Understanding where your organisation currently stands is often the first challenge when preparing for certification, accreditation or transition planning.
For many SMEs and technical organisations, the difficulty is not knowing whether existing systems are already aligned in some areas, or where important gaps may still exist.
To support those early conversations, QSA has released a new set of practical readiness checklists covering:
- ISO 9001:2015
- ISO/IEC 17020:2026
- ISO 14001:2026
These resources are designed to help organisations take an initial, structured look at their current position before progressing towards formal gap analysis, implementation or audit preparation.
Why these resources matter
Standards evolve, customer expectations shift, and businesses themselves change over time.
In many organisations, systems that once felt clear and manageable can gradually become inconsistent, outdated or disconnected from day-to-day operations. In other cases, businesses may be approaching certification or accreditation for the first time and simply need a practical starting point.
These checklists are intended to help organisations:
- Reflect on current systems and processes
- Identify potential gaps or areas needing closer review
- Build awareness around certification or transition expectations
- Begin internal conversations with greater clarity and confidence
They are designed to be practical, accessible and useful for real SME environments.
What’s included
ISO 9001:2015 Readiness Checklist
A practical self-assessment for organisations looking to understand how prepared they are for ISO 9001 certification and quality management system implementation
ISO/IEC 17020:2026 Readiness Checklist
Designed for inspection bodies preparing for the updated ISO/IEC 17020 standard and upcoming transition requirements.
ISO 14001:2026 Readiness Checklist
Supports organisations reviewing their environmental management systems ahead of the revised ISO 14001 edition and transition planning activity.
Important guidance
These checklists are designed as awareness and readiness tools only.
They are based on publicly available guidance from recognised certification and accreditation bodies, alongside ISO’s own public communications. They are not a replacement for formal consultancy, internal audit, external audit or accredited certification processes.
Completing a checklist — including achieving positive responses throughout — does not guarantee certification, accreditation or successful transition outcomes.
Access the resources
You can explore and launch each checklist here:
Need a clearer picture of where you stand?
A readiness checklist is often the starting point — but a formal gap analysis provides much deeper insight into risks, priorities and the practical steps needed moving forward.
QSA supports organisations with practical, evidence-led guidance that helps teams understand requirements clearly, reduce uncertainty and move forward with confidence.