ISO 14001 Certification
- Home
- Blog
Categories
Latest Post
ISO 14001 Lead Auditor Course
ISO 14001 Foundations Course
ISO 14001 Internal Auditor Course
ISO 14001 Lead Implementer Course
Understanding ISO 14001 Certification
ISO 14001 certification generally refers to two main aspects: certifying individuals’ knowledge and certifying a company’s Environmental Management System (EMS). Let’s dive into what ISO 14001 certification entails.
Certifying Individuals
ISO 14001 certifications for individuals help advance careers in environmental management system auditing. These certifications prove their skills to potential employers and provide the knowledge needed to create and maintain an EMS using ISO 14001 as a basis. Courses available include:
Two-day courses on implementing ISO 14001.
ISO 14001 Internal Auditor courses lasting two to three days.
ISO 14001 Lead Auditor training, typically a five-day course including a test.
The lead auditor course must be delivered by a company accredited to present ISO 14001 lead auditor training. Individuals can only be certified as ISO 14001 Lead Auditors if the course is accredited. Certified individuals can be hired by a certification body to audit a company’s EMS against ISO 14001.
Certifying an Environmental Management System
The certification process for companies begins when a company decides to implement an EMS that meets ISO 14001 requirements. The company will use these requirements as guidelines to create, document, maintain, and review their system. Once complete, certified lead auditors from a certification body will audit the EMS against ISO 14001. If the auditors find the system meets the standard, an ISO 14001 certificate is issued, and the company is considered ISO 14001 certified.
The Cycle for Maintaining ISO 14001 Certification
ISO 14001 certification is not a one-time event. It requires the EMS to be maintained and improved continuously. The certification body will have an agreement with the company for ongoing routine audits, known as surveillance or maintenance audits. This typically covers a three-year cycle:
Initial Certification Audit: Covers the entire EMS.
Maintenance Audits: In the next two years, these audits review portions of the system and can occur annually, biannually, or more frequently. Each element of the EMS is audited at least once during this period.
After three years, a recertification audit reviews the entire system again if the company chooses to maintain ISO 14001 certification and its benefits.
Understanding these steps helps in navigating ISO 14001 certification, whether for individuals seeking career advancement or companies aiming to ensure their environmental management system meets global standards.
