To become ISO 42001-certified, your organization must implement and operate an AIMS that satisfies the standard’s management system requirements and your selected Annex A control set—then pass audit by an accredited certification body.
Related: ISO 42001 controls guide · Checklist
Key takeaways
- Clauses 4–10 define how you run AI governance (context, leadership, risk, operations, improvement).
- Annex A provides AI-specific controls you tailor via risk and Statement of Applicability.
- Certification is third-party—not self-attested.
- Many teams map ISO 27001/SOC 2 evidence into the AIMS.
AIMS management clauses (4–10)
| Clause theme | What you demonstrate |
|---|---|
| Context | AI use cases, stakeholders, legal drivers |
| Leadership | Accountability, policy, roles |
| Planning | AI risks, objectives, change planning |
| Support | Resources, competence, awareness |
| Operation | Lifecycle controls, suppliers, incidents |
| Performance | Monitoring, internal audit, management review |
| Improvement | Nonconformities, continual improvement |
Annex A AI controls
Annex A catalogs controls for policies, data, models, monitoring, transparency, and third-party AI. You implement controls proportional to risk and document applicability.
Certification process
Typical path: gap assessment → implement AIMS → internal audit → Stage 1/2 certification audits → certificate + surveillance.
See timeline guide.
Disclaimer (legal note)
Certification body requirements may vary. Not legal or audit advice.
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