The ISO 9001 Essentials course introduces the fundamentals of quality management and provides a structured overview of ISO 9001:2026, covering the concepts, terms, principles and main topics of a Quality Management System (QMS). The training provides the foundation needed to understand the standard and participate in an informed way in quality, process and continual improvement initiatives.
Course updated for ISO 9001:2026
Quick Access: Dates and price· Why this course exists· What this course enables· Programme· Exam and certification· Benefits and Related Courses· FAQs· Registration· Request information· Companies
Upcoming dates
Live, synchronous training. Interaction with the trainer and the group.
Live Online • € 450,00
Live Online • € 450,00
Registration via the form on this page.
Language: available in Portuguese or English
Training: focused on structured understanding, with examples and practical exercises.
Exam: 30 min
ESSENTIAL LEVEL — Solid, structured knowledge that underpins any career.
Why this course exists
To build a solid foundation and a common language in quality management, ISO 9001 and Quality Management Systems.
Many organisations recognise the importance of ensuring the consistency of their processes, meeting requirements and enhancing customer satisfaction, but start or maintain quality initiatives without a shared understanding of the concepts, terminology and logic of the standard.
This course provides an entry point for professionals from any field. It presents the 2026 edition in an accessible and structured way, enabling participants to understand its fundamentals, recognise the main topics in sections 4 to 10 and participate with greater confidence in QMS-related activities.
What this course enables you to do
Understand
Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and terms of quality management and place ISO 9001:2026 in the context of a Quality Management System.
Interpret
Recognise the structure of the standard, the logic of its sections and the main topics and requirements associated with the operation of the QMS.
Relate
Identify the most relevant standards in the ISO 9000 family and understand how ISO 9000, ISO 9001 and ISO 9004 relate to one another.
Contextualise
Relate the process approach, the PDCA cycle, risks, opportunities, quality culture and continual improvement to the organisational context.
Frameworks, standards and best practices addressed throughout the course
ISO 9004:2018 — quality of an organisation and guidance for sustained success.
Harmonised Structure of ISO management system standards.
Fundamental management system terms included in section 3.
Quality management principles.
Process approach and PDCA cycle.
Risk-based thinking and opportunity-based thinking.
Context of the organisation, relevant interested parties and climate change.
Leadership, organisational quality culture and ethical behaviour.
Planning of changes to the Quality Management System.
Resources, organisational knowledge, competence, awareness and documented information.
Operation, performance evaluation and improvement.
Internal audit and QMS certification — overview.
Revised and expanded Annex A of ISO 9001.
Value for the organisation
- Creates a common language for teams that work with processes, requirements, quality and continual improvement.
- Improves understanding of ISO 9001:2026 and reduces inconsistent or overly documentation-focused interpretations.
- Helps participants recognise the purpose of the main elements of a QMS and their contribution to customer satisfaction and performance.
- Strengthens understanding of new or reinforced topics, including quality culture, ethical behaviour, risks, opportunities and changes.
- Prepares professionals and teams to support quality initiatives and progress to Foundation, Lead Implementer, Lead Auditor or Transition levels.
Introduction
The ISO 9001 Essentials course is based on the new edition of the international standard ISO 9001 and provides the knowledge that professionals from any field need to become familiar with and understand the essential concepts, terms and definitions relating to quality management.
The training addresses the structure of ISO 9001:2026 and the main topics associated with its sections, enabling participants to understand how a Quality Management System operates and to place the application of the standard’s practices in their organisational context or in the context of supporting other organisations.
It includes a structured overview of the standard’s 10 sections and the foundations that support its application: quality management principles, the process approach, the PDCA cycle, risk-based thinking and opportunity-based thinking.
The main new or reinforced elements of the 2026 edition are also presented, including fundamental management system terms, climate change, organisational quality culture, ethical behaviour, planning of changes and the revised and expanded Annex A.
The course also covers ISO 9000:2026 as the reference for fundamentals and vocabulary, the relationship with ISO 9004:2018 and the distinction between applying the standard, demonstrating conformity and voluntarily obtaining certification of a Quality Management System.
This course prepares participants for the Certified Quality Management 9001 Essentials certification of persons.
This Training Plan and all associated documents are protected by copyright and registered as a literary work with IGAC.
General Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the essential concepts, principles and terms of quality management and management systems.
- Understand the purpose and main components of a Quality Management System.
- Recognise the structure of ISO 9001:2026 and identify the topics associated with its sections.
- Understand the process approach, the PDCA cycle, risk-based thinking and opportunity-based thinking.
- Identify the main new or reinforced elements of the 2026 edition, including climate change, organisational quality culture, ethical behaviour and planning of changes.
- Understand the role of ISO 9000:2026, ISO 9004:2018 and Annex A of ISO 9001 in interpreting and applying the standard.
- Place the main topics in sections 4 to 10 in the context of the organisation and the operation of the QMS.
- Distinguish between the application of ISO 9001, the demonstration of conformity and voluntary certification of the Quality Management System.
- Have the knowledge required to successfully pass the Certified Quality Management 9001 Essentials certification exam.
Target Audience
- Professionals from any field who wish to acquire essential knowledge of quality management and ISO 9001:2026.
- People involved in operating processes, meeting requirements, quality or continual improvement.
- Team members who interact with a Quality Management System, even without formal implementation or audit responsibilities.
- Managers and those in positions of responsibility who need a structured overview of ISO 9001 without excessive technical detail.
- Professionals who wish to prepare for ISO 9001 Foundation, Lead Implementer, Lead Auditor or Transition courses.
Prerequisites
There are no mandatory formal prerequisites. The course has been designed as an entry point to quality management and ISO 9001.
Other specific requirements may apply, where relevant, depending on the quotation, proposal or training delivery mode offered.
Programme
Fundamentals of quality management and Quality Management Systems
- Context, objectives and positioning of the ISO 9001 Essentials course.
- Essential concepts, terms and definitions of quality management and management systems.
- Quality management principles.
- The Quality Management System and its main benefits for the organisation.
- Relationship between ISO 9000:2026, ISO 9001:2026 and ISO 9004:2018.
Structure and logic of ISO 9001:2026
- Evolution from ISO 9001:2015 and Amendment 1:2024 to the 2026 edition.
- Harmonised Structure of ISO management system standards.
- Fundamental terms included in section 3 of ISO 9001:2026.
- The standard’s 10 sections: overview, sequence and interactions.
- Process approach, PDCA cycle, risk-based thinking and opportunity-based thinking.
- Revised and expanded Annex A: support for understanding the structure, terminology and intent of the requirements, without introducing additional requirements.
- Practical application focused on the structure, concepts and logic of the QMS.
Main topics and applicability of ISO 9001
- Context of the organisation, relevant interested parties, climate change and scope of the QMS.
- Leadership, commitment, customer focus, organisational quality culture and ethical behaviour.
- Risks, opportunities, quality objectives and planning of changes.
- Resources, organisational knowledge, competence, awareness, communication and documented information.
- Operation and control of the processes needed to provide conforming products and services.
- Monitoring, customer satisfaction, internal audit, management review and performance evaluation.
- Continual improvement, nonconformity and corrective action.
- Practical application focused on placing the main topics in the organisational context.
Conformity, certification and consolidation
- Voluntary application of ISO 9001 and demonstration of conformity with its requirements.
- Overview of the certification process for a Quality Management System.
- Difference between certification of organisations and certification of persons.
- Development pathways: Foundation, Lead Implementer, Lead Auditor and Transition.
- Integrated review of the course content and preparation for the Certified Quality Management 9001 Essentials exam.
Exam(s) and Certification
Exam “Certified Quality Management 9001 Essentials”
The exam covers the following competence domains:
- Domain 1: concepts, principles, terms and fundamentals of quality management and management systems.
- Domain 2: the ISO 9000 family, structure, main requirements and applicability of ISO 9001:2026.
Language(s): Portuguese and English.
Duration: 30 minutes.
Format: multiple choice.
Pass mark: 120/200 points.
Results: Pass or Fail.
Issuing entity: Behaviour — the legal entity — through its certification service, Behaviour Certification Services.
Retake: 1 free retake within a maximum period of 2 months after the initial exam result.
Certification
After successfully completing the exam and accepting or signing the applicable agreement and Code of Ethics, the candidate obtains the Certified Quality Management 9001 Essentials credential.
A Certificate and a Digital Certification Badge will be issued to participants who successfully complete the exam and meet all the requirements of the certification for which they are applying.
The Certified Quality Management 9001 Essentials certification programme for persons is developed and maintained in accordance with the international standard ISO/IEC 17024:2026.
Certification programmes apply exclusively to individuals. The award and maintenance of the credential depend on meeting the scheme requirements, including passing the exam and accepting the applicable agreement and Code of Ethics.
If the professional does not comply with the scheme requirements, the applicable agreement or the Code of Ethics, certification is not awarded, may be suspended or may be revoked.
Other Information
General Information
- Training available in Portuguese or English.
- Online training materials in Portuguese or English, with online access and in accordance with the agreed conditions, using the most recent version of ISO 9001 available at the time of the training.
- Behaviour Digital Training Attendance Certificate with 7 CPD/CPE credits.
- Online Certification Exam in Portuguese or English. The exam may be taken within 2 months of the course start date.
- If the candidate does not pass the exam, they are entitled to one free retake within a maximum period of 2 months from the release date of the initial exam result.
- Digital Certificate and Digital Certification Badge after passing the exam and completing the application process. There is no additional cost associated with issuing the credential.
Trainer(s)
The trainers are consultants, implementers and auditors with experience in quality management, implementation, auditing and training in the ISO 9000 family of standards, with a particular focus on ISO 9000:2026, ISO 9001:2026, ISO 9004:2018 and related quality standards and frameworks.
They have practical experience in interpreting requirements, the operation of Quality Management Systems, processes, documented information, performance evaluation and continual improvement.
Benefits
View benefits
- Essential, up-to-date knowledge of quality management, Quality Management Systems and ISO 9001:2026.
- A common language for understanding and discussing processes, requirements, responsibilities, results and continual improvement.
- The ability to recognise the main topics in sections 4 to 10 and their purpose in the operation of the QMS.
- Understanding of the new or reinforced topics in the 2026 edition without excessive technical detail.
- A solid foundation for progressing to ISO 9001 Foundation, Lead Implementer, Lead Auditor or Transition courses.
- Certified Quality Management 9001 Essentials certification of persons after passing the exam and completing the application process.
- In the event of failure, 1 free retake within a maximum period of 2 months after the initial exam result.
Logistics
Useful information
- Live Online (synchronous): 9:30–17:30 (Lisbon, GMT 0), with a lunch break and short breaks
- Classroom (synchronous): 9:30–17:30 (Lisbon, GMT 0), with a lunch break and short breaks
- 7 hours of synchronous training, 1 training day
- Requirements: computer with a stable internet connection, browser, PDF reader and audio/video
Hotels in Lisbon
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers to the most common questions about the ISO 9001 Essentials course.
Has the course been updated for ISO 9001:2026?
Do I need prior experience or previous certifications?
What is the difference between the Essentials and Foundation levels?
What is the difference between ISO 9001 Essentials and ISO 9001 Transition?
Is this course suitable for management or executive roles?
What will I be able to do in practice after the course?
Does the course teach me how to implement or audit a QMS?
Is this course useful in an organisation that is already certified?
Is the certification obtained an ISO 9001 certification of the organisation?
For general questions about registration, delivery modes, exams, certification and recertification, please consult the BEHAVIOUR® FAQs.
Registration
Complete the form to register for your preferred edition. Check the upcoming dates.
Training provided by a DGERT-certified training organisation (processes and quality). View DGERT certification information.
Request more information
For guidance on how the course fits your professional or organisational context, contact us and we will suggest a suitable pathway.
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Companies: request a proposal
For team registrations, we provide group rates and a proposal tailored to your organisation’s needs.
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This course can be attended by individual professionals. It may also form part of introductory pathways for teams that need to understand the fundamentals of a QMS and ISO 9001.