Verification Training

The Reserve requires that each Verification Body employ a minimum of two Lead Verifiers. This ensures that each verification team includes at least two certified Verifiers: one to serve as the Lead Verifier and one to serve as the Senior Internal Reviewer.

  • Lead Verifier is a verifier who is employed by an accredited Verification Body and directs, supervises and leads verification services. The Lead Verifier has the authority to sign the Verification Report and Verification Statement. Lead Verifiers must complete the Verification Body’s internal training processes and procedures and pass the Reserve’s general and protocol-specific training courses
  • Senior Internal Reviewer is a Lead Verifier who is employed by an accredited Verification Body to perform a final quality assurance review of the project data, the Verification Report, and the List of Findings. The Senior Internal Reviewer must sign the Verification Statement attesting to the accuracy of reported data. It is crucial that the Senior Internal Reviewer remain independent of all verification activities in order to maintain objectivity and independence in the final review.

For both the general and protocol-specific training courses required for Verifiers, the  final step in the certification process is a Reserve-administered exam, which is comprised of multiple choice and short essay questions. To prepare, Verifiers should study the protocols, review the ISO 14064 series, and successfully complete the practical exercises provided in the verification training. After passing the general exam and at least one protocol-specific exam, the individual becomes a Reserve-recognized Lead Verifier and will be provided a certificate as proof.

Certifications are valid for 3 years, at which point the Lead Verifier must retake the exam to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the current protocols and any related updates. Retaking the training course is not necessary unless the Reserve has made significant changes to the protocol. The individual verifier is provided with the certification, but it is only applicable when he or she is employed or contracted by an accredited Verification Body.

Verifiers who do not pass, choose not to take, or are unable to complete the exam on the date it is given will receive a certificate of training completion, but will not have met the Reserve’s training requirements. These individuals have one year from the original date of the course to pay an administrative fee and re-take the exam. If more than one year has passed, they must re-take both the training and the exam.

Please refer to the Events Page for a schedule of upcoming trainings.  To re-take an exam, please contact Holly Davison at [email protected].

Refund Policy

Cancellations to any Reserve training must be made in writing to [email protected] a minimum of two weeks prior to the training start date. Cancellations will receive a 50% refund of the registration fee. Refunds will be issued within 30 business days after the training concludes. No refunds will be issued for requests made after the two week deadline. The Reserve will not make exceptions to this policy. However, if the Reserve cancels the training, the registrant will receive a full refund.

Registrations can at any point be transferred to a future training or to another colleague. Please submit any change requests in writing to Holly Davison at [email protected].