AUDITOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS
This overview of CEAA's certification programs consists of the following sections:
CEAA currently offers a comprehensive set of environmental auditor certification programs that provide value and offer flexibility to a diverse group of interested applicants. Our certification programs have expanded from the original CEA program, and now include designations for sustainable forest management auditors and environmental management system auditors.
CEAA is committed to a continual improvement process and our certification programs are reviewed regularly to ensure that they meet the emerging needs of the environmental auditing profession. We suggest that you check our website frequently for updates to our programs.
The CEAA certification programs fall under two broad categories leading to four possible designations, as indicated in the table below:
| CERTIFICATION PROGRAM | DESIGNATION |
|
CERTIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITOR |
Certified Environmental Auditor - CEA Certified Environmental Sustainable Forest Management Auditor - CEA(SFM) |
| ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AUDITOR |
EMS Auditor - EMS(A) EMS Lead Auditor - EMS(LA) |
A brief description of each program and the respective designations can be found by choosing either Certification Program from the table. Specific details about qualification criteria and application requirements for each of these designations can be found in the Application Package material. To download any of our Application Packages please go to the DOWNLOAD FORMS section below.
In addition to the above certification programs,CEAA is currently offering the Provisional Auditor program as an enhanced membership category. For more information please go to the PROVISIONAL AUDITOR section.
If you would like some preliminary information prior to applying for a designation, you can obtain details about our certification programs by downloading any or all of the following documents from the DOWNLOAD FORMS section below:
The certification process for all designations involves the following common elements as described below:
The main difference between the Certified Environmental Auditor program and the Environmental Management System Auditor program is related to the examination component of the certification process .
Applicants to the CEA and CEA(SFM) programs must successfully complete the 4-hour written examination administered by CEAA as evidence of competency with respect to the Body of Skills and Knowledge (BOSK) for CEAs and CEA (SFM)s. Written examinations are scheduled on predetermined dates in major centres across Canada. The examinations are supervised by Proctors who have been trained in procedures that ensure security and confidentiality. Additional details about the written examination process can be found in the Application Package.
For EMS Auditor and EMS Lead Auditor applicants, CEAA will rely upon the results of the examinations that form part of the EMS Lead Auditor courses, given by accredited Course Providers, as evidence of competency with respect to the Body of Skills and Knowledge (BOSK) relating to the EMS(A) and EMS(LA) certification program.
To obtain a list of EMS/environmental auditing course providers, please go to the DOWNLOAD FORMS section below.
If you have any questions about the CEA or the EMS Auditor programs, please contact Nancy Doucet, Manager of Operations (Registrar) by email at phone: (905)-814-1274, fax: (905)-814-1158.
To download application packages and documents related to our certification programs, please select from the list below:
The certified environmental auditor program offers two possible designations:
The Certified Environmental Auditor certification program, CEAA's first environmental auditor certification program, has been in existence since 1995. The CEA designation recognizes that individuals have satisfied CEAA's Qualification Criteria for Certified Environmental Auditors with respect to carrying out environmental audits as defined in and in accordance with relevant national and international standards for environmental auditing. The first group of 60 CEAs were certified through a grandparenting process in August 1996. There are currently 180 environmental auditors with the CEA designation. Please go to the Registry Section for a complete list of CEAs.
The Certified Environmental Sustainable Forest Management Auditor certification program was introduced in August 1997. The Certified Environmental Sustainable Forest Management Auditor CEA(SFM) designation recognizes that individuals have satisfied CEAA's Qualification Criteria for Certified Sustainable Forest Management Auditors with respect to carrying out sustainable forest management audits relevant to the CSA Z808/Z809 Sustainable Forest Management System Standards in addition to environmental audits as defined in and in accordance with relevant national and international standards for environmental auditing. The first group of CEA(SFM)s acquired their designation in April 1998. There are now 14 individuals with the CEA(SFM) designation. Please go to the Registry Section for a complete list of CEA(SFM)s.
Application fees and deadlines for either the Certified Environmental Auditor (CEA) designation or the Certified Environmental Sustainable Forest Management Auditor [CEA(SFM)] designation are listed below.
Application Fees (cheque to be included with completed application package)
CERTIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITOR PROGRAM
Application Deadlines:
The schedule for application deadlines and written examination dates for 2000 is shown below. Only applications received prior to the deadline date will be considered for the next available written examination.
|
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter |
Application Deadline Date Friday - December 17, 1999 Friday - March 17, 2000 Friday - June 16, 2000 Friday - September 15, 2000 |
Written Examination Date Saturday - February 26, 2000 Saturday - May 27, 2000 Saturday - August 26, 2000 Saturday -November 25, 2000 |
Full details about the certification program, including qualification criteria, can be found in the Application Package material. To download the CEA or CEA(SFM) Application Package, please go to the DOWNLOAD FORMSsection.
The Environmental Management System Auditor program, initiated late in 1998, is the most recent addition to the certification activities of the CEAA. CEAA is now accredited by the Standards Council of Canada as the first certification organization for environmental management systems (EMS) Auditors in Canada. The CEAA EMS auditor certification process is in conformity with the strict requirements of CAN-P-1412 as administered by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). The EMS program recognizes individuals who have satisfied CEAA's Qualification Criteria for EMS Auditors, which follow the guidelines as set out in ISO14010, 14011 and 14012.
CEAA offers two possible levels for certification:
Application fees for either the EMS(A) designation or the EMS(LA) designation are listed below.
Full details about the certification program, including qualification criteria, can be found in the Application Package material. To download the EMS Auditor Application Package, please go to the DOWNLOAD FORMS
section.
CEAA is currently offering the Provisional Auditor program as an enhanced membership category for individuals who have acquired the formal training requirements for certification but are lacking in field experience.
CEAA is currently developing Provisional Auditor program outcomes to include mentoring and networking aspects through training workshops and professional development activities. Some basic details about the Qualification Criteria for Provisional Auditors are shown in the table below. For more information, or to obtain an application package, please go to the Membership section.
| PROVISONAL AUDITOR MEMBERSHIP - QUALIFICATION CRITERIA | |
| AUDIT EXPERIENCE | |
| Number of Audit days | 0-20 |
| Number of Audits | 0-4 |
| ON-THE-JOB EXPERIENCE(YEARS) environmental experience based on educational background | |
| Secondary School | minimum 3 years |
| Non-Related Degree | minimum 2 years |
| Related Degree | none required |
| FEES & DUES(not including GST | |
| Application Fees | $150. |
| Annual Membership Dues | $175. |
| Maintenance Fee | None |