Certified
Specialist
Antaris Academy launch offer. Save 15% on all available public courses at checkout until 27/05/26. View courses
Antaris Academy launch offer. Save 15% on all available public courses at checkout until 27/05/26. View courses
This five-day comprehensive certified programme is designed to equip learners with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge required to lead audits of quality management systems in accordance with ISO 19011. This CQI and IRCA Approved training course is aligned with international best practices and provides a pathway to globally recognised auditing credentials.
The training also places emphasis on auditing external suppliers, ensuring learners are equipped to evaluate supplier conformance with ISO 9001 and represent their organisations professionally and fairly during supplier audits.
Through a blend of workshops, case studies, role plays and accelerated learning techniques, learners will develop the competence to plan, conduct, report and follow up audits that contribute to continuous improvement within their organisations and beyond.
Please note: Prior knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 and the process-based approach to quality management is highly recommended.
This programme is ideal for learners who intend to become practising auditors or wish to enhance their knowledge of auditing within quality management systems. It is particularly relevant to individuals from any background who are responsible for performing or managing audits.
This course will benefit:
On successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:
Learners will finish the course with the capability to conduct professional audits that add value to organisational processes.
This course offers an intensive deep-dive into auditing principles, tools and methods, with an emphasis on practical application throughout the audit lifecycle.
Key topics include:
Please note: This course is intensive and requires evening study to reinforce daily learning. Learners should be prepared to commit time outside of the scheduled sessions to review materials and prepare for assessment.
This course is delivered by experienced tutors with deep industry knowledge and auditing expertise. Each tutor brings real-world auditing experience, sector-specific insights, and a passion for practical training. Their focus is on building learner confidence through engaging, hands-on exercises and personalised support:
All tutors are committed to supporting learners through interactive instruction and real-world insight.
Learners are expected to have prior knowledge of the following:
This knowledge may be gained through completion of the CQI IRCA ISO 9001:2015 Foundation (QMS) training course. If you have access to a copy of ISO 9001, please have it available for the course.
English Language Competency
A good standard of written and spoken English is important to engage effectively with this programme. While formal certification (e.g. IELTS) is not required, learners whose first language is not English should have a self-assessed proficiency equivalent to IELTS 5.5–6.0 or CEFR level B2.
This level of competence will support learners in understanding course materials, contributing to discussions, and completing assessments where applicable.
Please note: The final examination for this course is challenging and requires a strong grasp of ISO 9001 principles and audit methodology. Meeting the entry criteria is key to engaging effectively with the course and succeeding in the final exam.
Assessment for this programme is based on two key components that evaluate both participation during the course and applied knowledge after completion:
Continuous assessment (70% pass mark):
Learners are assessed continuously throughout the course via interactive exercises and engagement in Q&A sessions:
Full attendance and participation are required for successful completion. Feedback on individual learner’s performance is provided (confidentially) during the week.
Open-book online exam (50% pass mark):
Learners have 30 days from the final day of training to complete the online exam.
Questions include:
Exam Preparation and Conditions
Learners are provided with 24 practice questions to familiarise themselves with the online SARAS exam format. These are accessible towards the end of the course and are strongly recommended.
The final exam is computer-marked and open book; to maintain exam integrity, submitted answers cannot be changed, so accuracy on first attempt is essential.
The exam is open book, allowing use of course notes and a copy of the ISO 9001 standard in either paper or electronic format, internet use is strictly prohibited.
IT Requirements
It is strongly recommended that learners review the IT requirements for the SARAS proctoring exam platform before the course begins. A reliable internet connection, a supported browser, and access to a quiet test environment are essential for successful exam completion.
Assessment criteria:
Exam results will be issued 7 weeks after course completion.
Our training approach is practical, highly interactive, and discussion-based, with flexibility to meet organisational needs:
Learners receive:
Class sizes are generally limited to 10–12 to support personalised learning and individual support.
This programme is certified by the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) and the International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA), the global benchmark in auditor certification.
*Learners who successfully complete this CQI and IRCA certified ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor (QMS) course will satisfy the training requirements for certification to all grades of Quality Management System Auditor. Please note that additional criteria may apply for full CQI IRCA registration. For further information, learners are encouraged to consult the IRCA website: www.quality.org/IRCA-grades.
Learners who complete this programme may also wish to:
This certification lays the foundation for a professional auditing career.
Check out our public course dates below.
Public Course Dates
Great engagement with other participants & great knowledge and professionalism of the tutor
Very interactive which makes it interesting and engaged all time taking into account the subject and the amount of information we had to learn.
great participation by all, encouraged to by our tutor, that helped with the learning
Very good Course – Elizabeth is a very good tutor and very knowledgeable on the topics she teaches.
Engaging and enjoyable, Group exercises were engaging and provided a good opportunity to practice topics learned
Great course really enjoyed it
The Audit Lead training was highly valuable in reinforcing compliance principles and audit integrity. The course content was well-structured and aligned with regulatory expectations, providing practical tools and frameworks that can be directly applied to ensure adherence to quality standards.
Found Gerry very engaging – he delivered content and course in a clear and concise manner. Loved the use of break out rooms and exercises to keep us engaged rather than just loads of reading material.
Given the professional atmosphere overall, I would heartily recommend this to my colleagues.
Great course. Learnt a lot that I can apply to my organization. Will recommend to others.
Thank you very much, I really enjoy this course and looking forward to maybe take another one in the future if available and required from the company i work for. It was a pleasure having to meet Elizabeth Walker. One of the highs was the tutor, Elizabeth is honestly such a great person and they way she explains everything was what made me enjoy the course and like this new world to me.
The activities were excellent to reinforce the material
The course was incredibly enjoyable and it is not easy to keep participants engaged in online course for over five days and Elizabeth mastered this so well. I would definitely recommend it. I think the tutors knowledge and delivery of the topic really enhanced the overall learning outcomes of this course.
Course tutor Elizabeth was very knowledgeable, very good course very well delivered and, i enjoyed the course content
Elizabeth Walker
Senior QEHS Consultant, and proficient management system expert, Elizabeth has exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with over 20 years’ industry experience specialising across five disciplines including Health & Safety, Environment, Energy, Quality and Food Safety. Areas of expertise to support these management systems incorporate risk management, change management and lean manufacturing techniques.
Elizabeth has worked as a consultant developing and implementing integrated management systems for global organisations both nationally and internationally, in Ireland, the UK, Belgium, France, Croatia and Hungary. Elizabeth is also a competent lead auditor with extensive experience carrying out and managing audit programmes and is also a expert trainer delivering wide-ranging management system courses.
Finbar Stapleton
Senior QEHS Consultant, Lead Tutor, and a highly qualified and experienced consultant and trainer. He joined Antaris in 1994 and since then, has successfully assisted a large number of companies in implementing health and safety, environment, energy and quality management systems and achieving certification to ISO 45001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001 and ISO 9001. Finbarr is an excellent tutor and has designed, developed and delivered numerous training courses in the area of Health and Safety, Quality and Environmental Management Systems and Auditing. Finbarr acts as an agreement support manager/mentor with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for the public and private sector.
Bruce Harper
Bruce is an Environmental and Sustainability Consultant with over 15 years of experience in environmental regulation, policy and management. A specialist in industrial emissions, Bruce has worked across both regulatory and consultancy roles – from setting licence conditions as a Licensing Inspector with the Environmental Protection Agency to developing environmental regulations and guidance as a Policy Advisor for the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland. At Antaris Consulting, he supports organisations through environmental impact assessments, sustainability certifications, circular economy business models, greenhouse gas reporting and climate risk management. Bruce holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering and a BSc in Manufacturing Engineering with Management from Trinity College Dublin, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Transport and Mobility from TU Dublin.
Liam Regan
Liam is an experienced energy engineer, consultant and quality practitioner with over a decade of expertise in management systems, energy performance, and continuous improvement. At Antaris Consulting, he works as a consultant, trainer and auditor, specialising in ISO standards including ISO 50001, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 27001. Liam has developed and delivered numerous accredited training programmes, such as the SEAI LWES Implementation and Maintenance Programme and Ireland’s first CQI IRCA ISO 9001 Foundation e-learning course. A registered SEAI Energy Auditor and EXEED Expert, he also manages relationships for SEAI’s Large Industry Energy Network and Public Sector Partnership, supporting organisations in achieving sustainability and energy targets. Liam holds an MSc in Lean Sigma Systems from the University of Limerick and is recognised for his adaptability, attention to detail and commitment to improving operational effectiveness across sectors.
Gerry Higgins
Gerard was educated in the University of Limerick and has worked in the technical services sector for over 30 years, with a background in engineering and general management. He is a Fellow of ISEP (FISEP), a Fellow of Engineers Ireland (FIEI), and a chartered environmentalist and chartered engineer. He is an expert in environment and sustainability, has consulted on life cycle analysis, green tenders, resource efficiency, circular economy, carbon footprint management and reporting, sustainability strategies and action plans, environmental impacts assessment, technical advice, incident review, sustainable packaging, sustainable logistics, ERG, eco-design, and energy efficiency design.
Peter Fleming
Peter is an accomplished safety professional with credible technical insight coupled with best-in-class interpersonal and communication skills. In the last 20 years, he has specialised in the areas of HAZOP, risk assessment, process safety, fire safety and industrial loss prevention. Peter has worked with over 300 organisations in Europe, China, Middle East, America, Central America primarily focusing on HAZOP studies and Risk Assessment. He has co-ordinated a number of HAZOP and SIL studies in Jubail and Saudi Arabia. He has also worked as a safety expert responsible for assessing the safety of Ma’aden operations and processes and preparing a safety risk register for Ma’aden Phosphate Company. He has also completed HAZOP studies in Ireland, the UK, Saudi Arabia and Qatar for a number of clients.
Our training expertise has supported teams across a broad range of industries. Here you’ll find some of the organisations who have benefited from Antaris’ guidance and education.
If you have questions about our courses or need support in determining the best pathway for your training objectives, please contact us.
Explore other courses that complement this training and support your professional development.
This five-day comprehensive certified programme is designed to equip learners with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge required to lead audits of quality management systems in accordance with ISO 19011. This CQI and IRCA Approved training course is aligned with international best practices and provides a pathway to globally recognised auditing credentials.
The training also places emphasis on auditing external suppliers, ensuring learners are equipped to evaluate supplier conformance with ISO 9001 and represent their organisations professionally and fairly during supplier audits.
Through a blend of workshops, case studies, role plays and accelerated learning techniques, learners will develop the competence to plan, conduct, report and follow up audits that contribute to continuous improvement within their organisations and beyond.
Please note: Prior knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 and the process-based approach to quality management is highly recommended.
ISO 9001 Lead Auditor (5 Day)
This five-day comprehensive certified programme is designed to equip learners with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge required to lead audits of quality management systems in accordance with ISO 19011. This CQI and IRCA Approved training course is aligned with international best practices and provides a pathway to globally recognised auditing credentials.
The training also places emphasis on auditing external suppliers, ensuring learners are equipped to evaluate supplier conformance with ISO 9001 and represent their organisations professionally and fairly during supplier audits.
Through a blend of workshops, case studies, role plays and accelerated learning techniques, learners will develop the competence to plan, conduct, report and follow up audits that contribute to continuous improvement within their organisations and beyond.
Please note: Prior knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 and the process-based approach to quality management is highly recommended.
ISO 9001:2015 Foundation (QMS) is a one-day introductory course that offers a clear and accessible entry point into the world of quality management systems. Designed for those with little or no prior knowledge of ISO 9001, it explains the standard in a practical, easy-to-understand format. This CQI and IRCA approved training course is ideal for learners who want to build a foundational understanding of quality principles.
This course also serves as a stepping stone toward more advanced qualifications, such as CQI IRCA Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor training. It provides the essential grounding required for those considering further professional development in quality management and auditing.
ISO 9001 Foundation (1 Day)
ISO 9001:2015 Foundation (QMS) is a one-day introductory course that offers a clear and accessible entry point into the world of quality management systems. Designed for those with little or no prior knowledge of ISO 9001, it explains the standard in a practical, easy-to-understand format. This CQI and IRCA approved training course is ideal for learners who want to build a foundational understanding of quality principles.
This course also serves as a stepping stone toward more advanced qualifications, such as CQI IRCA Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor training. It provides the essential grounding required for those considering further professional development in quality management and auditing.
Auditing internal quality systems is essential to sustaining and improving an organisation’s performance. This certified course equips learners with practical, hands-on skills to plan, conduct, and follow up internal audits in line with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 19011 standards.
This CQI and IRCA approved two-day course is highly interactive and designed to simulate real-world auditing scenarios. It emphasises doing over just knowing, ensuring learners build confidence to audit effectively and contribute to meaningful quality improvement.
Please note: A prior understanding of the ISO 9001 standard is strongly recommended.
ISO 9001 Internal Auditor (2 Day)
Auditing internal quality systems is essential to sustaining and improving an organisation’s performance. This certified course equips learners with practical, hands-on skills to plan, conduct, and follow up internal audits in line with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 19011 standards.
This CQI and IRCA approved two-day course is highly interactive and designed to simulate real-world auditing scenarios. It emphasises doing over just knowing, ensuring learners build confidence to audit effectively and contribute to meaningful quality improvement.
Please note: A prior understanding of the ISO 9001 standard is strongly recommended.
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