How can I register as an Individual Verifier?

We welcome LCA experts to apply to become an individual verifier to The International EPD System!

To get started, please review the summary of the requirements and application steps provided on this page and in Section 5.10 of our GPI Version 5.0.0.

How to apply? 

If you meet the qualifications listed below and the valid GPI, you can apply by completing the online application form, available only from the beginning of September to the end of December each year. The form allows you to upload all required documentation. To access the form, please visit our website: [Verifier Application] Individual Verifier

General information (more details in our valid GPI) 

The verifier shall be independent and have the following competencies. 

Specific competences related to EPD and verification, including: 

• general knowledge of industry and product-related environmental matters, 
• good process and product knowledge, including relevant standards, within the product sector in which the verifier intends to perform verifications,
• in-depth knowledge and/or experience of LCA methodology, including ISO 14040/14044, 
• in-depth knowledge of the relevant standards in the field of environmental labelling and declarations, including ISO 14020 and ISO 14025,
• in-depth knowledge of the International EPD System, including the General Programme Instructions, 
• knowledge of ISO/TS 14071 LCA Critical Review Process and Reviewer Competencies, and ISO 19011 Guidelines for Auditing Management Systems, 
• knowledge in the overall regulatory framework in which the concept of EPDs has been introduced, 
• experience in reviewing LCAs verification of EPDs, or the equivalent, and 
• sufficient proficiency in English to read and understand the General Programme Instructions, PCR, and EPD and to document the verification in a verification report in English. 

Specific competence requirements for individual verifiers 

The requirements for the qualification of an individual verifier are:

• documented experience as an LCA practitioner for a minimum of five years, and at least five LCAs performed within the recent five years prior to the application. Among these studies, all shall include multiple environmental impacts, and at least one shall have been critically reviewed according to ISO/TS 14071 or formed the basis of a verified EPD, and 
• at least five documented and independent critical reviews of LCAs performed within the recent five years prior to the application according to ISO/TS 14071. One of the critical reviews shall involve assessment of multiple environmental impacts. Verification of EPDs in other programmes and scientific peer reviews of LCAs may also be considered. 

LCA experts may build up verification experience by using the process described in section 5.10.3.2 Peer-shadowing training, who need critical review/verification experience, which may be taken into account for the overall assessment. This process does not replace the specific competence requirements as described above. 

If an LCA expert completes a Peer-shadowing training course provided by an approved trainer of the International EPD® System, the requirement on the number of critical reviews conducted by the trainee can be reduced from five to three. The Secretariat will make the decision following an evaluation of the training report which is provided by the trainer.

Other than these requirements, general auditor skills and regular auditing or certification experience is an advantage, but not a mandatory requirement. 

In addition to the competence requirements to become an approved individual verifier, the verifier shall ensure that they have knowledge and experience of the types of products, the industry, and the relevant standards of the product covered by the EPD and its geographical scope before taking on a verification task. The description of this process shall be included in the submission of the application as part of the description of verifier’s own processes for managing verification activities according to Section 5.10.3.

During the first EPD verification, the approved individual verifier shall be on probation. The Secretariat reserves the right to determine the probation conditions and withdraw the verifier as an approved verifier based on an evaluation of how well these conditions have been fulfilled.