The new edition of ISO 9001 has officially arrived. AACI is already preparing its certification program to support organizations through the transition to ISO 9001:2026.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) officially published ISO 9001:2026 – Quality management systems – Requirements on September 16, 2026, marking the sixth edition of the world’s most widely recognized quality management system standard and its first major revision since 2015.
Used by more than one million organizations worldwide, ISO 9001 provides an internationally recognized framework for organizations seeking to consistently deliver quality products and services, strengthen organizational performance, enhance customer satisfaction, and drive continual improvement.
What is new in ISO 9001:2026?
The new edition represents an evolution rather than a complete redesign of ISO 9001. It maintains the established principles of quality management while responding to the changing environment in which modern organizations operate. Among the areas receiving increased attention in ISO 9001:2026 are:
- Leadership and management responsibility
- Quality culture
- Ethical behavior
- Risks and opportunities
- Organizational resilience and changing business environments
- Climate change and relevant organizational context
- Stakeholder expectations
- Alignment with the latest ISO Harmonized Structure
The revised standard is designed to help organizations integrate quality more closely into their strategic and operational decision-making while maintaining the flexibility that has made ISO 9001 applicable across virtually every industry and organization size.
AACI is preparing for ISO 9001:2026 certification
Following publication of the new standard, AACI has initiated preparations for the transition of its ISO 9001 certification program to ISO 9001:2026.
Our transition activities will include updating certification procedures and audit documentation, qualifying auditors to the new requirements, updating certification and decision-making processes, and preparing training and transition support for our clients. AACI auditors will undergo dedicated ISO 9001:2026 transition training to ensure a consistent understanding and application of the revised requirements.
AACI will also introduce ISO 9001:2026 transition training for organizations currently certified to ISO 9001:2015, helping them understand the changes, identify potential gaps in their existing quality management systems, and prepare for their eventual transition audits.
A Message from AACI Group CEO K.A. Paliska
“The publication of ISO 9001:2026 represents an important evolution in the way organizations approach quality management. Quality today can no longer be viewed simply as compliance with documented requirements. It must be embedded in leadership, organizational culture, ethical behavior, risk management, resilience, and the way organizations continuously adapt to change.
AACI has already begun preparing for this transition. Our priority is to ensure that our auditors, certification processes, and clients are fully prepared for the new requirements well before the transition deadline.
For AACI, this revision is particularly important because many of the principles emphasized in ISO 9001:2026 are already reflected in our approach to healthcare accreditation and certification. As we continue developing the next generation of AACI standards, including Version 7, we will further strengthen the alignment between internationally recognized quality management principles and the specific quality and patient-safety requirements of modern healthcare organizations.
We see ISO 9001:2026 not simply as a new edition of a standard, but as an opportunity to help organizations build stronger, safer, more resilient, and more sustainable quality systems.”
Three-year transition period
Organizations currently certified to ISO 9001:2015 will not need to transition immediately.
A three-year transition period provides certified organizations with time to understand the new requirements, update their management systems, train relevant personnel, and complete the required transition activities.
Existing organizations should nevertheless begin preparing early. Early preparation provides an opportunity to integrate the new requirements systematically rather than treating the transition simply as a certification exercise.
When will AACI certification to ISO 9001:2026 begin?
AACI is working toward introducing accredited ISO 9001:2026 certification as soon as the required accreditation transition and authorization process has been successfully completed.
Until that process is finalized, AACI will continue its certification activities under the currently applicable accredited arrangements while simultaneously preparing its auditors, procedures, documentation, and clients for the new edition.
Detailed information regarding AACI transition audits, training programs, timelines, and certification arrangements will be communicated to our clients as the transition process progresses.
Organizations interested in initial ISO 9001:2026 certification or transitioning an existing ISO 9001:2015 certification are encouraged to contact AACI to begin planning their transition.
Moving quality management forward
For AACI, the publication of ISO 9001:2026 represents more than an update to an international standard. It reflects the continuing evolution of quality management toward stronger leadership, organizational responsibility, resilience, ethical behavior, and sustainable performance.
As organizations worldwide begin this transition, AACI is preparing to support its clients at every stage – from education and gap analysis to transition and accredited certification.
ISO 9001:2026 is here. AACI is getting ready for what comes next.