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SO 14000 certification continues to grow in acceptance in all sectors of the economy. The professional credential for consultants or auditors is individual certification as an environmental management system (EMS) auditor.
To ensure the competency of individuals performing EMS audits to ISO 14001, many countries have established domestic auditor certification schemes based on internationally recognized criteria. In the United States, the Registrar Accreditation Board (RAB) privately operates this program.
The RAB's auditor certification program provides an objective and credible system for evaluating the competency of individuals in conducting EMS audits. Individuals who successfully complete the program are certified as being competent to conduct ISO 14001 EMS audits based on internationally accepted directives. RAB certification is perceived by the global marketplace as an important acknowledgment of the credibility of an organization's work and a formal recognition of EMS and environmental auditing experience.
RAB auditor certification is an important investment in your current position and it can enhance your professional future as well. RAB certification can help maximize your career potential and attain new levels of professional success.
Criteria for earning EMS auditor certification
The RAB certification program for EMS auditors is based on a progressive, fourlevel system:
Level 1 Provisional Auditor (EMS-PA): An entry grade for those with little or no EMS auditing experience.
Level 2 EMS Auditor (EMS-A): Qualifies individuals to conduct EMS audits as part of an audit team.
Level 3 Environmental Auditor (E-A): The EMS-A grade is designed for persons who have gained EMS auditing experience and have demonstrated the ability to perform all or any part of an EMS audit; alone or as a member of a team.
Level 4 EMS Lead Auditor (EMS-LA): Qualifies individuals to manage and coordinate EMS audits as the audit team leader.
To earn RAB EMS auditor certification in any of these grade levels, applicants must satisfy basic requirements in four areas:
1) Education
2) Work experience
3) Training, including the completion of a RAB-approved, 36-hour EMS auditing training course
4) Personal attributes
These requirements, which are addressed in the remainder of this article, are heavily based on the internationally recognized ISO 14012: Guidelines for Environmental Auditing...