ISO Training Requirements

What Do ISO Training Requirements Actually Say?

Most modern ISO standards (built on Annex SL) include similar clauses under “Competence” and “Awareness.” While wording varies slightly by standard, the core requirements are consistent:

Organizations must:

• Determine necessary competence for personnel performing work affecting the management system

• Ensure personnel are competent based on education, training, or experience

• Take actions to acquire necessary competence

• Retain documented information as evidence of competence

• Ensure personnel are aware of policies, objectives, and their contribution to system effectiveness

This applies to employees, contractors, and sometimes external providers.

ISO 9001 Training Requirements (Quality Management)

Under ISO 9001 Clause 7.2 and 7.3, organizations must ensure personnel are competent and aware of:

• The quality policy

• Relevant quality objectives

• Their role in meeting customer requirements

• Implications of nonconformity

Auditors will typically review:

• Training matrix or competence matrix

• Job descriptions

• Training records

• Onboarding processes

• Internal auditor qualifications

If you cannot show evidence of competence for people impacting product or service quality, you risk a nonconformity.

ISO 14001 Training Requirements (Environmental)

Under ISO 14001, competence must align with environmental aspects and compliance obligations.

Personnel must understand:

• Environmental impacts of their work

• Emergency response procedures

• Legal and compliance obligations

Training becomes especially important for operations personnel, maintenance teams, and anyone handling hazardous materials.

ISO 27001 Training Requirements (Information Security)

Under ISO/IEC 27001, training is tightly linked to information security awareness and risk management.

Organizations must ensure personnel:

• Understand the information security policy

• Are aware of threats such as phishing and social engineering

• Know incident reporting procedures

• Understand access control responsibilities

Security awareness training is typically required at onboarding and periodically thereafter.

ISO 45001 Training Requirements (Occupational Health & Safety)

Under ISO 45001, training focuses on health and safety risks.

Personnel must be competent to:

• Identify workplace hazards

• Follow safe work procedures

• Respond to emergencies

• Report incidents

Auditors will expect evidence that safety-critical roles have appropriate training and certifications.

What Auditors Look for During Certification

Regardless of the standard, certification bodies will evaluate:

• Whether training needs were systematically identified

• How competence is defined for each role

• Evidence of completed training

• Evaluation of training effectiveness

• Refresher or ongoing training processes

Common audit findings include:

• No defined competence criteria

• Training records missing or incomplete

• No evaluation of training effectiveness

• Informal training with no documentation

How to Structure ISO Training Requirements Internally

A practical ISO-compliant training framework includes:

1. Define Competence Requirements by Role

Create a role-based competence matrix tied to processes and risks.

2. Conduct a Training Needs Analysis

Identify gaps between current capability and required competence.

3. Deliver Training

Use a mix of:

• Internal training

• External courses

• On-the-job training

• Mentorship

• eLearning modules

4. Evaluate Effectiveness

This can include:

• Testing

• Supervisor sign-off

• Observation

• Performance metrics

• Internal audit verification

5. Maintain Records

Keep documented evidence such as:

• Attendance logs

• Certificates

• Training plans

• Competency sign-offs

Do ISO Standards Require Formal Courses?

No ISO standard mandates a specific training provider or formal course (unless regulatory obligations require it). What matters is:

• Competence is demonstrated

• Training is appropriate to risk and role

• Evidence is retained

For example, internal auditors must be competent, but ISO does not require a specific “certified course.” Competence may be demonstrated through structured internal training and supervised audit participation.

Internal Auditor Training Requirements

Internal auditors must understand:

• The applicable ISO standard

• Audit principles (often aligned with ISO 19011)

• Process approach and risk-based thinking

• Evidence collection techniques

• Reporting and follow-up

Auditor competence is a frequent area of scrutiny during certification audits.

Integrating Training into Your Management System

Training should not be treated as a standalone HR function. It must be integrated into:

• Risk management

• Change management

• Corrective action processes

• Management review

• Continuous improvement

When done correctly, training supports operational performance, regulatory compliance, and certification success.

ISO Training Requirements and Ongoing Compliance

Certification is not a one-time event. Surveillance audits will revisit training records annually. Organizations must:

• Update competence requirements when processes change

• Provide refresher training when needed

• Ensure new hires are trained promptly

• Align training with updated risks

Failure to maintain competence can result in surveillance nonconformities or even certification suspension.

Need Help Structuring ISO Training Requirements?

At Wintersmith Advisory, we help organizations:

• Build ISO-compliant training frameworks

• Develop role-based competence matrices

• Deliver customized internal auditor training

• Prepare documentation for certification audits

• Close training-related nonconformities

If you want your ISO training requirements to be audit-ready and operationally effective—not just paperwork—we can help structure a system that works.

If you are preparing for certification, expanding your management system, or addressing an audit finding, a structured approach to ISO training requirements is one of the most important foundations for success.