governance frameworks and organisational processes.
For the first time, structured change management is becoming mandatory. This applies to:
ISO 14001:2026 places greater emphasis on environmental impacts across the entire value chain
Organisations must assess and manage upstream and downstream environmental aspects, including those related to externally provided processes, products and services
Performance evaluation processes, internal audits and management reviews are more structured. Audit programmes must define explicit objectives, and organisations must demonstrate measurable environmental improvement.
TÜV NORD CERT is an internationally recognized and reliable partner for auditing and certification services. Our experts and auditors have in-depth knowledge and are permanently employed by TÜV NORD. This guarantees independence, neutrality, and continuity in the support we provide to our customers. The advantage for you is obvious: our auditors accompany and support the development of your company and give you objective feedback.