As AI adoption spreads rapidly, more and more companies are grappling with questions such as "Is our AI use really safe?" and "How should we explain it to our business partners?" As a third-party certification to address these challenges, JDLA (Japan Deep Learning Association) released the "AI Governance C Certification" (AI Governance Core Certification) (hereafter, C Certification) in 2026.
Meanwhile, the international standard "ISO/IEC 42001" also exists for AI governance, and many companies are unsure which one to obtain. This article organizes the characteristics and differences between C Certification and ISO/IEC 42001.
The comparisons and views in this article are Elith's own, organized independently based on its support track record, and do not represent the official views of JDLA or the ISO/IEC 42001 certification body.
As a certified consulting firm for C Certification, Elith supports companies in building AI governance structures and obtaining C Certification. If you are struggling with formulating rules and guidelines for using AI in your organization, or with building internal structures, please feel free to reach out to us.
We also welcome inquiries at the stage of "I don't know where to start" or "I want to get a clear picture of where we currently stand." Even if the specifics haven't been decided yet, we will work with you to figure out an approach suited to your current situation.
What is AI Governance C Certification
C Certification is a standard third-party certification program based on criteria set by JDLA, designed to let companies build and demonstrate AI governance in a practical, step-by-step way. It is positioned as a standard for objectively proving that a company's AI usage and operational structure conform to these criteria, thereby securing customer trust.
The certification criteria broadly consist of the following four items.
- Understanding the AI in use
- Organizational structure for risk assessment and response
- Risk assessment
- Risk response
The support period to obtain certification is generally estimated at a minimum of about two months, making it a program that allows for a relatively short path to certification.
What is ISO/IEC 42001
ISO/IEC 42001 is an international standard for AI management systems. It is a full-fledged international certification program covering an organization's entire AI management structure, and is often chosen by companies with global expansion in mind. Obtaining it takes anywhere from several months to more than a year, and the scope of review is broader than that of C Certification.
Comparing the two
| Comparison item | AI Governance C Certification | ISO/IEC 42001 |
|---|---|---|
| Developed by / standard | Developed by JDLA in 2026 | International standard by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) |
| Scope | Focused on AI use and operation | Organization-wide AI management |
| Time to obtain | About 1.5 months or more as a guide | Several months to over a year |
| Characteristics | Accessible even for first-time applicants | Full-fledged international standard certification program |
The two are not in a hierarchical relationship; in practice, it is more appropriate to view them as something to choose based on a company's phase and objectives.
- For companies at the stage of "we first want to be able to explain the safety of our AI use to domestic business partners," an accessible program like C Certification is well suited.
- For companies that say, "With global expansion in mind, we want to align our organization-wide AI management structure with an international standard," a full-fledged standard like ISO/IEC 42001 is well suited.
Where to start first
Many companies already have AI adoption spread across the entire organization, but their management structure has not caught up. For such companies, a high-priority first step is to visualize their current state against a practical standard and reach a point where they can explain it externally.
Elith provides end-to-end support for obtaining C Certification, from interviews and gap analysis through to developing internal rules and handling the review. Consultations are also available even at the stage of "I don't know where to start."
Note: The comparison between certification programs in this article is Elith's own organization based on insights gained through its practical support work with companies. JDLA has not published any comparison between C Certification and ISO/IEC 42001, and this article does not represent JDLA's official view. For details and the latest information on each program, please check the official information from the respective certification bodies.