What's included in the Program?

A 4-page MS Word document (landscape format) with 29 transition activities, each broken down by Content of Activity, Process, Cost (if applicable), Responsible, Deadline, and Reporting. The 10 activities introduced newly by the 2026 edition are tagged "NEW - 2026" and shaded amber so you can see at a glance what's actually changed.

Is the free transition briefing the same as the QMS Transition Program?

No. The free PDF briefing explains the principal ISO 9001:2015-to-2026 changes and highlights what organizations may need to review. The QMS Transition Program is the editable Microsoft Word checklist with 29 assignable activities for planning, coordinating, and recording the actual transition.

Is this based on the final published ISO 9001:2026 standard?

It's based on the Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) text, ahead of ISO's official publication. If anything changes in the final published text, purchasers get a free refresh automatically within 30 days of publication - no action needed.

Yes - it's delivered as an editable MS Word document you can adapt to your organization's roles, deadlines, and reporting format.

What happened to the ISO 9001:2008 to 2015 Transition Program that used to be here?

This page has been updated in place to sell the current ISO 9001:2015-to-2026 transition checklist. The 2008-to-2015 transition is no longer a relevant compliance task in 2026, so that edition of the Program is no longer sold.

ISO 9001:2026 QMS Transition Program & Checklist

MS Word · 4 pages, landscape · 29 activities

ISO 9001:2026 transition checklist and planning tool for organizations moving an existing QMS from ISO 9001:2015 to ISO 9001:2026. This editable Word template provides 29 clause-by-clause transition activities, with fields for process, cost, responsible party, deadline, and reporting. Use it to turn the requirements of the revised standard into an assigned, scheduled, and trackable QMS transition plan.

Still assessing what the new edition means for your QMS? See the free ISO 9001:2015 to 2026 transition briefing first.

Updated for 2026 Rebuilt for the ISO 9001:2015 → 2026 transition — the 10 activities introduced newly by the 2026 edition are called out and shaded amber so nothing new gets missed.

29 transition activities covering climate change and interested-party analysis, quality culture and ethical behaviour, working environment, and more
Clause-by-clause structure so nothing in your existing 2015-based QMS gets missed
4 pages, landscape MS Word — concise and actionable
Timeline planning to meet your certification body's transition deadline
Resource identification for each transition activity

See all ISO 9001:2026 templates →

ISO 9001:2026 QMS Transition Program for transitioning from ISO 9001:2015

ISO 9001:2015 to ISO 9001:2026 — What Needs to Change?

ISO 9001:2026 builds on the existing ISO 9001:2015 framework rather than requiring organizations to rebuild their QMS. The transition requires organizations to review the areas affected by revised or expanded requirements, determine what applies to their QMS, and plan the necessary changes.

Transition areas between ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9001:2026
Transition area	ISO 9001:2015 QMS	2026 transition action
Context & climate change	Climate change was incorporated through the 2024 amendment to clauses 4.1 and 4.2	Review organizational context, interested parties, and the relevance of climate change against the 2026 requirements
Quality culture	Addressed indirectly through leadership, awareness, and QMS practices	Review how leadership establishes, promotes, and evaluates a quality culture
Ethical behavior	Not explicitly emphasized as a QMS leadership expectation	Review leadership responsibilities and organizational practices related to ethical behavior
Risks & opportunities	Addressed together under clause 6.1	Review how risks and opportunities are identified, addressed, tracked, and evaluated under the revised structure
People & working environment	Competence, awareness, and environment for process operation were established requirements	Review expanded people-related considerations and their effect on QMS performance
Technology	Technology was primarily addressed as part of infrastructure and resources	Review the use and implications of emerging and digital technologies within QMS processes
Environmental considerations	Environmental impacts were generally outside the scope of ISO 9001	Review new sustainability, environmental-impact, and climate-related considerations affecting QMS activities
QMS documentation	Documentation reflects the 2015 structure and requirements	Identify affected manuals, procedures, forms, audit criteria, and other documented information and update them as necessary

Free download

Download the free ISO 9001:2015 to 2026 transition briefing

Not ready to build a transition plan yet? This free 15-slide briefing walks through the principal ISO 9001:2015-to-2026 changes so you can see what's actually different before assigning any work.

Distinguishes new requirements from restructured requirements and updated guidance
Compares key ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9001:2026 requirements side by side
Includes a worked example for interested-party requirements
Identifies existing QMS evidence worth reviewing
Highlights common transition mistakes

ISO 9001:2015 to ISO 9001:2026 Transition Briefing

15-slide PDF briefing covering what's changed and why — read it before deciding what your QMS needs to update.

FREE

Download PDF

15 slides · PDF · No registration required

When you're ready to assign responsibilities, set deadlines, and document completion, use the editable QMS Transition Program.

From Gap Analysis to Transition Plan

Identifying what changed in ISO 9001:2026 is only the first step. Once you understand the gaps between your existing ISO 9001:2015 QMS and the revised requirements, those findings need to become specific actions.

The QMS Transition Program turns that analysis into an actionable transition plan. Use its 29 clause-by-clause activities to determine what needs to change, identify the affected processes and documentation, assign responsibility, estimate costs, establish deadlines, and track implementation through completion.

If you have not yet reviewed the changes, start with the free ISO 9001:2015 → 2026 Change Guide, then use this Transition Program to plan and manage the work.

If your transition requires substantial changes to your existing Quality Manual, the ISO 9001:2026 Quality Manual Template provides an editable QMS framework already structured for the new edition.

Review the ISO 9001:2026 procedures when your transition plan identifies documented processes that need to be revised or replaced.

For organizations that need to update several core QMS documents together, see the ISO 9001:2026 documentation bundles.

Included in the Package

The free briefing above explains what's changing. The QMS Transition Program below provides the 29 activities, responsibilities, deadlines, and reporting fields needed to turn that understanding into a documented transition plan.