ISO Lead Implementer Courses

What are lead implementer courses?

Lead implementer courses focus on designing, implementing, managing, and maintaining a management system in line with an ISO standard within an organization.

They address the full lifecycle of a management system, from initial setup and planning through implementation, monitoring, corrective action, and continual improvement.

They are intended for professionals responsible for building and operating the system in practice, such as management representatives and audit programme managers.

Which is better: Lead Auditor Course or Lead Implementer Course?

Both have their benefits. That said, conventional lead auditor courses don’t always meet the needs of those managing a management system or providing consultancy.

Lead Auditor courses focus on audits in compliance with ISO 17021 and offer little practical guidance for audit programme managers, whose responsibilities include planning and implementing audit programmes, training auditors, monitoring audits, taking corrective actions, and improving programmes.

Such activities are outside their usual scope which are mainly designed for working with certification auditors.

What Makes Lead Implementer Courses a Great Option?

Internal Auditor courses focus mainly on audit tasks like document review and on-site checks, while Lead Auditor courses cover topics often unnecessary for those managing an organization’s system, such as formal meetings, team management, and detailed certification reports.

Lead Implementer courses provide the ideal balance, emphasizing audit planning, scheduling, auditor competence, corrective and improvement actions, and maintaining audit records.

They combine ISO 19011 skills with practical application, tailored for management system leaders, at lower cost and shorter duration than Lead Auditor courses.

What is the difference between having formal Lead Implementer training and having none?

Having formal lead implementer training gives you the practical knowledge and skills to manage and maintain a management system effectively Without it, you might get limited to audit-focused know-how.

Below is a quick comparison of the difference between having formal training and having none.

Are deGRANDSON’s ISO Lead Implementer Courses Certified?

 Yes. All deGRANDSON courses are certified to the following international standards:

• ISO 21001:2018 – Educational Organizations Management Systems – This Ensures the course is designed and managed according to globally recognized education management practices.
• ISO 29993:2017 – Learning Services Outside Formal Education- This covers non-traditional learning environments such as professional development programs, corporate training, and online courses.
• ISO 29994:2021 – Additional Requirements for Distance Learning – This sets extra criteria for online and remote learning, including learner engagement, accessibility, and effective assessment methods.

The ISO 21001 certification is issued by Business Quality Assurance International (BQAI), an accredited body under the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB). 

INAB is a signatory to both the European cooperation for Accreditation (EA) Multilateral Agreement and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) Multilateral Arrangement, ensuring global recognition of the qualification.

What benefits do courses being certified to these standards provide?

• Recognition by Employers and Certification Bodies: Being accredited to international standards gives your certificate credibility, making it a globally recognized auditor qualification that enhances professional standing.
• Consistency and Trust: Every module is developed and delivered under an externally audited educational management system, ensuring reliable, high-quality learning outcomes.
• Confidence in Online Learning: ISO 29993 and ISO 29994 alignment guarantees that distance learning is effective, transparent, and engaging, validating your competency in a professional context.

Are your courses IRCA certified?

deGRANDSON’s ISO Lead Implementer courses are ISO 21001 certified, which provides a university-grade, independently audited standard for educational organizations. While IRCA (now CQI/IRCA) approval is well-known, it is largely UK-focused, limited in ongoing monitoring, and does not audit the full educational organization. 

ISO 21001, in contrast, ensures that both the learning services and the management of the provider meet international standards, giving learners and sponsoring organizations confidence in the effectiveness, reliability, and credibility of the training experience.