Lead Auditor
ISO 37301 Lead Auditor
2026 edition
Self-paced PECB training delivered via myPECB.
Global training partner Aegentra is an official PECB authorised training partner and an official CompTIA partner.
Audit a compliance management system rather than build one. Covers ISO 37301 requirements from an auditor’s perspective, the auditing guidelines of ISO 19011, and the certification process described in ISO/IEC 17021-1 — Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits, evidence-based and risk-based auditing, interviewing auditees, drafting nonconformity reports, and managing an internal audit programme. This training course can potentially qualify you to conduct audits on behalf of conformity assessment bodies.
- Typical study effort
- 35–45 hours
- CPD credits
- 31
- Course languages
- English
Who it is for
- Auditors seeking to perform and lead CMS audits
- Managers or consultants seeking to master the CMS audit process
- Individuals responsible for maintaining conformity to ISO 37301 requirements
- Technical experts preparing for a CMS audit
- Expert advisers and compliance officers
What you will learn
- Understand the main concepts of a compliance management system and its processes based on ISO 37301.
- Acknowledge the relationship between ISO 37301 and other standards and regulatory frameworks.
- Understand the auditor’s role in planning, leading, and following up on a CMS audit in accordance with ISO 19011.
- Interpret the requirements of ISO 37301 in the context of a CMS audit.
- Plan an audit, lead a team of auditors, draft nonconformity reports, and follow up on an audit.
- Act with due professional care during an audit.
Course content
Day 1 — Introduction to the CMS and ISO 37301
- Training course objectives and structure
- Standards and regulatory frameworks
- Certification process
- Introduction to compliance and a CMS based on ISO 37301
- An overview of ISO 37301 requirements — Clauses 4 to 10
Day 2 — Audit principles and preparing for and initiating an audit
- Fundamental audit concepts and principles
- The impact of trends and technology in auditing
- Evidence-based auditing
- Risk-based auditing
- Initiation of the audit process
- Stage 1 audit
Day 3 — On-site audit activities
- Preparing for the Stage 2 audit
- Stage 2 audit
- Communication during the audit
- Audit procedures
- Creating audit test plans
Day 4 — Closing the audit
- Drafting audit findings and nonconformity reports
- Audit documentation and quality review
- Closing of the audit
- Evaluation of action plans by the auditor
- Beyond the initial audit
- Managing an internal audit programme
Day 5 — Certification exam
- PECB Certified ISO 37301 Lead Auditor exam
- Three hours across the seven competency domains
Prerequisites
- PECB expects knowledge of ISO 37301 requirements (or ISO 19600 guidance) for a compliance management system and a thorough understanding of audit principles.
The exam
- Format
- Open-book, multiple-choice — stand-alone and scenario-based questions
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Questions
- 80 multiple-choice questions worth 100 points in total, across 7 competency domains — fundamental principles and concepts of a CMS (11 questions, 13.75 points), compliance management system requirements (10 questions, 12.5 points), fundamental audit concepts and principles (16 questions, 20 points), preparing an ISO 37301 audit (10 questions, 12.5 points), conducting an ISO 37301 audit (20 questions, 25 points — the heaviest domain), closing an ISO 37301 audit (6 questions, 7.5 points), and managing an ISO 37301 audit programme (7 questions, 8.75 points). Confirmed against PECB Candidate Handbook version 1.5
- Pass mark
- 70%
What is included
Course materials
- PECB ISO 37301 Lead Auditor slide deck (digital)
- Over 450 pages of training material with information and practical examples
- 12 months access via myPECB
- Exercises, quizzes, and case studies covering the full audit cycle
Exam package
- Certification and examination fees included in the course price
- Three-hour exam across seven competency domains
- One free retake within 12 months of the initial exam date
- PECB Provisional / Auditor / Lead Auditor credential on pass