ISO 14000 Series Foundation Auditor Training Course - IRCA

Certification criteria for 

ISO 14000 Series Foundation 

Auditor Training Course

ight reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval 

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or transmitted in any form or by any means; electronic, mechanical, 

system 

recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the CQI 

photocopying, 

Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA). 

International 

CERTIFICATION CRITERIA FOR THE ISO 14000 SERIES FOUNDATION TRAINING COURSE 

Copyright IRCA - 2002


CONTENTS 

1. INTRODUCTION 

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

3. ENABLING OBJECTIVES 

4. TRAINING METHODS 

5. COURSE CONTENT 

6. COURSE DURATION 

7. TUTORS AND STUDENTS 

8. VARIATIONS 

9. STUDENT ASSESSMENT 

10. ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL 

Glossary 

Page 1 IRCA/2171/07/1 Jan 07

of the certification requirements common to all courses are detailed in IRCA/2000; 

Many 

Requirements for Organizations Providing Certified Auditor Training. These general course 

Approval 

completion of an IRCA certified ISO14000 Series Foundation Course will, in itself, NOT 

Successful 

the training requirements for IRCA certification to any grade of Environmental 

satisfy 


requirements are in addition to the requirements of IRCA/2171 and are mandatory. 

It is 

essential, therefore, that you are familiar with the requirements of IRCA/2000. 

Management Systems (EMS) auditor. 


We, the International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA), have developed 

1.1 

document to help you, the approved Training Organization, achieve 

this 

Before designing an ISO14000 Series Foundation training course to meet the 

1.2 

of this document you should consider the following: 

requirements 

ISO 14001 provides industry with a useful model for managing and 

1.2.1 

environmental impacts resulting from business operation. 

improving 

aim of the ISO14000 Series Foundation training course is to provide 

The 

with an overview of the purpose and requirements of ISO 

students 

as a tool for the management of environmental aspects and 

14001 

impacts. 

This course may be valuable as preparation for students planning to 

1.2.2 

other ISO 14000 series-based training courses, such as the 

complete 

EMS Auditor/Lead Auditor, the IRCA/2007 EMS Auditor 

IRCA/2017 

or the IRCA/2170 Internal EMS Auditor training courses, and 

Conversion 

as an introduction for anyone involved in the development, 

useful 

and management of a ISO 14001 environmental 

implementation 

This course does not address the skills required to audit an 

1.2.3 

management system. Where students require both 

environmental 

of ISO 14001 and audit skills this Foundation course can be 

knowledge 

with the IRCA/2170 Internal EMS Auditor training course, or 

run 

should consider taking the IRCA/2017 EMS Auditor/Lead 

students 

training course. 

Auditor 

Students are not expected to have knowledge of auditing, 

1.2.4 

management systems or ISO 14001 before attending this 

environmental 

Your training course must be designed and delivered in accordance with 

1.2.5 

criteria in this document, although you may exercise flexibility in 

the 

inclusion of additional learning objectives, additional material, and 

the 

the structure and selection of specific training methods used during 

in 

We would be pleased to review your proposed approach and course outline 

1.3 

you begin detailed course development to help ensure that your final 

before 

product will meet the requirements in this document. The application 

training 

(see IRCA/151, Fees and Charges) must be paid before we will review any 

fee 

Objectives describe in outline what students will be able to do by the end of 

Learning 

course. By the end of the course students will be able to: 

your 

Describe the purpose of an environmental management system and explain the 

2.1 

framework relevant to an EMS. 

legislative 


1. INTRODUCTION 

certification of your ISO14000 Series Foundation training course. 

management system. 

course. 

your course. 

proposed course outlines. 

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

2.2 Explain the purpose and intent of the ISO 14000 series of standards. 

2.3 Describe the ISO14001 requirements. 


students to achieve the overall Learning Objectives they will need to develop 

For 

areas of knowledge. These are specified below as “Enabling Objectives” and can 

specific 

Describe the purpose of an environmental management system and 

3.1 

the legislative framework relevant to an EMS. 

explain 

Describe the purpose of an environmental management system in 

3.1.1 

environmental aspects and impacts. 

managing 

Outline the concepts of and approaches to environmental management 

3.1.2 

sustainable development as strategic business drivers. 

and 

Summarize briefly the relevant environmental legislation concerning 

3.1.3 

control via emissions to air, discharges to water and disposal to 

pollution 

including control over hazardous substances, and how relevant 

land, 

can be sourced. 

legislation 

Explain the purpose of the ISO 14000 series of standards, how they 

3.2.1 

and the benefits to organizations of using ISO 14001. 

interrelate 

Outline the content of ISO 14001 and the ISO 14000 series guidance 

3.2.2 

standards. 

Describe, with reference to the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) cycle, the 

3.2.3 

and scope of ISO 14001. 

structure 

Suggest possible ways in which organizations might satisfy the 

b) 

requirement. 

Determine conformance of a management system to ISO 14001 

3.3.3 

requirements. 

may deliver this course in a classroom or as a self-study course. Your course can be 

You 

as a single, complete learning event, or can be broken into discrete elements 

presented 

following requirements apply to all sections of the training course, regardless of 

The 

and method of delivery: 

media 

Training must be highly participative to allow all students to apply new 

4.1.1 

and enhance their learning, and so the training methods you 

knowledge 


3. ENABLING OBJECTIVES 

be thought of as steps to the achievement of the Learning Objectives. 

By the end of the course students will be able to: 

3.2 Explain the purpose and intent of the ISO14000 series of standards. 

3.3 Describe the ISO 14001 requirements. 

3.3.1 Explain key ISO 14000 Series definitions and terminology. 

3.3.2 For each numbered 1 clause of ISO 14001: 

a) Explain the intent of the requirement. 

4. TRAINING METHODS 

4.1 General 

that collectively cover all the Learning and Enabling Objectives. 

1 

Numbered clauses: coverage can be limited to the main requirements, e.g. 4.2.3 rather than the detailed sub requirements, e.g. 4.2.3 

a, b etc. 


should involve and engage students throughout the duration of 

select 

course. 

your 

Each student must participate in practical, interactive activities for a 

4.1.2 

of 40% of your course duration. 

minimum 

You must build methods into your course for students to assess their 

4.1.3 

of the Learning and Enabling Objectives and for tutors to 

achievement 

Where your course is not delivered as a single, complete learning event, 

4.1.4 

must make appropriate arrangements to ensure continuity of 

you 

may be used for the full training course, or to supplement classroom 

Self-study 

training. 

Your self-study materials must be designed around a clearly structured 

4.2.1 

process with: 

learning 

Exercises and tests to provide comprehensive coverage of the 

c) 

learning and enabling objectives. 

relevant 

Feedback/self-assessment on exercises and tests where relevant, 

d) 

ensure students can self-assess their understanding and 

to 

of the Learning Objectives and identify areas any 

achievement 

further work. 

requiring 

providing students with a set of reading materials will not be 

Simply 

acceptable. 

Your self-study course materials must be clearly presented and 

4.2.2 

for ease of use, with appropriate navigational aids. You must 

structured 

the following clear to students to help them manage their 

make 

learning: 

The Learning Objectives for the overall self-study element of your 

a) 

course. 

The structure and suggested or intended sequence of the 

c) 

materials. 

Instructions for the students’ use of the materials, including 

d) 

timescales. 

realistic 

How, when and how often students may contact tutors for help, 

e) 

and feedback. 

guidance 

You must ensure that each student has timely access to a course tutor to 

4.2.3 

questions and queries. 

answer 

Your course must include methods for students to assess their learning 

4.2.4 

to seek timely feedback and coaching from the tutor(s). 

and 


provide timely feedback and coaching to students. 

learning, including use of summaries and learning reviews. 

4.2 Self-study 

a) Input (theory). 

b) Examples. 

b) The Learning Objectives for each section within your course. 

4.3 Classroom Training 


You must include session plans (i.e. documented outlines of the 

4.3.1 

process) for your tutors for each individual training 

training/learning 

Organizational arrangements, including tutor and student briefing 

d) 

and tutor:student ratios. 

details 

How your tutors must manage any elements of flexibility 

g) 

into the course. Any deviations from your course 

designed 

must be managed to ensure that all Learning Objectives 

timings 

adequately covered and that students are kept informed of 

are 

Knowledge-based sessions may be tutor led, but your course must allow 

4.3.2 

with students, so that tutors can test learning and students 

interaction 

At the beginning of your course you must provide the students with a description 

5.1 

the Learning Objectives, course structure & format, student responsibilities, 

of 

assessment processes and any assessment criteria. Your course must cover 

student 

aspects defined in clause 2, Learning Objectives, and clause 3, Enabling 

all 

Your course must include local requirements as appropriate for each country in 

5.2 

your course is presented. 

which 

Your course must include a description of the role of IRCA, the benefits of 

5.3 

as an IRCA EMS auditor, including brief details of the IRCA EMS 

certification 

certification scheme and how to contact IRCA. Web-based courses may 

auditor 

a link to the IRCA website www.irca.org. 

include 

Your course must be designed so that students can realistically complete 

6.1.1 

elements of your course within 20 hours. 

all 

The minimum course time is 7 hours over 1 day when there are 20 

6.2.1 

and one tutor (the method for calculating course duration is 

students 

in IRCA/2000). However, we recognise that it is possible to 

described 

the Learning and Enabling Objectives in a shorter time when there 

cover 

fewer students or a second tutor and you may build this flexibility 

are 

your course programme. (In determining the overall duration of the 

into 

based element appropriate you must give consideration to the 

class-room 

methods to be used, the need to demonstrate adequate coverage 

training 


session. These must specify: 

a) Learning and Enabling Objectives for the session. 

b) Duration of the session. 

c) The type of the activity and training method to be used. 

e) Deliverables required from students for practical sessions. 

f) Materials, exercises and equipment required to run the session. 

any changes. 

can clarify their understanding, as required. 

5. COURSE CONTENT 

Objectives. 

6. COURSE DURATION 

6.1 Where your course is delivered through self-study methods: 

6.1.2 Students must complete your course within 12 weeks. 

6.2 Where your course is delivered though classroom-based training: 


all Learning and Enabling Objectives and time required to give 

of 

to each student. Session duration must be documented and may 

feedback 

variations to cater for different numbers of delegates.) Regardless 

include 

training methods and delegate numbers, it is unlikely that the 

of 

of these IRCA criteria can be achieved where the overall 

requirements 

is less than 6 hours. 

duration 

Your course may be delivered as a series of different elements at different 

6.2.2 

(e.g. as a part-time course), but all students must complete all 

times 

of your course within a 4-week period in order to successfully 

elements 

your course. 

complete 

Where classroom training is delivered through a virtual classroom rather 

6.2.3 

a real classroom, the duration must be increased as necessary to 

than 

the Learning Objectives and to ensure that the requirements for 

meet 

methods in clause 4 are met. 

training 

If you present your course through interpreters, the duration must be increased as 

6.3 

to achieve the Learning Objectives. 

necessary 

ISO 14000 Series; by understanding and having experience working 

7.1.2 

the series of standards. 

with 

You must provide sufficient tutor resource to ensure timely support for 

7.2.1 

undertaking self-study. 

students 

At the beginning of your course you must inform students how and 

7.2.2 

they may seek tutor support and how and when you will provide 

when 

You must run your course with at least one tutor, who must be present 

7.3.2 

the full duration of your course. 

for 

You must specify the tutor:student ratio for your course and you must 

7.3.3 

that the required number of tutors is available. You will be 

ensure 

to demonstrate how your course has been designed to 

required 

these criteria within your defined tutor:student ratio. 

accommodate 

We will consider requests for variations to any of these criteria, or in respect of 

8.1 

special circumstances. In this situation you should submit a written 

any 


7. TUTORS AND STUDENTS 

7.1 Tutors 

For this course tutors must demonstrate competence in the two key areas: 

7.1.1 Training; by satisfying the Tutor requirements specified in IRCA/2000. 

7.2 Self-Study 

a response. 

7.3 Classroom Training 

7.3.1 Student numbers: 

The maximum number of students per course is 20. 

a) 

b) The minimum number of students per course is 4. 

8. VARIATIONS 

request to us immediately the requirement for the variation becomes apparent. 


The impact on the learning and assessment processes and how this will 

8.2.3 

managed. 

be 

In order to satisfactorily complete your course each student must complete all 

9.1 

of your course, covering all Learning and Enabling Objectives. 

elements 

You must give each student feedback on his or her achievement of the 

9.1.1 

and Learning Objectives during your course and provide, 

Enabling 

For self-study courses or where student learning is conducted remotely 

9.1.2 

on the Internet), you must: 

(e.g. 

Verify, as far as is practically possible, that the student completing 

b) 

section of your course is the registered student. 

each 

Your training course advertising and promotional material must not state or 

10.1 

that satisfactory completion of this course fulfils the complete training 

imply 

environment where students can interact with each other and with the 

The 

in real time. This can either be a real classroom or training room, or a 

tutor, 

by which students can work alone through course materials. 

Arrangements 

materials can be in any appropriate media, including hard copy text, 

Self-study 


8.2 We will consider the following when evaluating any request for variation: 

8.2.1 Reasons for the requested variation. 

8.2.2 Proposed modifications to the training. 

9. STUDENT ASSESSMENT 

where practical, the opportunity to improve. 

a) Record each student’s completion of each section of your course. 

10. ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL 

requirements for certification to any grade of EMS Auditor. 

GLOSSARY 

Classroom 

virtual classroom supported by appropriate software. 

Self-study 

e-learning or other electronic media, video, audio tape etc.

ISO 14000 Series Foundation Auditor Training Course - IRCA

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