What is an Environmental Audit?

In an environmental audit, the auditor does a complete review of your compliance and
implementation of environmental regulations, including:
§ Environmental permits in place as needed
§ Checking compliance with environmental requirements
§ A head-to-toe evaluation of the effectiveness of environmental management systems
§ Assessing risks from materials and practices
§ Documentation of the audit, findings, and recommendations
§ Verifying that you are in compliance with all rules and regulations that apply to your
business or procedures.
§ Verifying that you are in compliance with all federal, state, and local Environmental
laws
§ Detect violations of environmental regulations
§ Recommend steps for improvement
§ Gather data and prepare environmental compliance audits and present the information
to management

Environmental audits should be done regularly by an environmental auditor. Using an outside

auditor helps ensure that the audit is complete and objective. When the company’s
environmental manager does the audit, the audit is unlikely to show the manager’s
weaknesses and overlooked regulations are usually not caught. When done correctly by an
outside expert, a comprehensive environmental audit can uncover problem areas and correct
them before regulatory problems arise.
What are the Requirements to become an Environmental Auditor?

An environmental auditor needs several years of experience in environmental compliance or

a bachelor’s degree in one of the following:
§ Environmental Science
§ Environmental Management
§ Natural Resource Management
§ Environmental Engineering
§ Environmental Assessment

Professional certification as a Certified Environmental AuditorSM is available from the

National Registry of Environmental Professions. Applicable certifications include:
§ Environmental Professional – Compliance Environmental Auditor (EPCEA)
§ Environmental Professional – Environmental Management Systems Auditor
(EPEMSA)
§ Certified Environmental AuditorSM (CEA)
Skills Needed for a Successful Environmental Auditor

You will also need strong organizational skills, leadership abilities, communication skills,
and report writing abilities. It is helpful to have a working knowledge of environmental
management systems such as ISO 14001, waste & wastewater management laws, statistics,
and accounting.
Additional Education for Environmental Auditors

While you can begin a career as an environmental auditor with a bachelor’s degree or
experience in a related field, some employers may require a master’s degree and/or
certification to be considered for the position. Certification or a master’s degree can also be
beneficial to advancing into senior level or management positions in the field.
Requirements for Certified Environmental AuditorSM Status

While certification as an environmental Auditor (CES) is not required for someone working
in the field, it is important to career advancement and in competition for the best positions.
Having a CES certification shows employers and clients that you have demonstrated the
skills and knowledge necessary for the position and that you meet the requirements for the
job.

The Certified Environmental AuditorSM (CEA) certification from the National Registry of
Environmental Professionals® (NREPSM) has the following requirements for certification:
§ Bachelor’s degree in an environmentally-related field OR three years of acceptable
work experience may substitute for each year of an academic degree program (12
years of experience is equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree
§ Four years of work experience directly involved with environmental audits (in
addition to experience substituted for education
§ Successful completion of exam

The exam is given online and a study guide is available from NREPSM. The following topics
are covered on the exam:
§ Environmental laws and regulations
§ Program management relating to pollution prevention, waste minimization, health and
safety, and compliance
§ Chemistry, toxicology, and geology
§ Technology
§ Ethics, legal obligations, personal liability, and public relations
Which Industries Employ the Most Environmental Auditors?

Environmental auditors may be hired in any industry, however, some types of businesses and
industries have greater need for their services. Environmental auditors may work on a
contract basis or as full-time employees for companies such as:
§ Environmental consulting firms
§ Engineering firms
§ Federal, State or Municipal Governments
§ Utility companies
§ Manufacturing firms
§ Resource-based companies in agriculture, forestry, mining, oil, and gas

General Job Description of an Environmental Auditor

Environmental auditors assess the environmental operations and procedures for businesses,
governments, or utility companies. They are responsible for making sure the environmental
standards are being met by the business and detecting existing compliance problems or
environmental management deficiencies. Once problems are detected, they make
recommendations for corrections.

Environmental auditors conduct two different types of audits: environmental compliance

audits and management performance audits. The compliance audit is described above. A
management performance audit measures how a business is meeting criteria for management
systems.
Typical Job Duties of Environmental Auditors

As an environmental auditor, you will be responsible for the regular auditing of all
environmental policies and procedures. This involves working with an audit team and with
staff to get a good picture of how environmental compliance is being handled. You will be
responsible for:
§ Selecting and managing the audit team
§ Reviewing the operations of the business being audited and determining how
environmental issues are being handled
§ Gathering data on the business operations through on-site inspections, document
reviews, staff interviews, and other methods
§ Check business records for governmental permits and requirements, safety standards,
maintenance, and inventory control measures
§ Review emergency preparedness and response procedures
§ Review management systems, environmental monitoring programs and waste
management efforts
§ Review employee training procedures and programs and the work environment for
compliance with government and corporate standards
§ Write and compile final audit reports including results of the audit and
recommendations for changes and improvement
§ Present the audit findings to the business managers and directors
§ Assist in the development of an environmental management plan
§ Follow up at a future time to ensure improvements and recommendations have been
successfully implemented.