"ISO 55000 certification" is a phrase people search for that describes something that doesn't exist. Of the three standards in the family, only ISO 55001 is certifiable. Here's what each one actually covers, and which one you need.
For the full picture of how these standards connect to asset identification and register data integrity, see our ISO 55001 pillar guide. This page focuses on one question: what's the difference between the three standards themselves?
The three standards, side by side
| Standard | Certifiable? | Purpose | Who uses it, and for what |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 55000 | No | Overview, principles, and terminology — defines asset, asset management, and asset management system (AMS). | Practitioners learning the vocabulary before implementation. |
| ISO 55001 | Yes — the only one | Asset management system requirements — the "shall" statements auditors check. | Organizations pursuing certification; certification bodies auditing. |
| ISO 55002 | No | Clause-by-clause implementation guidance for interpreting ISO 55001. | Implementers and consultants interpreting requirements — not an audit checklist. |
The current published edition is ISO 55002:2018, still paired with 2014-era clause logic in many implementations. A revision aligned to ISO 55001:2024 is expected from ISO/TC 251, though no confirmed publication date has been set — treat any specific date you see elsewhere with caution.
Two companion 2024 standards worth knowing
Two additional standards round out the family for data-focused questions. ISO 55013:2024 gives guidance on managing data assets, supporting ISO 55001:2024's clause 7.6 — see our information requirements & documented information guide for the full clause detail. ISO/TS 55010:2024 gives guidance on aligning financial and non-financial asset management functions — the standard behind reconciling a financial fixed-asset register with an operational EAM/CMMS register, covered in depth in our financial/operational register reconciliation guide. Neither is certifiable; both are guidance documents.
Which one do you actually need?
If you're a controller, asset manager, or ISO consultant asking "which standard applies to us" — the honest answer is almost always ISO 55001. You get certified against it. ISO 55000 is worth reading first if your team is new to asset management vocabulary. ISO 55002 becomes useful once you're actually implementing and need interpretation guidance on a specific clause. Neither 55000 nor 55002 is something you "achieve" — they support your work toward the one certifiable standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ISO 55000 and ISO 55001?
ISO 55000 defines asset management terminology and principles and is not certifiable. ISO 55001 is the certifiable standard containing the requirements an organization is audited against. You read ISO 55000 to learn the vocabulary; you get certified to ISO 55001.
Can you get certified to ISO 55000?
No — this is a common misconception. ISO 55000 is an overview and terminology standard with no "shall" requirements to audit against. Certification bodies audit and certify organizations only against ISO 55001.
What is ISO 55002 used for?
ISO 55002 gives non-certifiable, clause-by-clause guidance on how to interpret and implement ISO 55001. It is an interpretation aid for practitioners and auditors, not a checklist auditors certify against.
Do I need to buy all three standards?
Most organizations pursuing certification need ISO 55001 (the requirements) and typically ISO 55002 (interpretation guidance) side by side. ISO 55000 is useful background reading for terminology but is not required to implement or certify.
Build the evidence base ISO 55001 certification depends on
Whichever stage of the 55000 family you're working through, ISO 55001 certification ultimately rests on physical reality matching your asset register. CPCON's wall-to-wall verification and tagging programs supply that evidence base.
Explore CPCON's fixed-asset count & tagging services
