Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills needed to implement a due diligence system and meet the requirements of FSC’s Controlled Wood standard.

Do you need to come to grips with the FSC Controlled Wood due diligence standard (FSC-STD-40-005-V3-1)? In our international Controlled Wood Expert courses, our experts provide essential know-how that builds your capacity for identifying and managing risk to avoiding sourcing wood from FSC’s ‘Unacceptable sources’.

This course is for you whether you are overseeing the implementation of the FSC Controlled Wood standard, or you simply wish to know more about FSC Controlled Wood certification and how Controlled Wood is sourced.

This FSC Controlled Wood course consists of online content on our Training Hub, followed by a four days of intensive live sessions. Training dates are: 5-6 and 8-9 June. Training will be held in CST time zone (UTC-5), daily sessions start at 09:00 AM and last for about 4-5 hours. More specific information can be found in the course agenda (TBA) .

The online part of the course is comprised of self-study materials and homework exercises which can be completed simultaneously with the live sessions and require approximately four hours for completion.

This course will be provided by Preferred by Nature’s Controlled Wood experts and auditors in English language. Please ensure that your language skills will allow you to fully engage in presentations, group exercises and discussions.

Please note: this training course is not accredited as an official FSC Training Programme for candidate auditors, and is not offered as such.

For our other FSC Expert Courses, please take a look at our Training Calendar for 2023  or contact us at training@preferredbynature.org

Course contents

Learn how to:

• Understand and use FSC risk assessments for legality, social issues, high conservation values, conversion, and GMOs
• Assess risk associated with origin and mixing in the supply chain
• Select appropriate risk mitigation measures
• Evaluate the efficacy of risk mitigation actions
• Evaluate due diligence performance 

The training is based on the FSC Controlled Wood due diligence standard (FSC-STD-40-005-V3-1) and includes a thorough introduction to all aspects of a Controlled Wood due diligence system.

In addition to gaining a good overview of the standard, you will become familiar with key aspects of due diligence and be equipped with in-depth knowledge of how to implement a due diligence system to meet FSC requirements.

Each day consists of a combination of presentations and practical exercises based on real-world scenarios and examples. Group exercises help bring the theory to life and create a social and enjoyable atmosphere. Participants can bring their own real-life examples and learn from each other.

Who should attend?

The course is relevant for anyone who wants a comprehensive understanding of the FSC Controlled Wood due diligence standard (FSC-STD-40-005) and how to implement a due diligence system to meet its requirements.

Course participants are typically employees of FSC-certified companies, consultants, employees of industry associations, and NGOs working with forestry issues. Preferred by Nature auditors learning to audit FSC Chain of Custody and Controlled Wood standards also attend the course.

Your benefits  

You will come away from the training equipped with enhanced knowledge and competencies.

At the end of the training, you can sit an exam to help you gauge and confirm the level of skills you have acquired. Preferred by Nature auditors are required to pass this examination.

If you pass the exam, you will receive a training certificate of successful completion as a visual token of recognition for your due diligence competencies. Attendees who do not pass are provided with a certificate of attendance.

Course fee and discount options

The cost of participating in our exclusive online FSC CW training course is 1,450 USD (standard classroom price 1,700 USD), excluding VAT. The course fee covers tuition and training materials.

Special early bird price offer (10% from full price): 1,305 USD if you sign-up and pay latest two months prior (valid until 5 April 2023).

Discount options: We offer a special discount of 30% for NGOs, FSC Network Partners, and university/college staff/students (NGO30 code). Only a single discount can be applied per participant. All discounts are calculated from the full course fee.

Register for this course

We look forward to receiving your registration for the course, please fill in the form below.

If you do not seek CW Auditor qualification but would like a general understanding of the FSC Controlled Wood framework, please read about our upcoming FSC Controlled Wood webinar in CST time zone for sourcing in the US and Canada.