In this article:
- Learn how to upgrade an existing ISO 9001 Lead Auditor qualification to an IMS Lead Auditor
- See the two pathways to add ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 to your qualifications
- Work out which IMS training pathway suits your experience and study style
If you already hold an ISO 9001 Lead Auditor qualification, you don't need to start from scratch to become an Integrated Management Systems (IMS) Lead Auditor. Here's how you can build on your existing training and gain the additional competencies you need.
If you've completed ISO 9001 Lead Auditor training and want to expand your auditing skills to cover Quality, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, you may be wondering whether you need to complete another full Lead Auditor course.
The good news is that your existing training can count towards your next qualification.
There are two pathways available, depending on your experience, the qualifications you already hold and how you prefer to study.
Do I need to complete the full IMS Lead Auditor course?
If you've already successfully completed recognised Lead Auditor training, you generally won't need to repeat the auditing fundamentals covered in the first three days of our Integrated Management Systems (IMS) Lead Auditor course.
These first three days cover auditing principles, processes and techniques that apply across ISO management system standards.
If your previous training included the Exemplar Global competency units AU (Management Systems Auditing) and TL (Leading Management Systems Audit Teams), these can be recognised as part of your IMS training pathway.
This means you can focus on learning the additional ISO standards rather than repeating training you've already completed.
What additional training do I need?
An ISO 9001 Lead Auditor qualification provides the foundation for auditing Quality Management Systems.
To expand your auditing competency to an Integrated Management System covering Quality, Environment and Safety, you'll also need knowledge of:
- ISO 14001:2015: Environmental Management Systems
- ISO 45001:2018: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
These standards share a common structure with ISO 9001, making it easier to understand how they can work together within an Integrated Management System.
There are two ways to gain these additional competencies through Auditor Training Co.
Option 1: Complete the 2-Day Integrated Management Systems course
Our 2-Day Integrated Management Systems course is a practical option for existing Lead Auditors who want to expand their competency across ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
Rather than repeating the auditing fundamentals, you'll focus on understanding the requirements of the three standards and how they can be audited together.
This pathway is particularly useful if you want to develop your understanding of integrated auditing, learn from an experienced trainer and discuss practical auditing scenarios with other participants.
Option 2: Complete the additional ISO standards online
If you prefer the flexibility of online learning, you can build on your existing ISO 9001 Lead Auditor qualification by completing the additional standards training separately.
This involves completing:
- ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems training
- ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems training
This option allows you to study at your own pace while gaining the additional standards knowledge needed to broaden your auditing capabilities.
It's a suitable pathway for experienced auditors who are confident with auditing principles and want to add Environmental and Safety Management Systems to their existing skill set.
What qualifications will I have after completing the training?
If you already hold the Exemplar Global AU and TL competency units from your previous Lead Auditor training, you can retain these and add the relevant competency units for the additional management system standards.
Together, these provide the training foundation for auditing an Integrated Management System covering ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
Keep in mind that course completion and professional auditor certification are different. Any additional certification or auditor registration requirements will depend on the relevant certification scheme and your auditing experience.
Which IMS training pathway is right for me?
The best option depends on your existing qualifications and how you prefer to learn.
If you want to develop a practical understanding of how the three ISO standards work together, the 2-Day Integrated Management Systems course is a good choice.
If you already have auditing experience and prefer to study independently, completing the additional ISO standards online may be more convenient.
Not sure which course you need?
Our team can review your existing Lead Auditor qualifications and help you identify the most suitable training pathway, without repeating training you've already completed.
Contact Auditor Training Co to discuss your options.
