Course overview
Transition from ISO 9001:2015 to ISO 9001:2026
Duration: 2 Days
Course Level: Transition / Update
Delivery: Classroom, Virtual Instructor-Led or In-Company Training
1. Course Overview
This two-day ISO 9001:2026 Transition Course provides participants with a practical understanding of the changes introduced in the new edition of ISO 9001 and how these changes affect an existing Quality Management System (QMS).
The course compares ISO 9001:2015 with ISO 9001:2026 and explains the new and revised requirements in simple, practical terms.
Participants will learn how to:
• Understand the main changes in ISO 9001:2026.
• Identify gaps in an existing ISO 9001:2015 QMS.
• Update policies, processes and documented information.
• Address revised requirements for risks and opportunities.
• Strengthen leadership involvement and accountability.
• Develop quality culture, values and ethical behaviour.
• Prepare an organisation for transition to ISO 9001:2026.
• Prepare for internal and external transition audits.
The course is practical and focuses on what organisations need to understand, change and implement.
________________________________________
2. Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants should be able to:
1. Explain the purpose of the ISO 9001:2026 revision.
2. Describe the principal differences between ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9001:2026.
3. Interpret the new and revised ISO 9001 requirements.
4. Understand the stronger emphasis on quality culture, values and ethical behaviour.
5. Understand changes relating to leadership and accountability.
6. Explain the clearer treatment of risks and opportunities.
7. Understand the revised terminology and supporting guidance.
8. Determine how the changes affect an existing QMS.
9. Conduct a basic transition gap analysis.
10. Identify required changes to processes and documented information.
11. Develop an ISO 9001:2026 transition action plan.
12. Prepare the organisation for transition assessment and certification.
________________________________________
3. Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:
• Interpret the ISO 9001:2026 requirements.
• Explain key changes to colleagues and management.
• Compare ISO 9001:2015 requirements with the 2026 edition.
• Identify organisational transition requirements.
• Assess existing QMS arrangements against the revised requirements.
• Identify gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Update relevant QMS processes and documentation.
• Support management in establishing an effective quality culture.
• Integrate risks and opportunities into organisational processes.
• Plan and manage the transition project.
• Support internal audits against the revised requirements.
• Prepare their organisation for ISO 9001:2026 certification.
________________________________________
4. Target Audience
This course is suitable for:
• Quality Managers
• QMS Managers and Coordinators
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditors
• Internal Auditors
• External Auditors
• Lead Implementers
• Quality Assurance Professionals
• Quality Control Professionals
• Compliance Managers
• Risk Managers
• Process Owners
• Operations Managers
• Consultants
• Management Representatives
• Certification and conformity assessment personnel
• Senior managers responsible for QMS performance
• Personnel involved in maintaining an ISO 9001 certified management system
Recommended Prior Knowledge
Participants should have a basic understanding of:
• ISO 9001:2015;
• Quality management principles;
• Quality Management Systems; and
• The process approach and risk-based thinking.
________________________________________
5. Reference Standards and Documents
The course is based primarily on:
• ISO 9001:2026 – Quality management systems — Requirements
• ISO 9001:2015 – Quality management systems — Requirements
• ISO 9001:2015/Amd 1:2024 – Climate action changes
• ISO 9000 – Quality management systems — Fundamentals and vocabulary
• Applicable ISO guidance relating to implementation and transition
• Applicable certification/accreditation transition requirements and guidance
________________________________________
6. Course Content
DAY 1 – Understanding ISO 9001:2026
Module 1 – Introduction to the Transition
• Purpose of ISO 9001.
• Evolution of ISO 9001.
• Why ISO 9001 has been revised.
• Purpose of the 2026 transition.
• Overview of the transition process.
• Responsibilities of certified organisations.
• Preparing the organisation for change.
Module 2 – ISO 9001:2015 vs ISO 9001:2026
Participants review the two editions and identify:
• Requirements that remain substantially unchanged.
• Revised requirements.
• Clarified requirements.
• New areas of emphasis.
• Changes in terminology.
• Changes affecting implementation.
• Changes affecting auditing.
Module 3 – Structure and Key Changes
Overview of Clauses 1–10:
• Clause 1 – Scope
• Clause 2 – Normative references
• Clause 3 – Terms and definitions
• Clause 4 – Context of the organisation
• Clause 5 – Leadership
• Clause 6 – Planning
• Clause 7 – Support
• Clause 8 – Operation
• Clause 9 – Performance evaluation
• Clause 10 – Improvement
Participants examine how the revised standard aligns more closely with the harmonised structure used for ISO management system standards.
Module 4 – Leadership and Quality Culture
Key topics include:
• Leadership commitment.
• Leadership accountability.
• Promoting quality throughout the organisation.
• Quality culture.
• Organisational values.
• Ethical behaviour.
• Responsibilities and authorities.
• Employee awareness and engagement.
• Integrating quality into business processes.
Practical Exercise:
Assess the organisation's existing quality culture and identify areas for improvement.
Module 5 – Risks and Opportunities
Participants examine:
• Risk-based thinking.
• Identification of risks.
• Identification of opportunities.
• Clearer distinction between risks and opportunities.
• Planning actions.
• Integrating actions into QMS processes.
• Evaluating effectiveness.
• Linking risks and opportunities with organisational objectives.
Practical Exercise:
Identify QMS risks and opportunities and determine suitable actions.
________________________________________
DAY 2 – Implementing the Transition
Module 6 – Review of Revised Requirements
Practical review of requirements affecting:
• Context of the organisation.
• Interested parties.
• Leadership.
• Quality policy.
• Quality objectives.
• Planning.
• Resources.
• Competence.
• Awareness.
• Communication.
• Documented information.
• Operational planning and control.
• Customer requirements.
• Design and development.
• External providers.
• Production and service provision.
• Monitoring and measurement.
• Internal audit.
• Management review.
• Nonconformity and corrective action.
• Continual improvement.
Module 7 – Annex A and Interpretation
Participants are introduced to the new informative Annex A and its role in:
• Clarifying terminology.
• Explaining the intent of requirements.
• Supporting consistent interpretation.
• Reducing misunderstanding.
• Supporting effective implementation.
Module 8 – ISO 9001:2026 Gap Analysis
Participants learn how to compare their existing QMS with the revised requirements.
The gap analysis covers:
1. Review existing QMS.
2. Compare existing arrangements with ISO 9001:2026.
3. Identify gaps.
4. Determine actions required.
5. Assign responsibilities.
6. Establish priorities.
7. Establish completion dates.
8. Verify implementation.
9. Review effectiveness.
Workshop:
Participants complete a sample ISO 9001:2026 transition gap analysis.
Module 9 – Updating the Quality Management System
Participants consider changes that may be required to:
• QMS scope.
• Quality policy.
• Quality objectives.
• Process maps.
• Procedures.
• Risk and opportunity registers.
• Roles and responsibilities.
• Competence arrangements.
• Internal audit programmes.
• Management review.
• Operational controls.
• Supplier controls.
• Performance indicators.
• Improvement processes.
• Other relevant documented information.
The emphasis is on updating the system where necessary rather than creating unnecessary documentation.
Module 10 – Transition Implementation Plan
Participants develop a practical transition plan covering:
• Transition leadership.
• Gap analysis.
• Priority actions.
• Responsibilities.
• Resources.
• Training and awareness.
• Documentation updates.
• Process changes.
• Internal audits.
• Management review.
• Corrective actions.
• Certification readiness.
Workshop:
Develop an ISO 9001:2026 Transition Action Plan.
Module 11 – Auditing the Revised Requirements
Introduction to auditing during transition:
• Updating the internal audit programme.
• Audit criteria.
• Preparing transition audit checklists.
• Gathering objective evidence.
• Interviewing personnel.
• Identifying conformity.
• Identifying nonconformity.
• Reporting findings.
• Following up corrective actions.
Practical Exercise:
Conduct a mini transition audit using selected ISO 9001:2026 requirements.
Module 12 – Transition Readiness and Course Review
Final preparation includes:
• Checking completion of transition actions.
• Confirming implementation of changes.
• Reviewing QMS effectiveness.
• Completing internal audits.
• Conducting management review.
• Closing identified gaps.
• Preparing employees for external audit.
• Preparing for certification transition.
Participants complete a final transition-readiness exercise and course assessment.
________________________________________
7. Training Methodologies
The course uses a simple, practical and interactive learning approach, including:
• Instructor-led presentations.
• Clause-by-clause explanation.
• ISO 9001:2015 vs ISO 9001:2026 comparison.
• Practical examples.
• Group discussions.
• Case studies.
• Individual and group exercises.
• Gap-analysis exercises.
• Risk and opportunity exercises.
• Quality-culture exercises.
• Transition planning workshops.
• Audit scenarios.
• Question-and-answer sessions.
• Knowledge checks.
• Final course assessment.
The methodology follows the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) approach so participants can relate the transition activities directly to their existing management system.
________________________________________
8. Course Assessment
Participants may be assessed through:
• Participation in exercises and workshops.
• Short knowledge checks.
• Gap-analysis exercise.
• Transition planning exercise.
• End-of-course assessment.
________________________________________
9. Course Outcome
At the end of the two-day course, participants should have the knowledge and practical tools required to support the transition of an existing ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System to ISO 9001:2026.
Participants should leave the course with:
• Understanding of ISO 9001:2026.
• Knowledge of the principal changes.
• Understanding of new and revised requirements.
• Ability to identify QMS gaps.
• A practical approach to transition planning.
• Ability to update QMS processes and documentation.
• Improved transition-audit readiness.
• A framework for an organisational transition action plan.
Overall Course Outcome
Understand the changes → Identify the gaps → Update the QMS → Implement the changes → Audit effectiveness → Achieve ISO 9001:2026 transition readiness.