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ISO 17021 Lead Assessor

Plan and conduct assessments of management-system certification bodies, evaluate evidence and follow up findings on auditor competence, impartiality and certification decisions.

  • Practical, standards-based professional learning
  • Assessment and verifiable Cognicert certification
  • Flexible online, self-study and organisational delivery

Is this the right course for you?

What you will work on

Who this course is for
• Persons responsible for conducting internal assessment according to ISO 17021:2011  requirements • Persons involved in the accreditation of Management systems ISO 17021:2011

Entry, exam and access at a glance

Prerequisites

Course-specific entry requirements are not published here. Contact a course adviser to confirm suitability before paying.

Exam and resits

100 questions in one hour. Pass mark: 70%. Your payment includes two exam attempts. A third or later attempt costs £100 per resit.

Platform-wide pass rate: 87% across all examined trainees, based on Cognicert’s exam-platform results. This is not a course-specific pass rate or a guarantee of an individual result.

Self-study access

Lifetime access for the enrolled learner. Access is personal and cannot be shared.

Overview

Plan and conduct assessments of management-system certification bodies, evaluate evidence and follow up findings on auditor competence, impartiality and certification decisions.

Work through auditor competence, impartiality and certification decisions and connect them to the responsibilities of your audit or assessment role. The detailed programme explains the methods and activities covered.

Objectives
The “ISO 17021:2011  Lead Assessor” course provides comprehensive training to enable participants to:
  • Audit each and every ISO 17021:2011 requirements
  • Learn basic auditing skills;
  • Implement methods to comply with the ISO 17021:2011
  • Audit processes and techniques
  • Improve Assessor’s skills and techniques
  • Examine the requirements of ISO 17021 from an Assessor Perspective
  • Write Audit reports process and follow up corrective actions
  • Plan and conduct an ISO 17021 audit, and  report audit results;
  • Effectively use root cause analysis as part of the ISO 17021 Management procedure on corrective action
 
Benefits
of ISO 17021:2011 ISO 17021- 1 to 9 Series for accrediting various management system standards. Types of Assessments Why Management System Assessments are needed Introduction to the Requirements of the ISO 17021:2011  Standard Interpretations of Key Terms Elements of a Management System The ISO 17021:2011  Standard Continual Improvement Cycle Management Process Model Management System Requirements The Documentation Requirements of ISO 17021:2011 Management Responsibility Resource Management Product Realization Measurement, Analysis and Improvement The Process Management Approach Process Management Approach The Planning Phase Establish Process Measurements Analyze the Process Design or Redesign the Process Process Mapping Introduction to Document Control Elements of Documents Process Approach to Documentation Identifying Documents and their Owners Types of Documents Master Document List Document Control Revisions and Maintenance Tips for Document Writers Introduction to Management Review Making Management Review relevant to Management What will be reviewed? Establishing the Objectives Planning the Management Review Output of Management Review ISO 19011:2018 and ISO 17011:2017 Fundamentals of Internal Auditing Decide how to Audit Principles of Auditing Managing an Audit Programme Preparation & Planning Of Assessments Preparation Of checklist Lesson 8: ISO 19011:2018 and ISO 17011:2017 Audit Activities ISO 17023:2013 Audit duration External assessment processes and criteria Identification of Non-Conformities [N/C’s]. Documenting the Audit (Audit Report) Conducting Audit Follow-Up Practical Auditing Exercise Competence and Evaluation of Assessors. Creating a Corrective Action Plan Who participates? What is Root Cause Analysis? When (and when not) to use Root Cause Analysis The Root Cause Analysis Process How to construct a Root Cause Analysis Checklist Examples of how a well-run Root Cause Analysis Process works Corrective and Preventive Actions
Audience
• Persons responsible for conducting internal assessment according to ISO 17021:2011  requirements • Persons involved in the accreditation of Management systems ISO 17021:2011
Content
Background and Development of ISO 17021:2011 Definition of ISO 17021:2011 Major Changes in ISO 17021:2011
Delivery
  • Case Study
  • Individual Exercises
  • Role Play
  • Group Exercises
  • Group Presentation
  • Examination
  • Assessment and Qualification Learning is assessed through:one-hour examination. Passing the exams qualifies the candidate for Cognicert ISO 17021 Lead Assessor (CPD Certificate)
    • Practical experience of 25 days with activity log qualifies participants for our Cognicert ISO 17021 Lead Assessor (Auditor Category) I.D Card and Certificate
    • Practical experience of 50 days with activity log qualifies participants for our Cognicert ISO 17021 Lead Assessor (Lead Auditor Category) I.D Card and Certificate
  • Self-Study Material, Exam and Certification  Online Training, Material, Exam and Certification  Classroom Training, Material, Exam and Certification - Locations here
    Duration

    5 days

  • ONE STANDARD · FIVE LEARNING LEVELS

    Choose your ISO 17021 course

    Compare the focus and training duration of each level. Choose the level that fits your responsibilities; you do not need to book every level in sequence.

    View the complete ISO 17021 training pathway
    1 day

    ISO 17021 Awareness

    Staff and stakeholders who need an introduction to management-system certification bodies and their responsibilities.

    Self-study: £75On demand · study at your own pace

    Live online: £20030 November–4 December 2026

    The date shown is an intake window, not the duration of your course. Ask for the exact teaching dates, hours and time zone before booking. Per learner, before applicable UK VAT. Review your total before payment.
    2 days

    ISO 17021 Foundation

    Staff, managers and prospective assessors building a working understanding of ISO 17021.

    Self-study: £150On demand · study at your own pace

    Live online: £50030 November–4 December 2026

    The date shown is an intake window, not the duration of your course. Ask for the exact teaching dates, hours and time zone before booking. Per learner, before applicable UK VAT. Review your total before payment.
    3 days

    ISO 17021 Internal Auditor

    Personnel planning internal audits of management-system certification bodies against ISO 17021.

    Self-study: £250On demand · study at your own pace

    Live online: £75030 November–4 December 2026

    The date shown is an intake window, not the duration of your course. Ask for the exact teaching dates, hours and time zone before booking. Per learner, before applicable UK VAT. Review your total before payment.
    5 days

    ISO 17021 Lead Implementer

    Managers and implementation leads establishing or improving processes for management-system certification bodies.

    Contact Cognicert for this level’s syllabus and availability.

    Enquire about Lead Implementer

    Choose a level and study mode to enrol directly; no preliminary enquiry is needed for an available booking. Your existing basket confirms the date, price, applicable VAT and final total before secure Stripe payment. Invoice requests remain available.

    Durations refer to the training programme. Course details explain entry requirements, assessment and the award for successful candidates. Training does not certify your organisation. Self-study access or live-course joining instructions follow payment and any applicable eligibility checks. Read refund and transfer conditions.

    BOOK WITH CLARITY

    Refunds, cancellations and transfers

    Refund and transfer choices depend on the course format, how much notice you give and whether digital content has been accessed. Contact learner care early and we will help you identify the best available option.

    Read the complete refund, cancellation and transfer policy →
    UPCOMING COURSE CALENDAR

    Training, exam and application dates

    Prices are per learner before any applicable UK VAT. A live-online intake costs more after its standard deadline because the published late fee is added. Self-study is priced separately and has no late-intake fee.

    TRAINING DATESEXAMDEADLINE & STATUSLIVE ONLINESELF-STUDY
    30 November–4 December 20264 December 2026Late booking period
    Standard deadline passed. £50 late fee applies until 13 November 2026.
    Places are confirmed at booking, not guaranteed by this calendar.
    £1,250 £1,200 course fee + £50 late fee
    Choose this intake
    £500
    On-demand study; next exam shown at checkout.
    DECEMBER 2026 COURSE OFFER

    Save 20% when you pay by the November deadline.

    For December 2026 course intakes with a published standard payment deadline in November. Pay in full by that course’s standard deadline at 23:59 UK time. The discount ends on that date and does not continue to the late or extended deadline. Invoice requests and reservations alone do not qualify. Applicable VAT is added separately. Cannot be combined with group discounts.

    Compare courses, dates and fees →

    Learn your way

    Live online · Self-study · Classroom · Onsite

    Classroom enquiries: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Dubai and the Netherlands. Venue, dates and fees are confirmed before booking.

    Other classroom locations and scheduled events →

    Request an onsite or corporate quotation →

    Speak to a course adviser

    We aim to respond within minutes during office hours: Monday–Friday, 09:00–17:00 UK time. Enquiries received outside these hours are handled on the next working day.

    +44 20 4653 0696
    bizdev@cognicert.com

    Ask about your course →
    RECOGNITION & MEMBERSHIPS

    Know who stands behind your learning.

    • ISCB, United States: Cognicert’s ISO/IEC 17050 Declaration of Conformity to ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17024 requirements is recognised by International Services for Certification Bodies.
    • UK Registered Learning Provider: UKPRN 10091575. Registration is a provider listing.
    • Association of Healthcare Trainers, UK: member.
    • The CPD Group: approved CPD provider. Individual course CPD status is confirmed where applicable.
    • Listed on ISO Central as an ISO registrar →
    VERIFIABLE ACHIEVEMENT

    Check your Cognicert certificate

    Successful candidates receive a uniquely numbered Cognicert certificate that another person can check through our public certificate-verification service. This confirms the authenticity of a Cognicert-issued award; acceptance by an employer, regulator or external professional scheme depends on their requirements.

    View certificate verification →
    YOUR COURSE ADVISER

    Need help before enrolling?

    Lisa Williams
    Course and Business Development Adviser
    Monday–Friday, 09:00–17:00 UK time

    +44 20 4653 0696
    info@cognicert.com
    Self-study from £500per learner · excl. applicable VATEnrol self-study

    Related Cognicert resources

    Cognicert Pharmaceutical GMP ProfessionalRead more →ISO 56001 Lead ImplementerRead more →ISO 9001 Lead AuditorRead more →
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