Eligibility requirements for IEMA Environmental Auditor Registration

Associate Environmental Auditor (auditor in training)

Requirements

Training:

IEMA 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

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

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

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[1]year period

Lead EMS Auditor

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[1]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:

a) environmental science and technology

b) technical and environmental aspects of facility operations

c) relevant requirements of environmental laws, regulations and related documents

d) environmental management systems and standards against which audits may be conducted

e) 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

Application Process

If you are applying to one of the general environmental auditor levels on the register, this is assessed by IEMA 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 IEMA 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. IEMA 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.