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PROFESSIONAL COURSE · Courses, Quality Management

ISO 21001 Lead Auditor

Plan and conduct audits of educational organisation management, evaluate evidence and follow up findings on learner needs, service processes and improvement evidence.

  • Practical, standards-based professional learning
  • Assessment and verifiable Cognicert certification
  • Flexible online, self-study and organisational delivery
Enrol self-studyBook onlineView dates & fees

Is this the right course for you?

What you will work on

Who this course is for
• Persons responsible for conducting internal and external audits according to ISO 21001 requirements • Persons involved in the Educational  management systems ISO 21001:2018

Entry, exam and access at a glance

Prerequisites

Entry requirements depend on the course and level. Review the course-specific requirements and prior knowledge listed below.

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 audits of educational organisation management, evaluate evidence and follow up findings on learner needs, service processes and improvement evidence.

Work through learner needs, service processes and improvement evidence and connect them to the responsibilities of your audit or assessment role. The detailed programme explains the methods and activities covered.

Objectives
The “ISO 21001:2018  Lead Auditor” course provides comprehensive training in the ISO 21001:2018  standard and all its requirements from the auditor’s point of view, as well as basic skills necessary to complete an audit. It’s a practical-oriented training that should be considered “a must” for every ISO 21001Lead auditor. This intensive course is specifically designed to train corporate staff to serve as internal ISO 21001 auditors (as required by ISO 21001:2018  ). The interactive training program, complete with quizzes, will provide the necessary technical knowledge and understanding of all ISO 9001:2015  requirements to perform a complete ISO 21001 audit. This ISO auditor training should be taken by each employee appointed as internal ISO 21001 auditor to:
  • Learn how to audit each and every ISO 21001:2018  requirement;
  • Learn basic auditing skills;
  • Satisfy the ISO 21001:2018  requirement on internal ISO Auditor training.
  • To develop skills for conducting internal audits Of ISO 21001:2018  Educational Management System.
  • Auditing process and techniques
  • Auditor’s skills and techniques
  • To examine the requirements of ISO 21001 from an Internal Auditor Perspective
  • Auditing reports process, corrective action and follow-up
  • Learn how to plan and conduct an internal ISO 21001 audit, and how to report audit results;
  • Learn how to effectively use root cause analysis as part of the ISO 21001 Educational procedure on corrective action
Benefits
of ISO 21001:2018 Types Of Audits Why Management System Audits are needed Lesson 2: Introduction to the Requirements of the ISO 21001:2018  Standard Interpretations of Key Terms Elements of a Educational  System The ISO 21001:2018  Standard Eight Principles of Educational  Management Continual Improvement Cycle Educational  Management Process Model Educational  System Requirements The Documentation Requirements of ISO 21001:2018 Management Responsibility Resource Management Product Realization Measurement, Analysis and Improvement  Lesson 3: The Process Management Approach Process Management Approach The Planning Phase Establish Process Measurements Analyze the Process Design or Redesign the Process Process Mapping  Lesson 4: 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 Lesson 5: 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 Lesson 6: How to Deal with External Auditors – A Basic Guide for Internal Auditors What is an External Educational  Audit? What should an Employee expect during an Audit? How should Employees interact with Auditors? Lesson 7: ISO 19011:2011 Fundamentals of Internal Auditing Decide how to Audit Principles of Auditing Managing an Audit Programme Preparation & Planning Of Audits Preparation Of checklist Lesson 8: ISO 19011:2011 and ISO 17021:2018 Audit Activities Identification of Non-Conformities [N/C’s]. Documenting the Audit (Audit Report) Conducting Audit Follow-Up Practical Auditing Exercise Competence and Evaluation of Auditors. Lesson 9: Creating a Corrective Action Plan Who participates? Developing a Plan Using the Form 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 and external audits according to ISO 21001 requirements • Persons involved in the Educational  management systems ISO 21001:2018
Content
Lesson 1: Background and Development of ISO 21001:2018 Definition of ISO Major Changes in ISO 21001:2018 The Educational  Management Principles
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 21001 Lead Auditor (CPD Certificate)
    • Practical experience of 25 days with activity log qualifies participants for our Cognicert ISO 21001 Lead Auditor (Auditor Category) I.D Card and Certificate
    • Practical experience of 50 days with activity log qualifies participants for our Cognicert ISO 21001 Lead Auditor (Lead Auditor Category) I.D Card and Certificate
Duration

5 days

  • ONE STANDARD · FIVE LEARNING LEVELS

    Choose your ISO 21001 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 21001 training pathway
    1 day

    ISO 21001 Awareness

    People who need an introduction to the standard and their role in supporting it.

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

    Live online: £20030 November–4 December 2026

    Enrol self-study · £75Book online · £200
    Per learner, before applicable UK VAT. Review your total before payment.
    2 days

    ISO 21001 Foundation

    People building a working understanding of the standard before taking on implementation or audit responsibilities.

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

    Live online: £50030 November–4 December 2026

    Enrol self-study · £150Book online · £500
    Per learner, before applicable UK VAT. Review your total before payment.
    3 days

    ISO 21001 Internal Auditor

    People preparing to plan and carry out internal audits within their organisation.

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

    Live online: £75030 November–4 December 2026

    Enrol self-study · £250Book online · £750
    Per learner, before applicable UK VAT. Review your total before payment.
    5 days

    ISO 21001 Lead Implementer

    Managers, consultants and professionals responsible for establishing, maintaining or improving a system.

    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 2026Standard booking period
    Standard deadline: 2 November 2026. No late fee yet.
    Places are confirmed at booking, not guaranteed by this calendar.    		£1,200
    Choose this intake    		£500
    On-demand study; next exam shown at checkout.
    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 3432 2505
    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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