ISO 9001:2026 published 16 September 2026
Move your QMS from ISO 9001:2015 to 2026 before the deadline.
Every 2015 certificate stops being valid on 30 September 2029. The changes are few, specific and auditable. Learn exactly what they are, what did not change, and how to prepare for the transition audit without rewriting a system that already works.
- Until 2015 certificates expire
- …
- Modules
- 6
- Course length
- 8 hours
Who this is for
Quality managers
Responsible for the transition and for what the certification body sees before and during the audit.
Internal auditors
Who must audit against ISO 9001:2026 before the certification body does, and know what to sample.
Top management
Who now has an explicit obligation to promote quality culture and ethical behaviour under 5.1.1.
Consultants
Supporting several clients through the transition and needing one consistent reading of the changes.
What changed
What to act on. Same structure, little renumbering.
The 2026 revision adds a small number of requirements and sharpens emphasis elsewhere. Here is what an auditor will look at differently.
- 5.1.1, 7.1.4, 7.3
Quality culture and ethical behaviour
Top management must promote them (5.1.1) and people must be aware of them (7.3). A note to 7.1.4 adds that they can influence the process environment. No programme or officer is mandated; auditors will look for evidence.
- 4.1 and 4.2
Climate change in context
The 2024 amendment is now part of the standard. 4.1 requires you to determine whether climate change is a relevant issue; a 4.2 note says interested parties can have climate-related requirements. Record the reasoning either way.
- 6.1
Opportunities get their own treatment
Risks and opportunities are separated into 6.1.1 to 6.1.3. Opportunities must be determined, analysed and evaluated, with actions planned and their effectiveness evaluated. An empty opportunity column is now a visible gap.
- 6.3
Planning of changes, followed through
When planning changes you must now also consider how they will be communicated, how their effectiveness will be monitored and evaluated, and how their results will be reviewed. Most change procedures stop at approval.
- Annex A
Expanded guidance
Clarification of structure, terminology and clauses 4 to 10. Informative: it adds no requirements, but both sides will use it to settle intent.
- Terminology
Terms and structure
Clause 3 now defines the core management system terms. "Maintain" and "retain" documented information give way to "available" wording. Continual improvement moves to 10.1, and Annex B is removed.
The timeline
Three years sounds long. Certification bodies will use less than two of them.
- 1
16 Sep 2026
ISO 9001:2026 published
Three-year transition period begins. ISO 9001:2015 certificates stay valid during the period. From 31 March 2028, new and initial accredited certifications are issued only to ISO 9001:2026.
- 2
2027 to early 2029
Transition audits
At a surveillance or recertification visit, with extra time for the changed clauses. Certification bodies ask for your gap assessment, updated documents, and evidence of internal audit and management review against 2026 before they arrive.
- 3
Early 2029
Certification body cut-offs
Expect your certification body to stop scheduling transition audits months before the deadline so findings can be closed in time. Ask for its date.
- 4
30 Sep 2029
2015 certificates cease to be valid
Whatever expiry date is printed on them. After this, regaining certification means stage 1 and stage 2 as a new applicant.
Recommendation from the course: transition at a recertification audit in 2027 or 2028 if you have one. It adds the least audit time and leaves a full year to close findings.
The course
ISO 9001:2015 to ISO 9001:2026 Transition
For people who already know the 2015 edition. Six modules take you from why the standard changed to a gap assessment, a twelve-month plan, and an internal audit of the changes. Nothing you already do well gets rewritten.
- 1
Why ISO 9001 changed and the transition timeline
The reasons behind the 2026 revision, the key dates, how certification bodies run transition audits, and the cost of missing the deadline.
- 2
Clause-by-clause: what changed in clauses 4 to 6
Side-by-side comparison of the 2015 and 2026 text for 4.1, 4.2, 5.1.1, 6.1 and 6.3, and confirmation of what did not change.
- 3
Clause-by-clause: clauses 7 to 10
The changes to 7.1.4 and 7.3, the clarifications in clauses 8 to 10, and what the expanded Annex A means for interpretation.
- 4
Quality culture, ethics and climate change in practice
How to make the three most visible 2026 themes real and evidenced: culture, ethical behaviour and the climate relevance determination.
- 5
Gap assessment and transition planning
A practical sequence from gap assessment through documentation, training, internal audit and management review to the conversation with your certification body.
- 6
Auditing the transition
For internal auditors: what to sample against the 2026 changes, the findings that typically appear, and a scenario to work through.
Final examination and certificate
25 questions drawn from a bank of 40. Score 70% or higher for your Certificate of Completion.
By the end you will be able to
- Explain why ISO 9001 was revised in 2026 and state the key transition dates
- Compare the 2015 and 2026 requirements for every changed clause and identify what did not change
- Describe how certification bodies conduct transition audits and what they expect before the audit
- Build evidence of quality culture and ethical behaviour that will stand up to audit
- Determine and document whether climate change is relevant to the quality management system
- Perform a transition gap assessment and plan documentation, training, internal audit and management review
- Audit the 2026 changes internally and recognize typical transition findings
Training a team? Volume pricing from 5 seats, one single-use code per learner.
- 8 hours, self-paced, progress saved on every slide
- Verifiable Certificate of Completion. Does not expire.
- Three exam attempts, unlimited module quizzes
- Lifetime access to the course and your certificate
SampleSample certificateEvery certificate has a unique number and QR code that anyone can check at planetiso.com/verify.Launch offer: code LAUNCH20 takes 20% off at checkout.
New to ISO 9001? Start with the Introduction. Training auditors? Internal Auditor.
Free guide
ISO 9001:2026: what changed, clause by clause
A six-page PDF with the eight changes to act on, side by side against the 2015 text, what stayed the same, the dates that matter, and a twelve-step transition checklist. Written from the same material as the course.
- Comparison table for 4.1, 4.2, 5.1.1, 6.1, 6.3, 7.1.4, 7.3 and Annex A
- What evidence of quality culture and ethical behaviour looks like
- Twelve-step checklist that fits inside one surveillance cycle
Questions
Does this course cover the whole of ISO 9001:2026?
No. It covers what changed between the 2015 and 2026 editions and how to transition. It assumes you know the 2015 edition. For the full standard, take the Introduction to ISO 9001:2026 course.
What certificate do I receive?
On passing the examination you receive a PlanetISO Certificate of Completion for ISO 9001:2015 to ISO 9001:2026 Transition. It is verifiable online and does not expire. It is not an accredited auditor qualification.
How long do I have access?
Lifetime access to the course and your certificate.
How does the exam work?
The exam serves 25 questions from a bank of 40. The pass mark is 70 percent and you have three attempts. Module quizzes are unlimited.
When should my organization transition?
At a scheduled surveillance or recertification audit, with the audit completed and any major findings closed well before 30 September 2029. Most certification bodies stop scheduling transition audits months before the deadline. Module 1 and module 5 cover the planning in detail.
Will my internal auditors need retraining?
They need to understand the changed clauses and how to audit culture, ethics, climate relevance, opportunities and change follow-through. Module 6 of this course covers that. For full auditor training against 2026, see the Internal Auditor course.
Is the certificate accredited or recognized by a certification body?
It is a PlanetISO Certificate of Completion for training, with a unique number and QR code that anyone can verify at planetiso.com/verify. It is evidence of training for your competence records under clause 7.2. It is not an accredited auditor qualification and PlanetISO is not a certification body.
Can I buy seats for my whole team?
Yes. Open the course page, choose a seat count under "Buying for a team?" and check out once. Volume pricing starts at five seats. Each seat is a single-use code: send it to a learner, they sign in with their own account and redeem it, and their progress, exam results and certificate are personal. Your Team page shows who has redeemed what. Need an invoice instead? Email support@planetiso.com.
Can I get a refund?
Courses are digital content available as soon as you pay, so all sales are final. We refund duplicate purchases, billing errors and access problems we cannot fix. Read the course outline before you buy, and email support@planetiso.com with any questions. The refund policy has the details.
Ready to start the transition?
$249 per learner. Lifetime access. Certificate anyone can verify.