Our offices will be closed for the holiday season from December 25, 2025, to January 11, 2026. For urgent matters, please contact support@pecb.com.

Our offices will be closed for the holiday season from December 25, 2025, to January 11, 2026. For urgent matters, please contact support@pecb.com.

Our offices will be closed for the holiday season from December 25, 2025, to January 11, 2026. For urgent matters, please contact support@pecb.com.

ISO 56001 Lead Auditor

ISO 56001 Lead Auditor training course enables you to gain the necessary expertise to perform an innovation management system (IMS) audit by applying widely recognized audit principles, procedures, and techniques.

Why Should You Attend?

Innovation drives growth, competitiveness, and sustainable development by helping organizations respond to change and improve products, services, and processes. It also relies on collaboration across suppliers, partners, contractors, and other stakeholders throughout the value chain. ISO 56001 provides a structured framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an IMS, helping organizations manage innovation consistently, create value, and support effective auditing and certification. Realizing these benefits, however, depends on having competent auditors who can verify that an IMS is properly implemented and delivering results.

During this training course, you will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to plan, conduct, and manage IMS audits in accordance with ISO 19011 auditing guidelines and the ISO/IEC 17021-1 certification process. Through practical exercises, you will develop the ability to apply audit principles and techniques, collect and evaluate objective evidence, identify and report audit findings, assess the effectiveness of an IMS, manage audit programs and audit teams, communicate effectively with clients and interested parties, and address challenges throughout the audit process.

After completing the training course, you will be eligible to take the exam. After passing the exam, you will be able to apply for the “PECB Certified ISO 56001 Lead Auditor” credential. This certification demonstrates your professional expertise in auditing organizations against ISO 56001 based on best auditing practices.

Who Should Attend?

This training course is intended for:

  • Professionals responsible for driving innovation strategies, who want to understand how to evaluate and improve their IMS using ISO 56001
  • Auditors seeking to perform and lead IMS audits
  • Individuals responsible for maintaining conformity with the IMS requirements within an organization
  • Expert advisors in IMS

Learning Objectives

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain the fundamental concepts and principles of an innovation management system (IMS) based on ISO 56001
  2. Interpret the ISO 56001 requirements for an IMS from the perspective of an auditor
  3. Evaluate the IMS conformity to ISO 56001 requirements, in accordance with the fundamental audit concepts and principles
  4. Plan, conduct, and close an ISO 56001 compliance audit, in accordance with ISO/IEC 17021-1 requirements, ISO 19011 guidelines, and other best practices of auditing
  5. Manage an ISO 56001 audit program

Educational Approach

  • Participants are encouraged to engage in discussions, exercises, take personal notes, and use free PECB resources (articles, whitepapers, InfoKits, magazines, webinars) to reinforce learning and stay up to date.
  • The quiz structure within the course closely mirrors that of the certification exam, ensuring participants are well-prepared.

Prerequisites

A fundamental understanding of ISO 56001 and knowledge of audit principles are required to attend this training course.

Day 1: Introduction to the innovation management system (IMS) and ISO 56001

Day 2: Audit principles and the preparation for and initiation of an audit

Day 3: On-site audit activities

Day 4: Closing of audit

Day 5: Certification exam

The “PECB ISO 56001 Lead Auditor” exam fully meets the PECB Examination and Certification Program (ECP) requirements. It covers the following competency domains:

  • Domain 1: Fundamental principles and concepts of an innovation management system
  • Domain 2: Innovation management system requirements
  • Domain 3: Fundamental audit concepts and principles
  • Domain 4: Preparing an ISO 56001 audit
  • Domain 5: Conducting an ISO 56001 audit
  • Domain 6: Closing an ISO 56001 audit
  • Domain 7: Managing an ISO 56001 audit program

 

For specific information about the exam type, languages available, and other details, please visit the List of PECB Exams and Exam Rules and Policies.

After passing the exam, you can apply for one of the credentials on the table below. You will receive a certificate once you fulfill all the requirements of the selected credential.

The certification requirements for ISO 56001 Lead Auditor are:

Credential Exam Professional experience IMS audit/ assessment

experience

Other requirements
PECB ISO 56001 Provisional Auditor PECB ISO 56001 Lead Auditor

 

None None Signing the PECB Code of Ethics

 

ISO 56001 Auditor 2 years

(1 in innovation management)

200 hours

 

ISO 56001 Lead Auditor 5 years

(2 in innovation management)

300 hours
ISO 56001 Senior Lead Auditor 10 years

(7 in innovation management)

1,000 hours

 

The audit activities should follow best practices and include the following:

  1. Planning an audit
  2. Preparing audit working papers or test plans
  3. Reviewing documented information
  4. Conducting opening and closing meetings
  5. Conducting audit interviews
  6. Collecting and analyzing audit evidence
  7. Documenting nonconformities
  8. Preparing audit reports
  9. Following up on nonconformities
  10. Leading an audit team
  11. Managing an audit program

 

For more information about the PECB certification process, please refer to Certification Rules and Policies.

 

 

  • For candidates who complete a training, eLearning, or self-study course delivered by a PECB Partner, the training fee includes the first exam attempt, one free retake, the certification application fee, and the first year of the Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF).
  • This cycle must be completed within 12 months from the course completion date for instructor-led training, or within 12 months from the purchase date for self-study and eLearning formats.
  • Candidates will receive more than 400 pages of comprehensive training materials, including practical examples, exercises, and quizzes.
  • An attestation of course completion worth 31 CPD (Continuing Professional Development) credits will be awarded to the candidate.
  • If the initial exam is not passed, a free retake may be taken within 12 months of the course completion date. For self-study or eLearning courses, the 12-month period is calculated from the date of purchase.

 

For more information, please get in touch with us at support@pecb.com or visit pecb.com.

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