SA8000® Certification Program Timeline
Transitioning to SA8000:2026
At the end of 2025, SAI plans to publish the final version of the SA8000:2026 Standard for Decent Work. This will include all supporting documents, policies, and guidance. The new Standard will replace the current SA8000:2014 Standard and, in the following months, the SA8000 Certification Program will transition to the new Standard. This webpage details the expected timeline for this transition and specific deadlines for organizations certified or recertified in 2022-2026.
SAI and SAAS will provide detailed process requirements for this transition for Certification Bodies (CBs) in the SAAS Document Library as they become available.
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General Transition Timeline
As of January 1, 2026, accredited CBs will have the option to begin offering audits and certification to the SA8000:2026 Standard (once the CB has demonstrated compliance with accreditation transition requirements). This will remain optional until July 1, 2026, when all accredited CBs are required to begin offering audits and certification to the SA8000:2026 Standard to stay in the system.
CBs may continue offering audits and certification (including recertification) to the SA8000:2014 Standard through the end of 2026.
All organizations certified to the SA8000:2014 Standard shall complete an SA8000:2026 Self-Assessment and Training by the end of 2026 as the first step in transitioning to the new Standard.
As of January 1, 2027, all new certifications and recertifications shall be to the SA8000:2026 Standard.
As of December 31, 2028, all organizations shall be certified to the SA8000:2026 Standard to stay in the system.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | CBs MAY begin offering audits and certification to SA8000:2026. |
| July 1, 2026 | All CBs SHALL offer audits and certification to SA8000:2026. |
| December 31, 2026 | All organizations certified to SA800:2014 SHALL have completed the SA8000:2026 upgrade training and self-assessment. |
| January 1, 2027 | All new certifications and recertifications SHALL be to SA8000:2026. |
| December 31, 2028 | All certified organizations SHALL be certified to SA8000:2026. |
About SA8000 Self-Assessments
Beginning January 1, 2026, SAI will transition to use the SA8000:2026 Self-Assessment and Training as the requirement for all new certifications and recertifications. This includes organizations choosing to be certified or recertified to the SA8000:2014 Standard in 2026—these organizations will take the SA8000:2026 Self-Assessment and Training but will be audited to SA8000:2014.
Organizations certifying or recertifying in 2025 will need to complete an SA8000:2026 Self-Assessment and Training by December 31, 2026. This serves to ensure all certified organizations are familiar with the updated requirements, but it will not affect the recertification timeline for these organizations.
Transition Timeline for Specific Cohorts of Certified Organizations
Organizations Certified or Recertified in 2022 (due for recertification in 2025)
Organizations certified or recertified to the SA8000:2014 Standard in 2022 must be recertified to SA8000:2014 in 2025 to stay in the system. Additionally, these organizations must complete the SA8000:2026 Self-Assessment and Training by December 31, 2026. Should these organizations choose to stay in the system, they must be recertified to the SA8000:2026 Standard by December 31, 2028.
Organizations Certified or Recertified in 2023 (due for recertification in 2026)
Organizations certified or recertified to the SA8000:2014 Standard in 2023 are due for recertification in 2026. These organizations may choose to recertify to either the SA8000:2014 or SA8000:20206 Standard.
Organizations choosing to recertify to the SA8000:2014 Standard will need to recertify to the SA8000:2026 Standard early — by December 31, 2028—to stay in the system.
Organizations Certified or Recertified in 2024 (due for recertification in 2027)
Organizations that certified or recertified to the SA8000:2014 Standard in 2024 and are eligible for recertification before January 1, 2027 may choose to recertify in 2026 to either the SA8000:2014 or SA8000:2026 Standard. Organizations choosing to recertify to the SA8000:2014 Standard will need to recertify to the SA8000:2026 Standard early—by December 31, 2028—to stay in the system.
Organizations certified or recertified to the SA8000:2014 Standard in 2024 that are NOT eligible for recertification before January 1, 2027 must recertify to SA8000:2026 in 2027 to stay in the system.
Organizations Certified or Seeking Certification in 2025
Organizations certified or seeking certification in 2025 must be certified to the SA8000:2014 Standard. These organizations must complete the SA8000:2026 Self-Assessment and Training by December 31, 2026. These organizations must recertify to the SA8000:2026 Standard by December 31, 2028 to stay in the system.
Organizations Seeking Certification in 2026
Organizations seeking certification in 2026 may choose to be certified to either the SA8000:2014 or SA8000:2026 Standard.
Organizations choosing to be certified to the SA8000:2014 Standard will need to recertify to the SA8000:2026 Standard early—by December 31, 2028—to stay in the system.
