Environmental Auditor Register

Introduction

The ISEP Register of Environmental Auditors is open to both internal and external auditors working within the areas of environmental auditing and environmental management systems (EMS) auditing.

You can apply to one of the general environmental auditor levels as an Associate, Registered or Registered Principle Environmental Auditors, or to one of the EMS Auditor Levels as an EMS Auditor or Lead EMS Auditor.

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Levels of registration and their requirements

  • Associate Environmental Auditor

    Registered Associate Environmental Auditors are typically active 'trainee' environmental auditors who are expected to have, as a minimum, a basic knowledge of environmental auditing.

    Requirements

    Training:

    • ISEP approved training course for environmental auditing or EMS; or
    • 25 days environmental auditing (on the job training).

    Experience:

    • Experience may be required if insufficient points elsewhere

    Background Experience:

    • No requirement

  • Environmental Auditor

    Environmental Auditors are expected to have a good appreciation of a range of environmental issues and environmental auditing techniques and to be competent environmental auditors in the areas in which they operate. However, their experience may be confined to a limited number of environmental audit types and sectors. Registered Environmental Auditors will typically be regular and active members of environmental audit teams.

    Requirements

    Training:

    • 5 days formal training; or
    • 25 days environmental auditing (on the job training)

    Experience:

    • 100 days on activities listed in Appendix 1; and
    • 20 days on activities listed in Appendix 1 - pure core auditing; and
    • 4 supervised audits

    Background Experience:

    • 2 years work experience with relevant degree; or
    • 3 years work experience with a general degree; or
    • 4 years work experience without a degree

  • Principal Environmental Auditor

    Principal Environmental Auditors are expected to have a wealth of environmental auditing expertise and will typically lead/manage environmental audit teams and liaise with senior management on a regular basis. They are expected to be able to take considerably greater responsibilities than registered Environmental Auditors and to have an excellent appreciation of the wide range of issues pertaining to environmental auditing.

    Requirements

    Training:

    • 5 days formal training; or
    • 25 days environmental auditing (on the job training)

    Experience:

    • 200 days on activities listed in Appendix 1; and
    • 100 days on activities listed in Appendix 1 - pure core auditing; and
    • 7 audits conducted as Lead Auditor

    Background Experience:

    • 3 years work experience with relevant degree; or
    • 4 years work experience with a general degree; or
    • 5 years work experience without a degree

  • EMS Auditor

    EMS Auditors are expected to have a good appreciation of the EMS audit process and be qualified to be a member of an audit team to undertake specific duties that they have expertise in.

    Requirements

    Training:

    • Examples of qualifying courses include:
    • Internal or Advanced EMS Auditor Course/Lead Environmental Auditor course;
    • Attendance on a series of seminars totalling 24 hours tuition;
    • Foundation Level Environmental Auditing Course and Introduction to EMS course.

    For those individuals applying to the EMS or Lead EMS Auditor levels, the requirement for formal training can only be waived through the completion of accredited exams or relevant professional qualifications e.g. IRCA Lead Assessor.

    Experience:

    • 20 days EMS auditing
    • 4 supervised EMS audits (entire process)
    • All the above undertaken within a three year period

  • Lead EMS Auditor

    Lead EMS Auditors are expected to have a thorough appreciation of all aspects of the EMS audit process and be qualified to lead an audit team.

    Requirements

    Training:

    • Examples of qualifying courses include:
    • Internal or Advanced EMS Auditor Course/Lead Environmental Auditor course;
    • Attendance on a series of seminars totalling 24 hours tuition;
    • Foundation Level Environmental Auditing Course and Introduction to EMS course.

    For those individuals applying to the EMS or Lead EMS Auditor levels, the requirement for formal training can only be waived through the completion of accredited exams or relevant professional qualifications e.g. IRCA Lead Assessor.

    Experience:

    • 35 days EMS audits from 7 audits
    • 3 EMS audits as Lead auditor
    • 1 EMS audit supervised by a Lead auditor
    • All the above undertaken within a three year period

    Applicants are required to have appropriate background work experience which contributes to the development of skills and understanding in some or all of the following:

    • environmental science and technology
    • technical and environmental aspects of facility operations
    • relevant requirements of environmental laws, regulations and related documents
    • environmental management systems and standards against which audits may be conducted
    • audit procedures, processes and techniques

    The length of work experience is reduced according to the completion of post-secondary education

    • 5 years for an applicant who finished their education on leaving school
    • 4 years for an applicant who has a degree in a subject that does not address some or all of the topics listed above
    • 2 years for an applicant who has a degree in a subject that addresses some or all of the above listed topic

Benefits

The Register is an internationally recognised environmental auditor accreditation scheme, dedicated to raising the professional competence in the environmental auditing field. By becoming an ISEP Registered Auditor you will:

  • Demonstrate a high degree of independence and competency in the environment auditing field
  • Demonstrate environmental credibility with regulatory authorities and the public
  • Receive all the benefits of ISEP individual members including access to networking opportunities, publications including 'the environmentalist' magazine, ISEP's online resources, CPD and more
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How to apply

To apply, please read the Environmental Auditor Application Pack, and complete and return the Environmental Auditor Application Form form to us.

If you are applying to one of the general environmental auditor levels on the register, this is assessed by ISEP using a points system. Points are awarded based on academic qualifications, membership of professional bodies, training and experience. For each registration level a different points threshold must be reached, and you have to demonstrate skills in environmental auditing appropriate to the level for which you apply. All applicants to the scheme are required to pass a rigorous assessment process involving a combination of references, external verification checks (see below), and for the higher levels, successful completion of an oral examination (also, see below).

External verification checks

For each application received ISEP contacts the verification sources provided in the application to check that the work was undertaken, for the correct length of time and was of an acceptable standard. ISEP is not interested in the findings of the audit or any confidential information.

Oral examination

The final stage of the Principal Environmental Auditor application process is to undertake an oral examination with two Principal Environmental Auditor Examiners. The examination is face to face and lasts approximately 45 mins.

Application documents

Environmental Author Application PackEnvironmental Author Application Form