Artificial intelligence (AI) is a continuously growing and evolving field. Consequently, there is an increasing need for certified and educated professionals. There is a broad range of AI certifications available to help you master artificial intelligence.
Learning machine learning, artificial intelligence, programming tools, and the like are important to be successful in this technical realm. In this article, we look at the best certifications for AI that validate you have the skills, knowledge, and expertise employers look for. Moreover, you will find out what the highest-paying AI certifications are, the exam prep required, and the job outlook for relevant occupations to help you make the best decisions about which career path to pursue.
What Is a Professional Certification?
A professional certification provides evidence of your knowledge and competency in a specific field of work. It is most commonly issued by organizations after you have passed a standardized exam demonstrating your industry knowledge. Some jobs require you to hold a certification in order to be eligible to get a job in AI at a certain level.
What’s the Difference Between Certification and a Certificate?
The difference between a certification vs a certificate is that a certificate is proof of successfully completing an educational program from a college or university, whereas a certification is proof of successfully passing a standardized exam provided by a certification body as an acknowledgment of your skills and knowledge.
In order to obtain a certificate, you will take educational courses and apply your knowledge in practical ways to show your readiness to enter your chosen professional field. Certifications don’t require you to take a range of courses to obtain them. Instead, you typically register to take a certification exam to test your knowledge and provide evidence of your fitness for a job.
It is worth noting that the length of validity for certifications is usually limited, which requires you to retake exams and renew your certification as needed.
Why Is Certification in AI Important?
A certification in AI is important because working in the field of artificial intelligence requires you to have a firm grasp of existing and emerging technologies. Since technologies are constantly evolving, you need to remain up-to-date as far as your knowledge and skills in the industry are concerned.
As previously mentioned, a certification serves as a testament to your knowledge and competency in a specific field. It is evidence that you are prepared to do the job and provides your employers with the assurance that you are fully equipped for the position. Below are some of the best AI certifications for you to consider.
Best AI Certifications by Salary
| Certification | Provider | Average Salary | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence Engineer | Artificial Intelligence Board of America | $169,930 per year | $550 |
| Professional Machine Learning Engineer | Google Cloud | $145,262 per year | $200 |
| Artificial Intelligence for Business Professionals (AIBIZ) | CertNexus | $145,262 per year | $49 |
| Azure AI Fundamentals | Microsoft Certified | $131,802 per year | $99 |
| Artificial Intelligence Professional Certificate | CertiProf | $125,000 per year | $150 |
| Certified Artificial Intelligence Expert | Global Tech Council | $111,448 per year | $149 |
| Certified Artificial Intelligence Scientist | United States Artificial Intelligence Institute (USAII) | $111,448 per year | $793 |
| Machine Learning-Speciality | Amazon Web Services (AWS) | $109,000 per year | $300 |
| Certified Machine Learning Associate | International Association of Business Analytics Certification (IABAC) | $109,000 per year | $138.94 |
| Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals | Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) | $63,000 per year | $120 for members; $144 for non-members |
Best AI Certifications to Further Your Career
- Average Salary: $169,930 per year
- Cost: $550
- Requirements: Associate, bachelor’s, or Master’s Degree in Computer Science or related field with mathematics and statistics as one of the subjects. Two years of work experience if an associate degree has been obtained. No work experience if holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. A good understanding of computers is preferable
- Valid For: Three years
- Exam Length: Ninety minutes for 60 multiple-choice, single-answer questions
- Best Suited For: Students and aspiring professionals with varying levels of formal education and experience; credentialed professionals who want to progress to higher or leadership positions
Potential Careers With Artificial Intelligence Engineer Certification
- Information research scientist: $131,490 per year
- Information security analyst: $102,600 per year
- Database architect: $98,860 per year
Google is an AI-focused multinational technology company that created the world’s leading search engine. Google Cloud is a vendor that offers its services over the Internet, including certifications.
The exam covers design data preparation and processing systems, machine learning models, problems, optimizations, solutions, and the automation and orchestration of machine learning pipelines.
Professional Machine Learning Engineer Overview
- Average Salary: $145,262 per year
- Cost: $200 (plus tax where applicable)
- Requirements: None
- Valid For: Two years
- Exam Length: Two hours, multiple-choice questions
- Best Suited For: Professionals with 3 years or more of industry experience looking to progress to higher positions
Potential Careers With Professional Machine Learning Engineer Certification
- Machine learning engineer: $113,291 per year
- Data scientist: $97,483 per year
- Software engineer: $88,896 per year
CertNexus offers vendor-neutral certifications and credentials in IT, business, and security. CertNexus’ certification is the only one of its kind to certify practitioners in designing and implementing AI solutions using machine learning. The exam tests candidates’ foundational knowledge of AI concepts, technologies, algorithms, and key applications.
AIBIZ Overview
- Average Salary: $145,262 per year
- Cost: $49
- Requirements: No formal prerequisites to register for and schedule an exam
- Valid For: Three years
- Exam Length: Fifteen to 30 minutes, multiple-choice, multiple-response, true or false questions
- Best Suited For: Managers and industry leaders interested in growing their businesses; beginners looking to work in professions which require basic AI concepts
Potential Careers With AIBIZ
- Computer and information systems manager: $159,010 per year
- Software developer: $110,140 per year
- Computer programmer: $93,000 per year
Microsoft’s Azure AI Fundamentals certification is for people who want to prove that they possess the AI and machine learning basic knowledge and skills required to start a lucrative career. The types of skills measured in the exam include machine learning workloads and considerations, fundamental principles of machine learning, features of computer vision workloads, and features of natural language processing workloads on Azure.
Azure AI Fundamentals Overview
- Average Salary: $131,802 per year
- Cost: $99
- Requirements: General programming background or experience is recommended, but not required
- Valid For: Does not expire
- Exam Length: Sixty minutes to answer 40 to 60 questions
- Best Suited For: Candidates with both technical and non-technical backgrounds
Potential Careers With Azure AI Fundamentals
- Cloud solutions architect: $131,293 per year
- AI engineer: $126,000 per year
- Senior software engineer: $121,578 per year
CertProf’s certification examines the skills and competencies in supervised machine learning and algorithms for those seeking certification. This is especially useful for people who want to become data analysts, engineers, market managers, or data scientists.
Artificial Intelligence Professional Certificate Overview
- Average Salary: $125,000 per year
- Cost: $150
- Requirements: No formal prerequisites
- Valid For: Three years
- Exam Length: Sixty minutes to answer 40 multiple-choice questions
- Best Suited For: Those looking to work in the AI and machine learning
Potential Careers With Artificial Intelligence Professional Certificate
- AI engineer: $126,000 per year
- Software developer: $110,140 per year
- Data analyst: $63,299 per year
Global Tech Council’s Artificial Intelligence Expert certification was created by subject matter experts in the AI field. The exam covers the core concepts of artificial intelligence. The certification requires you to take a brief online training course before taking the exam.
Certified Artificial Intelligence Expert Overview
- Average Salary: $111,448 per year
- Cost: $149
- Requirements: None
- Valid For: Does not expire
- Exam Length: Twelve hours of training; multiple-choice exam of 100 marks
- Best Suited For: Business leaders with experience in the AI field working on hands-on projects and using practical applications who wish to launch their AI careers
Potential Careers With Certified Artificial Intelligence Expert
- Machine learning engineer: $132,012 per year
- Data engineer: $93,560 per year
- Robotics engineer: $85,922 per year
The United States Artificial Intelligence Institute (USAII) is an international certification institute that validates the skills and capabilities of those wishing to obtain artificial intelligence certifications. Its Certified Artificial Intelligence Scientist is the world’s most advanced AI certification program.
Certified Artificial Intelligence Scientist Overview
- Average Salary: $111,448 per year
- Cost: $793
- Requirements: University or college degree; a minimum of 4 years of work experience
- Valid For: Three years
- Exam Length: One hundred minutes to answer 80 multiple-choice questions
- Best Suited For: Business leaders and industry experts with prior work experience in AI
Potential Careers With Certified Artificial Intelligence Scientist
- Computer and information systems manager: $159,010 per year
- Software developer: $110,140 per year
- Computer programmer: $93,000 per year
Amazon Web Services (AWS) offer this certification to people who wish to demonstrate their fundamental knowledge and technical skills in data science and cloud-based applications using AWS cutting-edge technology.
Machine Learning - Speciality Overview
- Average Salary: $109,000 per year
- Cost: $300
- Requirements: None
- Valid For: Three years
- Exam Length: 180 minutes to answer 65 multiple-choice or multiple-response questions
- Best Suited For: People who work in development or data science, more than 1 year of experience developing, building, or running machine learning and deep learning models or workloads in the AWS Cloud
Potential Careers With Machine Learning - Speciality
- Machine learning engineer: $113,291 per year
- Database architect: $98,860 per year
- Data scientist: $97,483 per year
The International Association of Business Analytics Certification (IABAC) is globally recognized and assesses data science, knowledge of machine learning, statistics, and business analytics key concepts. The exam tests your knowledge of SQL, Python, machine learning, and statistics.
Certified Machine Learning Associate Overview
- Average Salary: $109,000 per year
- Cost: $138.94
- Requirements: No mandatory prerequisites
- Valid For: Three years
- Exam Length: Eight hours
- Best Suited For: Students and beginners looking to start a career in machine learning, and professionals looking to progress in careers related to machine learning
Potential Careers With Certified Machine Learning Associate
- Computer systems analyst: $99,270 per year
- Business analyst: $71,100 per year
- Data analyst: $63,299 per year
The Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) is an international association that offers knowledge, credentials, and training to IT professionals. The Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals certification tests both knowledge and technical skills.
Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals Overview
- Average Salary: $63,000 per year
- Cost: $120 for members/ $144 for non-members
- Requirements: None
- Valid For: Not specified
- Exam Length: 120 minutes to answer multiple-choice and performance-based questions
- Best Suited For: IT professionals
Potential Careers With Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals
- Software developer: $110,140 per year
- Computer systems analyst: $99,270 per year
- Data scientist: $97,483 per year
How to Choose the Best AI Certification for Your Career
To choose the best AI certification for your career, you have to consider the requirements of the certification you want. These industry requirements often include educational background, work experience, and budget. Your budget determines what options you can afford.
Educational Background
Some certifications are only offered to those who have reached a certain level of education, while others are open to anyone who wishes to take the certification exam. It is important to look for certifications for which you are eligible by carefully looking at all the prerequisites.
Work Experience
Some certifications require a certain amount of work experience to qualify. If you have years of experience in this huge field, you likely meet the industry requirements for most certifications. If this is not the case, some certifications are offered to beginners. Look for ones geared toward people who are starting out in the field.
Budget
The cost of certifications varies. While some are free, others can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Since there is a wide range of prices and certifications available, you can find one that fits within your budget.
Which AI Certifications Pay the Most?
The AI certifications that pay the most are ARTiBA’s Artificial Intelligence Engineer certification, Google Cloud’s Professional Machine Learning Engineer, CertNexus’s AIBIZ, Global Tech Council’s Certified Artificial Intelligence Expert, and USAII’s Certified Artificial Intelligence Expert certification.
Highest-Paying AI Certifications
- Artificial Intelligence Engineer: $169,930 per year
- Professional Machine Learning Engineer: $145,262 per year
- AIBIZ: $145,262 per year
- Certified Artificial Intelligence Expert: $111,448 per year
- Certified Artificial Intelligence Scientist: $111,448 per year
Which AI Certifications Are the Best for Beginners?
The best AI certifications for beginners are the Artificial Intelligence Engineer, AIBIZ, Certified Machine Learning Associate, Azure AI Fundamentals, Artificial Intelligence Professional Certificate, and Certified Machine Learning Associate certifications.
Best College Certificate Programs
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How to Prepare for Your AI Certification Exam
The best way to prepare for your AI certification exam is to research the exam prep advice on the certification provider’s website. This will help you figure out what you can expect during the exam. Some certifications offer artificial intelligence courses. Others provide brief instructor-led training, while others offer practice tests and lists of topics you can expect to be examined on. You can also take online courses or enroll in an AI coding bootcamp.
Best Courses to Prepare for AI Certification Exams
Some of the best prep courses to prepare for AI certification exams include the Designing and Building AI Products and Services course by MITxPro, Stanford University’s Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Techniques, the AI for Everyone course by DeepLearning.AI, Artificial Intelligence for Trading Nanodegree by Udacity, and the Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python course by HarvardX.
- Cost: $2,950
- Duration: Eight weeks at 6 hours a week
- Best Suited For: AI-based Product Design and Services certification by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
This program caters to technology professionals and entrepreneurs working in this huge field. It focuses on design principles and real-world applications of AI methods and techniques used across various industries. It also teaches the design stages involved in AI products and machines.
- Cost: $1,595
- Duration: Twelve weeks
- Best Suited For: Certificate of Achievement in Artificial Intelligence Principles and Techniques from the Stanford Center for Professional Development
This course is for working professionals interested in advanced AI subject matter at a graduate level. In this course, you learn about how machines are used to solve problems, learn, reason, and interact. Some topics include machine learning approaches, search, game playing, constraint satisfaction, and graphical models.
- Cost: Free
- Duration: Twelve hours
- Best Suited For: AI for Everyone
This course is aimed at beginners and people interested in learning more about the uses and roles that artificial intelligence has on the modern way of life. It is a non-technical course, meaning that it is accessible to people who have no prior experience with AI concepts.
- Cost: $399 per month
- Duration: Six months
- Best Suited For: IT Asset Management Certification by IATAM
The Artificial Intelligence for Trading course was created by experts in the industry to teach asset management and trading signal generation. You will learn about clean-coded and effective machine learning programming languages and AI algorithms for trading during this course.
- Cost: Free
- Duration: Seven weeks at 10 to 30 hours per week
- Best Suited For: Professional Certificate in Computer Science for Artificial Intelligence
CS50’s Introduction to Artificial Intelligence With Python looks into the concepts and algorithms of artificial intelligence, such as game-playing engines, handwriting recognition, and machine translation.
Other Resources to Prepare for Your AI Certification Exams
Other resources that you can use to prepare for your AI certification exams include digital training, practice exams, webinars, exam study guides, and study materials such as books. Below are descriptions of each of these options to narrow your search.
Digital Training
Signing up for a digital training session can help you procure the knowledge needed to be successful in your exams or help you to brush up on what you already know. Some certification providers offer training inclusive of the exam.
Digital Training Overview
- Type of Resource: Online platform
- Cost: Free or paid
- Ideal For: People needing professional guidance to learn the crucial AI concepts needed for the certification exam
Practice Exams
Practice exams are usually based on past exams. These resources help you get a good idea of the exam structure and what you can expect to find in the exam. Completing practice questions will better prepare you for the real deal.
Practice Exams Overview
- Type of Resource: Website
- Cost: Free or paid
- Ideal For: People needing a resource that closely resembles the structure of a real AI certification exam
Webinars
Webinars are online events hosted virtually by organizations or professionals in the field. Anyone who is granted access to join can watch these webinars. Webinars may be either free or paid, depending on the provider.
Webinars Overview
- Type of Resource: Online platform
- Cost: Free or paid
- Ideal For: People looking to gain insight into a specific subject area to increase their knowledge on said topic
Exam Study Guides
A study guide is similar to a practice exam in that they are both study materials that inform you on the content of past exams, so you know what to expect. However, study guides do not take the structure of past exams. Instead, they outline the most important topics to focus on.
Exam Study Guides Overview
- Type of Resource: Online platform
- Cost: Free or paid
- Ideal For: People who need a clearer idea of where to put their focus when studying
Books
Books covering the topics relevant to your exam typically provide more information than the options already mentioned. This is an excellent way to deepen your basic understanding of important concepts of machine learning and AI.
Books Overview
- Type of Resource: Book
- Cost: Free or paid
- Ideal For: People needing the bigger picture and in-depth knowledge of certain AI concepts
Best Online Courses
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AI Job Outlook and Average Salary
The job outlook for artificial intelligence occupations such as computer and information research scientists according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is 22 percent. The job growth is much faster than the average for all occupations.
As such, the demand for professionals in this field is increasing, with a more attractive average salary. The average salary for AI is $131,490 per year. AI is utilized globally by big and small organizations alike across various industries. For this reason, career paths in AI have very positive job outlooks as job opportunities continue to grow.
Best AI Jobs After Certification
The best AI jobs after certification include information research analyst, information security analyst, database architect, computer programmer, and computer systems analyst. Below are descriptions of each of these high-paying career options.
An information research scientist examines computing problems and finds ways to solve them. Information research scientists usually work with other scientists and engineers to complete a range of tasks.
Best Certification for the Job Role
Artificial Intelligence Engineer Certification. This certification is suited to this job since it allows people with varying education levels with an interest in information technology and machine learning to pursue jobs in the field.
Information security analysts monitor computer networks for irregularities, vulnerabilities, and potential threats. They protect the networks from these threats online, analyze breaches in security, and compile reports about them to find ways to avoid them in the future.
Best Certification for the Job Role
AIBIZ. This certification focuses on IT, business, and security, which makes it ideal for a job involving identifying and stopping computer network threats.
The job of a database architect is to build and maintain an organization's database. They do this by looking for structural and installation solutions to ensure that the company’s data is easily accessible to those who need it.
Best Certification for the Job Role
Professional machine learning engineer. Google’s professional machine learning engineer certification is designed for those who need to prepare data, work with machine learning models, and optimize AI functions.
A computer programmer’s responsibilities include writing code for new programs, updating existing programs, and testing computers. Computer programmers work in collaboration with other information technology staff and end-users in the organizations they work for.
Best Certification for the Job Role
Azure AI Fundamentals. This certification is suited to computer programming jobs because it focuses on the fundamental principles of machine learning and features of computer vision workloads.
Computer systems analysts research and assess new technologies, initiate computer system upgrades, put together technical reports, and configure hardware and software. They work to make sure that organizations use computer technology efficiently.
Best Certification for the Job Role
Certified Machine Learning Associate. The certification offered by IABAC covers data science, machine learning, statistics, and business analytics concepts, making it ideal for a computer systems analyst.
Best AI Associations
The best AI associations are those that focus on current and future advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and information technology. Each of the associations listed below ensures artificial intelligence maintains its advancement by promoting research and scientific discovery.
Artificial Intelligence Board of America (ARTiBA)
ARTiBA is a professional credential that certifies competent machine intelligence and cognitive science professionals from all around the globe. It ensures excellence in AI practices and strategies.
Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI)
The AAAI is an international non-profit scientific society whose goal is to promote the research and responsible use of artificial intelligence. The association aims to advance a strong understanding of the mechanisms related to intelligent behavior and its embodiment in machines.
National Institute of Standards and Technology-Artificial Intelligence
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) develops research that results in the responsible and trustworthy use of artificial intelligence. The institute uses tools to analyze and understand the capabilities and limitations of AI technologies.
Are AI Certifications Worth It?
Yes, AI certifications are worth it. This is a growing field with plenty of room for human discovery within it. As such, there is significant room for both scientific and individual professional growth in the field.
According to the BLS, there is a projected 31.4 percent growth in occupations related to data science and mathematical science over the next decade, making AI one of the fastest-growing occupations. Additionally, with a median annual salary of $100,480, this entire field is not only one of the fastest-growing but the highest-paying.
Additional Reading About AI
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AI Certifications FAQ
AI is used to make machines perform complex tasks and solve problems, similar to how humans do. Machines learn to do these things through practical experience and adjust the way they operate as they learn. There are several popular programming languages for AI used throughout this process.
The difference between AI, machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning techniques is that each facet is a subdivision of the other. Deep learning is a subfield of neural networks, which is a subdivision of machine learning, which is a subdivision of artificial intelligence.
No, you are unlikely to find a job with just a certification in AI and no prior work hands-on experience, previous coding experience, or formal education. AI is a complex field requiring knowledge and understanding of various mathematical and scientific concepts. However, as soon as you are qualified in this field, you can find several jobs that use AI.
A background in science and mathematics is essential for a career path in AI. However, different occupations and organizations will require different levels of education and work experience. If you are a busy professional, you can always opt to pursue online AI courses and training programs to build your experience level in this field and acquire the qualifications necessary to excel in your learning path.
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