ISO 19011:2026 Lead Auditor Training Course (Self-Paced Online)

What you will learn

• Lead an audit team from initiation through to a certification recommendation
• Manage an audit programme using risk based planning and effectiveness metrics
• Plan, conduct, report, and follow up audits in accordance with ISO 19011:2026
• Conduct Stage 1 and Stage 2 certification audits to ISO/IEC 17021-1
• Apply audit sampling across multi site and supply chain, second party, audits
• Lead opening and closing meetings and manage difficult audit situations
• Write Major NC, Minor NC, and opportunity for improvement statements that are factual and defensible
• Evaluate the adequacy of corrective action using root cause analysis
• Draft a complete lead auditor audit report with a certification recommendation

Who is this for?

Open to everyone. Ideal for experienced internal auditors, compliance managers, and consultants ready to advance to lead auditor level. Particularly suited to those preparing to conduct or oversee third party certification audits.

Case study

This course is built around a realistic case study that runs throughout all modules. You will lead a full certification audit, Stage 1 and Stage 2, applying your skills across real world scenarios including audit programme management, evidence gathering, Major and Minor NC writing, and the certification recommendation.

Becoming a lead auditor grounded in ISO 19011:2026 gives you a real edge in compliance and governance. This course enables you to:

• Lead audits with confidence and precision, fully aligned to international standards
• Protect organisations by surfacing the risks and control failures that matter
• Improve business performance by building a culture of compliance and continual improvement
• Open new career opportunities with a globally recognised certification

Why learning online works for you

• Learn anytime, anywhere. Study on demand, on site or off site, whenever it suits you
• Self paced. Move at your own speed and spend more time on the areas you want to master
• Cost effective. No travel, accommodation, or time away from the office to fund
• Lifetime access. Return to the materials whenever you need them
• Built to stick. Interactive, multi format lessons keep you engaged and improve retention

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Lead an audit team from initiation through to a certification recommendation
• Manage an audit programme using risk based planning and effectiveness metrics
• Plan, conduct, report, and follow up an audit in accordance with ISO 19011:2026
• Conduct Stage 1 and Stage 2 certification audits as part of the initial certification process
• Apply audit sampling across multi site and supply chain, second party, audits
• Write Major NC, Minor NC, and opportunity for improvement statements that are factual and defensible
• Evaluate the adequacy of corrective action using root cause analysis
• Draft a complete lead auditor audit report with a certification recommendation

Beyond auditing technique, this course explains how ISO certification works, so you understand the system you audit within. You will cover the role of certification bodies and accreditation, the two stage initial certification audit, Stage 1 and Stage 2, how the certification decision is made independently of the audit team, and how certification is maintained through surveillance and recertification.

This course is designed for anyone who needs to conduct external audits of management systems, including:

• Individuals working towards Exemplar Global certification
• Exemplar Global certified auditors extending their auditing competence
• Compliance managers, quality and safety leads, and consultants
• Anyone aiming to become an internal or third party auditor
• Professionals seeking a formal auditing qualification
• Those leading their organisation towards certification

There are no prerequisites for this course, though it is pitched at lead auditor level and builds on the fundamentals of auditing.

Experience of internal auditing is helpful. If you are new to auditing, our ISO 19011:2026 Internal Auditor course is the recommended starting point, and a working knowledge of the management system standard you intend to audit will help you get the most from the material.

You will need a computer, laptop, or tablet with a reliable internet connection. The course works in any modern web browser, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari. For the best experience, keep your browser updated to the latest version.