How Long Does AS9100 Certification Actually Take?By Clayton Kuehl | The QMS Collective, LLC

It’s one of the first questions small aerospace shops ask — and the honest answer is: it depends. But that’s not a dodge. There are real variables that drive the timeline, and understanding them will help you plan realistically rather than get surprised halfway through.

Here’s what nearly 30 years of working with small aerospace organizations has taught me about how long this actually takes.

The Short Answer

For a small aerospace shop starting from scratch, expect 4 to 9 months from kickoff to certification audit — assuming consistent effort and no major organizational disruptions.

If you already have a quality system in place (even an informal one), that timeline can compress to 3 to 6 months.

What Actually Drives the Timeline

1. Where You’re Starting From

A shop with documented processes, some quality records, and a culture that already cares about doing things right will move significantly faster than one building from a blank page. The gap analysis at the start of any good implementation tells you exactly how far you have to travel.

2. How Much Internal Bandwidth You Have

This is the factor that delays more projects than anything else. AS9100 implementation requires real participation from your team — reviewing procedures, attending training, completing records. If your people are fully consumed by production, implementation slows down. That’s not a criticism — it’s reality, and it’s why working around your schedule rather than against it matters.

3. Whether You’re Pursuing AS9100 Alone or Alongside ISO 9001

Many aerospace primes require AS9100 Rev D, which incorporates ISO 9001:2015 requirements. If you’re pursuing both simultaneously (which most shops do), there’s no meaningful additional time — they’re built together. If you’re upgrading from ISO 9001 to AS9100, the timeline is typically shorter because the foundation is already there.

4. The Certification Body’s Scheduling

Once your system is ready, you’re at the mercy of your registrar’s availability. Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits need to be scheduled, and some certification bodies have wait times of several weeks to a couple of months. Factor this into your planning — it’s outside your control.

A Realistic Timeline Breakdown

Phase	Typical Duration
Gap analysis and planning	2 to 4 weeks
QMS development (documentation, procedures)	8 to 12 weeks
Implementation and records generation	8 to 12 weeks
Internal audit and management review	2 to 3 weeks
Corrective actions and final prep	1 to 3 weeks
Certification audit (Stage 1 + Stage 2)	4 to 6 weeks

Total: roughly 6 to 9 months for most small shops.  This is only an estimate and the time-line is very “business” dependent you are (how busy it is)!

What Can Compress the Timeline

Working with an experienced consultant who has built AS9100 systems before — and uses modern tools to accelerate the documentation-heavy phases — can meaningfully shorten development time. The procedures, forms, and records that take the most time are also the most repeatable. There’s no reason to build everything from scratch when proven frameworks exist.

That said, there are no legitimate shortcuts on the implementation side. Your team has to use the system, generate records, and demonstrate that processes are working. That takes the time it takes.

What Can Extend the Timeline

•       Leadership changes or competing organizational priorities

•       High employee turnover during implementation

•       Significant nonconformities found during the internal audit requiring corrective action

•       Choosing a certification body with long scheduling lead times

•       Treating documentation as a one-time event rather than building records as you go

The Bottom Line

AS9100 certification is achievable for a small shop in under a year — often well under — with the right planning and consistent effort. The shops that struggle are usually the ones that underestimate the implementation phase or try to do everything in a final sprint before the audit.

Starting with a clear picture of where you are and a realistic plan for getting to certification is the difference between a smooth process and a stressful one.

If this raised questions about your own quality system, I’m happy to talk it through. I offer a free 30-minute introductory call — no obligation, no pitch. Just a conversation about where you are and what might help.  Schedule a Call →

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