Certified Artificial

Intelligence
Professional

Candidate Handbook

www.pecb.com
Table of Contents
SECTION I: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 3
About PECB .................................................................................................................................................................. 3
The Value of PECB Certification/Certificate Program ............................................................................................ 4
PECB Code of Ethics................................................................................................................................................... 5
Introduction to Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional Certification .............................................................. 6
SECTION II: EXAMINATION PREPARATION, RULES, AND POLICIES .......................................................... 7
Preparing for and scheduling the exam .................................................................................................................... 7
Competency domains .................................................................................................................................................. 8
Taking the exam ......................................................................................................................................................... 14
Exam results ............................................................................................................................................................... 17
Exam Retake Policy ................................................................................................................................................... 17
Exam Security Policy ................................................................................................................................................. 17
SECTION III: CERTIFICATION PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS ................................................................ 19
PECB Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional credentials ............................................................................ 19
Applying for certification ............................................................................................................................................ 19
Professional experience ............................................................................................................................................ 20
Professional references............................................................................................................................................. 20
Evaluation of certification applications .................................................................................................................... 20
SECTION IV: CERTIFICATION POLICIES .......................................................................................................... 21
Denial of Certification/Certificate Program ............................................................................................................. 21
Suspension of Certification ....................................................................................................................................... 21
Revocation of Certification ........................................................................................................................................ 21
Other Statuses ............................................................................................................................................................ 22
Upgrade and downgrade of credentials .................................................................................................................. 23
Renewing the certification ......................................................................................................................................... 23
Closing a case ............................................................................................................................................................ 23
Complaint and Appeal Policy.................................................................................................................................... 24
SECTION V: GENERAL POLICIES ..................................................................................................................... 25
Exams and certifications from other accredited certification bodies ................................................................... 25
Non-discrimination and special accommodations ................................................................................................. 25
Behavior Policy ........................................................................................................................................................... 25
Refund Policy .............................................................................................................................................................. 25

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 2
SECTION I: INTRODUCTION

About PECB1
PECB is a leading certification body dedicated to fostering digital trust through comprehensive education,
certification, and certificate programs across various disciplines. We empower professionals to develop and
demonstrate their competence in digital security and other areas of expertise by providing world-class
certification programs that adhere to internationally recognized standards.

Slogan:
Beyond Recognition

Vision:
As the global leader in digital trust education and certification, our vision is to empower and inspire
professionals by enhancing their skills and fostering their professional success.

Mission:
Our mission is to empower professionals with the knowledge and skills to protect their digital assets and
ensure business continuity. Through our comprehensive training programs, we aim to foster a secure digital
ecosystem where innovation thrives and risks are managed effectively.

Values
Growth, Change, Harmony, Simplicity, Reliability and Quality

1
Notes:

 The legal name of PECB is “PECB Group Inc.”

 PECB is an acronym that stands for “Professional Evaluation and Certification Board.”
 Education (used in the first sentence of this page) refers to training courses developed by PECB, and offered globally through its network of
partners.
 Certification refers to certification services provided according to ISO/IEC 17024.
 Certificate Program refers to certificate program services provided according to ANSI/ASTM E2659.
 The term “certified” shall only be used for personnel certifications, based on ISO/IEC 17024 requirements. The term “certificate holder” shall only
be used for certificate programs, based on ANSI/ASTM E2659 requirements. Certificate holders are not certified, licensed, accredited, or
registered to engage in a specific occupation or profession.

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 3
The Value of PECB Certification/Certificate Program

Accreditation
PECB credentials are internationally recognized and endorsed by many accreditation bodies, so
professionals who pursue them will benefit from our recognition in domestic and international markets.

Our certifications are distinguished by prestigious global accreditations, affirming both their value and your
expertise. PECB certifications are validated by top-tier bodies including the International Accreditation
Service (IAS-PCB-111), the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS-No. 21923), the Korean
Accreditation Board (KAB-PC-08), and Comité français d'accréditation (COFRAC N° 4-0637) under ISO/IEC
17024 – General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons. Additionally, our certificate
programs are validated by the accreditation from the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB-Accreditation
ID 1003) under ANSI/ASTM E2659-18, Standard Practice for Certificate Programs.

PECB is also an esteemed associate member of The Independent Association of Accredited Registrars
(IAAR), and a full member of the International Personnel Certification Association (IPC), a signatory member
of IPC MLA, and a member of Club EBIOS, CPD Certification Service, and CLUSIF. Furthermore, we hold
an approved status as an Approved Publishing Partner (APP) by the Cybersecurity Maturity Model
Certification Accreditation Body (CMMC-AB) for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification standard
(CMMC), and are authorized by Club EBIOS to offer the EBIOS Risk Manager Skills certification and by
CNIL (Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés) to offer the DPO’s skills and knowledge
certification.For more detailed information, click here.

High-quality products and services

We are proud to provide our clients with high-quality products and services that match their needs and
demands. All of our products are carefully prepared by a team of experts and professionals based on the
best practices and methodologies.

Compliance with standards

Our certifications and certificate programs are a demonstration of compliance with ISO/IEC 17024 and
ASTM E2659. They ensure that the standard requirements have been fulfilled and validated with adequate
consistency, professionalism, and impartiality.

Customer-oriented service
We are a customer-oriented company and treat all our clients with value, importance, professionalism, and
honesty. Our Customer Support team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to address questions,
requests and needs.

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 4
PECB Code of Ethics
The Code of Ethics are the values and ethics that PECB is committed to follow, and defines the
responsibilities of PECB professionals including employees, trainers, examiners, invigilators, members of
different committees, partners, distributors, certified individuals and certificate holders.

To read the complete version of PECB’s Code of Ethics, go to Code of Ethics | PECB.

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 5
Introduction to Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional Certification

This document specifies the PECB Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional certification scheme in
compliance with ISO/IEC 17024:2012. It also outlines the steps that candidates should take to obtain and
maintain their credentials. As such, it is very important to carefully read all the information included in this
document before completing and submitting your application. If you have questions or need further
information after reading it, please contact [email protected].

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 6
SECTION II: EXAMINATION PREPARATION, RULES, AND POLICIES

Preparing for and scheduling the exam

Candidates are responsible for their own studying and preparation for certification exams. No specific set of
training courses or curriculum of study is required as part of the certification process.

To schedule the exam, candidates have two options:

1. Online: Through the PECB Exams application. To schedule a remote exam, please go to the
following link: Exam Events.
2. Paper-based: By contacting the PECB authorized partner that provided the training course. The
partner arranges the date, time, and the location where the candidate is going to attend the exam.

To learn more about exams, competency domains, and knowledge statements, please refer to Section III of
this document.

Rescheduling the exam

For any changes with regard to the exam date, time, location, or other details, please contact
[email protected].

Application fees for examination and certification

Candidates may take the exam without attending the training course. The applicable prices are as follows:
• Lead Exam: $10002
• Manager Exam: $700
• Foundation Exam: $500
• Transition Exam: $500

The application fee for certification are as follows:

• Master Certification: $100
• Foundation Certification: $200
• Transition Certification: $200
• All other Certifications: $500

For the candidates that have attended the training course via one of PECB’s partners, the application fee
covers the costs of the exam (first attempt and first retake), the application for certification, and the first year
of Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF).

2
All prices listed in this document are in US dollars.

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 7
Competency domains

The Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional certification is intended for:

• AI Professionals actively involved in the development and implementation of AI technologies
• Experienced AI practitioners seeking to enhance their knowledge, stay updated with the latest trends,
and refine their leadership skills
• Data scientists responsible for developing and optimizing AI models
• IT managers overseeing AI projects and initiatives within their organizations
• AI enthusiasts who aspire to advance into leadership roles, such as AI project managers or AI
strategists
• Risk and compliance officers responsible for managing AI-related risks and ensuring compliance with
regulations
• Executives, including CIOs, CEOs, and COOs, who play a crucial role in decision-making processes
related to AI
• Professionals aiming for executive-level AI roles who need a comprehensive understanding of AI
technologies and their applications

The content of the exam is divided as follows:

• Domain 1: Fundamental principles and concepts of an artificial intelligence management system
• Domain 2: Apply data analysis and visualization
• Domain 3: Develop Machine Learning models using Python
• Domain 4: Establish governance frameworks to integrate AI

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 8
Domain 1: Fundamental principles and concepts of an artificial intelligence
management system

Main objective: Ensure that the candidate can interpret the fundamental concepts and principles of artificial
intelligence (AI).

Competencies Knowledge statements

1. Ability to explain the main concepts and 1. Knowledge of the main concepts and
principles of AI principles of AI
2. Ability to describe the history and evolution of 2. Knowledge of the history and evolution of AI
AI 3. Knowledge of the types of AI and their
3. Ability to identify and explain different types of characteristics
AI 4. Knowledge of AI applications in various
4. Ability to discuss various AI applications in industries
different industries 5. Knowledge of the differences between AI,
5. Ability to explain the difference between AI, machine learning, and deep learning
machine learning, and deep learning 6. Knowledge of the key components of an AI
6. Ability to identify the key components of an AI system
system 7. Knowledge of ethical considerations in AI
7. Ability to discuss the ethical considerations in development and use
AI development and use 8. Knowledge of the societal and economic
8. Ability to recognize the impact of AI on society impacts of AI
and the economy

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 9
Domain 2: Apply data analysis and visualization

Main objective: Ensure that the candidate is able to interpret the fundamental concepts and principles of
data analysis and visualization and apply them effectively in AI and data science contexts.

Competencies Knowledge statements

1. Ability to explain the importance of data 1. Knowledge of the importance and role of data
analysis and visualization in AI and data analysis and visualization in AI and data
science science
2. Ability to describe common data analysis 2. Knowledge of various common data analysis
techniques and visualization types along with techniques and visualization types (e.g., bar
their appropriate use cases charts, line graphs, scatter plots) and their
3. Ability to apply principles of effective data applications
visualization in conjunction with data analysis 3. Knowledge of principles of effective data
techniques visualization, including clarity, accuracy, and
4. Ability to understand and apply principles of efficiency
design, color theory, and visual perception in 4. Knowledge of design principles, color theory,
data visualizations and visual perception, as they relate to data
5. Ability to follow best practices for data visualization
cleaning, preparation, and creating clear, 5. Knowledge of best practices for data cleaning,
informative visualizations preparation, and creating clear, informative,
6. Ability to identify and use popular data and visually appealing data visualizations
visualization tools 6. Knowledge of popular data visualization tools
7. Ability to create interactive dashboards and (e.g., Matplotlib) and their features
reports using data analysis and visualization 7. Knowledge of techniques for creating
techniques interactive dashboards and reports using data
8. Ability to craft compelling data stories through analysis and visualization
analysis and visualization 8. Knowledge of data storytelling techniques and
9. Ability to execute hands-on projects to apply how to apply them using data analysis and
data analysis and visualization techniques visualizations
9. Knowledge of hands-on project methods for
applying data analysis and visualization
techniques

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 10
Domain 3: Develop Machine Learning models using Python

Main objective: Ensure that the candidate is able to design, build, evaluate, and deploy end-to-end AI
solutions from classic machine-learning pipelines to state-of-the-art deep-learning, language, vision, robotic,
and prompt-engineering techniques, while recognizing ethical implications and best-practice tooling.

Competencies Knowledge statements

1. Ability to explain the principles of machine 1. Knowledge of fundamental machine-learning
learning, deep learning, NLP, computer vision, concepts, including features, labels, the bias–
robotics, and prompt engineering, and variance trade-off, and supervised,
articulate how they interrelate within the unsupervised, and reinforcement paradigms
broader AI landscape 2. Knowledge of key classical algorithms, such
1. Ability to ingest, clean, transform, and visualize as linear and logistic regression, decision
structured or unstructured data to make it trees, ensemble methods, clustering
model ready techniques, and dimensionality-reduction
2. Ability to choose and implement appropriate approaches
supervised, unsupervised, reinforcement- 3. Knowledge of deep-learning essentials,
learning, or deep-learning algorithms for a encompassing neural-network layers,
given use-case activation and loss functions, back-
3. Ability to train, tune, validate, and compare propagation, optimization algorithms,
models; mitigate overfitting; optimize for regularization, and hyper-parameter tuning
accuracy, efficiency, and generalization 4. Knowledge of deep-learning architectures
4. Ability to apply specialized methods to text such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs)
(tokenization, embeddings, transformers), for vision, recurrent models (RNNs) for
images/video (CNNs, detection, sequences, generative adversarial networks
segmentation), sequential data (GANs) for synthesis, and transformers for
(RNNs/LSTMs), and robotic control loops attention-based tasks
5. Ability to craft, iterate, and evaluate prompts 5. Knowledge of natural-language-processing
(zero-/few-shot, chain-of-thought, foundations: text preprocessing, Bag-of-
system/assistant roles) to steer large language Words, TF-IDF, word and sentence
models for generation, summarization, coding, embeddings and language-modeling strategies
and extraction tasks 6. Knowledge of computer-vision fundamentals,
6. Ability to identify dataset biases, fairness including image formation, edge and feature
issues, and safety concerns detection, and object detection
7. Ability to implement mitigation strategies and 7. Knowledge of prompt-engineering concepts:
communicate limitations prompt structure, context-window
management, temperature and top-p
sampling, zero-shot and few-shot
methodologies, iterative refinement, and
techniques for bias detection in model outputs

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 11
Domain 4: Establish governance frameworks to integrate AI

Main objective: Ensure the candidate can discuss the privacy, security, compliance, and ethical aspects of
AI and can manage them effectively.

Competencies Knowledge statements

1. Ability to protect privacy in AI data handling 1. Knowledge of privacy-by-design principles,
(privacy-by-design, minimization, data minimization, anonymization methods,
anonymization, secure data lifecycle) and secure data life cycle management
2. Ability to implement robust security controls 2. Knowledge of AI-specific security measures
that safeguard AI models, data, and and controls model hardening, encryption,
infrastructure access control, and adversarial threat defenses
3. Ability to ensure regulatory compliance with 3. Knowledge of major data protection regulations
data-protection laws (e.g., GDPR), the EU AI and standards (GDPR) and emerging AI
Act, and industry standards legislations, such as the EU AI Act and NIST AI
4. Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate AI- RMF
specific risks (bias, security, operational, 4. Knowledge of AI risk management frameworks
reputational) for identifying, assessing, mitigating, and
5. Ability to develop and implement AI policies monitoring technical and socio-ethical risks
and governance frameworks that embed 5. Knowledge of techniques for bias detection,
fairness, accountability, transparency, and fairness assessment, explainability,
human oversight interpretability, and mitigation of algorithmic
6. Ability to align AI initiatives with organizational discrimination
strategy and ethics, balancing innovation with 6. Knowledge of governance models that assign
legal and societal expectations roles, responsibilities, and decision rights for AI
7. Ability to establish monitoring and continuous initiatives
improvement loops that track performance, 7. Knowledge of ethical AI guidelines and
ethical metrics, and emerging threats, methods for embedding human values such as
triggering corrective action when needed fairness, transparency, accountability
8. Ability to plan for contingencies by creating throughout the AI life cycle
response strategies to handle incidents, model 8. Knowledge of strategic alignment methods that
drift, or regulatory changes link AI projects to business objectives,
stakeholder expectations, and societal impact
9. Knowledge of continuous monitoring practices,
including performance tracking, ethical metric
dashboards, model drift detection, and incident
response playbooks

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 12
Based on the above-mentioned domains and their relevance, the exam contains 80 multiple-choice
questions, as summarized in the table below:

Level of understanding
(Cognitive/Taxonomy) required

% of the exam Questions that

Number of
devoted/points measure Questions that
questions/points
to/for each comprehension, measure
per competency
competency application, and evaluation
domain
domain analysis
Competency Fundamental
domains principles
and
concepts of
8 10 X X
an artificial
intelligence
management
system

Apply data
analysis and 18 22.5 X X
visualization

Develop
Machine
Learning 38 47.5 X X
models using
Python
Establish
governance
frameworks 16 20 X X
to integrate
AI
Total 80 100%
Number of questions per level of understanding 45 35
% of the exam devoted to each level of understanding
56.3% 43.7%
(cognitive/taxonomy)

The passing score of the exam is 70%.

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 13
Taking the exam

General information about the exam

Candidates are required to arrive/be present at least 30 minutes before the exam starts.

Candidates who arrive late will not be given additional time to compensate for the late arrival and may not be
allowed to sit for the exam.

Candidates are required to bring a valid identity card (a national ID card, driver’s license, or passport) and
show it to the invigilator.

If requested on the day of the exam (paper-based exams), additional time can be provided to candidates
taking the exam in a non-native language, as follows:

• 10 additional minutes for Foundation exams

• 20 additional minutes for Manager exams
• 30 additional minutes for Lead exams

PECB exam format and type

1) Online Exam: Exams are provided electronically via the PECB Exams application. The use of secondary
electronic devices, such as tablets and phones, are not allowed during the exam. The exam session is
supervised remotely by a PECB Invigilator via the PECB Exams application and an external/integrated
camera.

PECB Exam Types:

a. Multiple-choice, closed-book, where the candidates are not allowed to use any reference materials.
Usually, Foundation and Transition exams are of this type.

b. Essay-type, open-book, where candidates are allowed to use the following reference materials:

• A hard copy of main standard

• Training course materials (through KATE and/or printed)
• Any personal notes taken during the training course (through KATE and/or printed)
• A hard copy dictionary

c. Multiple-choice, open-book, where candidates are allowed to use the following reference materials:

• A hard copy of main standard

• Training course materials (through KATE and/or printed)
• Any personal notes taken during the training course (through KATE and/or printed)
• A hard copy dictionary

2) Paper Based: Exams are also available in a paper format. The use of electronic devices, such as laptops,
tablets, or phones, is not allowed. The exam session is supervised by a PECB approved Invigilator at the
location where the Partner has organized the training course.

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 14
PECB Exam Types:

a. Multiple-choice, closed-book, where the candidates are not allowed to use any reference materials.
Usually, Foundation and Transition exams are of this type.

b. Essay-type, open-book, where candidates are allowed to use the following reference materials:

• A hard copy of main standard

• Training course materials (printed)
• Any personal notes taken during the training course (printed)
• A hard copy dictionary

c. Multiple-choice, open-book, where candidates are allowed to use the following reference materials:

• A hard copy of main standard

• Training course materials (printed)
• Any personal notes taken during the training course (printed)
• A hard copy dictionary

For specific information about exam types, languages available, and other details, please contact
[email protected] or go to the List of PECB Exams.

This exam comprises multiple-choice questions: The multiple-choice exam can be used to evaluate
candidates’ understanding on both simple and complex concepts. It comprises both stand-alone and
scenario-based questions. Stand-alone questions stand independently within the exam and are not context-
depended, whereas scenario-based questions are context-dependent, i.e., they are developed based on a
scenario which a candidate is asked to read and is expected to provide answers to five questions related to
that scenario. When answering stand-alone and scenario-based questions, candidates will have to apply
various concepts and principles explained during the training course, analyze problems, identify and
evaluate alternatives, combine several concepts or ideas, etc.

Each multiple-choice question has three options, of which one is the correct response option (keyed
response) and two incorrect response options (distractors).

This is an open-book exam. The candidate is allowed to use the following reference materials:

• Training course materials (accessed through the PECB Exams app and/or printed)
• Any personal notes taken during the training course (accessed through the PECB Exams app and/or
printed)
• A hard copy dictionary

A sample of exam questions will be provided below.

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 15
Sample exam questions

1. You have a numeric column “income” in your dataset with some missing entries. You decide
that these values are not important and remove them. Which approach is commonly used in this
situation?
A. One-hot encoding
B. Mean or median imputation
C. Drop the null values

2. In data visualization, what is a pie chart primarily used to do?

A. Show trends over time
B. Display relationships between variables
C. Represent proportions of a whole

3. Which type of machine learning problem is used to predict categorical labels?

A. Clustering
B. Regression
C. Classification

4. How can you filter a DataFrame df to keep only the rows where the salary column is greater than
or equal to 50000?
A. df_filtered = df if (df["salary"] >= 50000)
B. df_filtered = df[df["salary"] >= 50000]
C. df_filtered = df.select(df["salary"] >= 50000)

Scenario 1:

Trackealth is a startup building a mobile app that helps users monitor fitness and health goals using
smart wearables. The data science team collects step counts, heart rate, and sleep patterns daily from
over 200,000 users. Using Pandas and NumPy, they clean and organize the data, removing outliers like
unusually high step counts or missing sleep logs. A classification model built with logistic regression
predicts whether a user is likely to meet their weekly fitness goal, while a clustering model groups users
by activity levels to offer tailored advice. Visual insights are created using Seaborn heatmaps and line
plots to explore correlations. Performance is measured using accuracy, precision, and recall.

Based on the scenario above, answer the following question.

1. Which machine learning model does Trackealth use to predict whether a user will meet the
weekly fitness goal?
A. Logistic regression
B. Random forest
C. Decision tree

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 16
Exam results
Exam results will be communicated via email.

• The time span for the communication starts from the exam date and lasts three to eight weeks for essay
type exams and two to four weeks for multiple-choice paper-based exams.
• For online multiple-choice exams, candidates receive their results instantly.

Candidates who successfully complete the exam will be able to apply for one of the credentials of the
respective certification scheme.

For candidates who fail the exam, a list of the domains where they have performed poorly will be added to
the email to help them prepare better for a retake.

If candidates do not agree with the results, they have 30 days from the date of receiving the results to file a
complaint through the PECB Ticketing System. Complaints received after 30 days will not be processed.

Exam Retake Policy

There is no limit to the number of times a candidate can retake an exam. However, there are certain
limitations in terms of the time span between exam retakes.

If a candidate does not pass the exam on the 1st attempt, they must wait 15 days after the initial date of the
exam for the next attempt (1st retake).

Note: Candidates who have completed the training course with one of our partners, and failed the first exam
attempt, are eligible to retake for free the exam within a 12-month period from the date the coupon code is
received (the fee paid for the training course, includes a first exam attempt and one retake). Otherwise,
retake fees apply.

For candidates that fail the exam retake, PECB recommends they attend a training course in order to be
better prepared for the exam.

To arrange exam retakes, based on exam format, candidates that have completed a training course, must
follow the steps below:

1. Online Exam: when scheduling the exam retake, use the initial coupon code to waive the fee
2. Paper-Based Exam: candidates need to contact the PECB Partner/Distributor who has initially organized
the session for exam retake arrangement (date, time, place, costs).

Candidates that have not completed a training course with a partner, but sat for the online exam directly with
PECB, do not fall under this Policy. The process to schedule the exam retake is the same as for the initial
exam.

Exam Security Policy

A significant component of a professional certification credential is maintaining the security and

confidentiality of the exam. PECB relies upon the ethical behavior of certification holders and applicants to
maintain the security and confidentiality of PECB exams. Any disclosure of information about the content of

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 17
PECB exams is a direct violation of PECB’s Code of Ethics. PECB will take action against any individuals
that violate such rules and policies, including permanently banning individuals from pursuing PECB
credentials and revoking any previous ones. PECB will also pursue legal action against individuals or
organizations who infringe upon its copyrights, proprietary rights, and intellectual property.

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 18
SECTION III: CERTIFICATION PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS

PECB Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional credentials

All PECB certifications have specific requirements regarding professional experience. To determine which
credential is right for you, take into account your professional needs and analyze the criteria for the
certifications.

The credentials in the PECB Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional scheme have the following
requirements:

Professional AI project Other

Credential Exam
experience experience requirements
PECB
PECB Certified
Certified
Provisional Signing the
Artificial
Artificial None None PECB Code of
Intelligence
Intelligence Ethics
Professional
Professional
exam
PECB
PECB Certified Certified
Two years: One year Signing the
Artificial Artificial
of artificial intelligence None PECB Code of
Intelligence Intelligence
experience Ethics
Professional Professional
exam

To be considered valid, the implementation activities should follow best implementation and management
practices and include the following:

1. Fundamental data analysis, visualization, and preprocessing techniques

2. General knowledge and Implementation of machine learning algorithms, covering supervised and
unsupervised machine learning models.
3. Hands-on expertise and fundamental knowledge of concepts in deep learning.
4. Develop and enforce AI governance, ethics, and risk management frameworks, ensuring transparency,
fairness, and compliance
5. Cross-functional collaboration to align AI initiatives with business objectives and oversee data-driven
projects focused on management and analysis.

Applying for certification

All candidates who successfully pass the exam (or an equivalent accepted by PECB) are entitled to apply for
the PECB credential they were assessed for. Specific professional experience requirements need to be
fulfilled in order to obtain a PECB certification. Candidates are required to fill out the online certification
application form (that can be accessed via their PECB account), including contact details of individuals who
will be contacted to validate the candidates’ professional experience. They can choose to either pay online or
be billed. For additional information, please contact [email protected].

The online certification application process is very simple and takes only a few minutes:
• Register your account
• Check your email for the confirmation link
• Log in to apply for certification

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 19
For more information on how to apply for certification, click here.

The Certification Department validates that the candidate fulfills all the certification requirements regarding
the respective credential. The candidate will receive an email about the application status, including the
certification decision.

Following the approval of the application by the Certification Department, the candidate will be able to
download the certificate and claim the corresponding Digital Badge. For more information about downloading
the certificate, click here, and for more information about claiming the Digital Badge, click here.

Professional experience
Candidates must provide complete and correct information regarding their professional experience, including
job title(s), start and end date(s), job description(s), and more. Candidates are advised to summarize their
previous or current assignments, providing sufficient details to describe the nature of the responsibilities for
each job. More detailed information can be included in the CV.

Professional references
For each application, two professional references are required. Professional references shall be individuals
who have worked with you in a professional environment and can validate your expertise in the respective
field, current, and previous work history. You cannot use as a reference the persons who fall under your
supervision or are a relative of yours.

Evaluation of certification applications

The Certification Department will evaluate each application to validate the candidates’ eligibility for
certification or certificate program. A candidate whose application is being reviewed will be notified in writing
and, if necessary, given a reasonable time frame to provide any additional documentation. If a candidate
does not respond by the deadline or does not provide the required documentation within the given time
frame, the Certification Department will validate the application based on the initial information provided,
which may lead to the candidates’ credential downgrade.

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 20
SECTION IV: CERTIFICATION POLICIES

Denial of Certification/Certificate Program

PECB can deny certification/certificate program if candidates:

 Falsify the application

 Violate the exam procedures
 Violate the PECB Code of Ethics
 Fail the exam

Any concerns regarding the denial of certification/certificate program may file a complaint or appeal by
following the complaint and appeal process (https://pecb.com/en/complaint-and-appeal-procedure).

The application payment for the certification/certificate program is nonrefundable. This is because of the
process of verifying the application, the evidence submitted by the candidates, and the engagement of the
relevant departments in this process.
Suspension of Certification
PECB can temporarily suspend certification if the candidate fails to satisfy the requirements of PECB.
Additional reasons for suspension can be if:

 PECB receives excessive or serious complaints by interested parties (Suspension will be applied
until the investigation has been completed).
 The logos of PECB or accreditation bodies are willfully misused.
 The candidate fails to correct the misuse of a certification mark within the determined time by PECB.
 The certified individual has voluntarily requested a suspension.
 PECB deems appropriate other conditions for suspension of certification/certificate program.

Individuals whose certification has been suspended, are not authorized to further promote their certification
while it is suspended.
A suspended certification can either be:

 Reinstated ꟷ if reasons for suspension are corrected within the given time frame by PECB
 Revoked ꟷ if reasons for suspension are not corrected within the given time frame by PECB

Suspended members must remediate their suspension within a maximum period of 6 months.
Note 1: For ISO/IEC 27005:2022 Risk Manager/Lead Risk Manager, failure to submit the CPD and AMF payment during the cycle will
result in a 12-month suspension period, during which you can address any outstanding AMFs and CPDs. If no action is taken during the
suspension period, the certification will be revoked.

Note 2: For CNIL– DPO, failure to comply with the recertification requirements (work experience in data protection and passing
the CNIL– DPO recertification exam) will result in a 12-month suspension period. If no action is taken during the suspension period, the
certification will be revoked.

Revocation of Certification
PECB can revoke (that is, to withdraw) certification if the candidate fails to satisfy the requirements of PECB.
Candidates are then no longer allowed to represent themselves as PECB certified professionals. Additional
reasons can be if candidates:

 Violate the PECB Code of Ethics

 Misrepresent and provide false information of the scope of the certification/certificate program

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 21
  Break any other PECB rules
 Any other reasons that PECB deems appropriate

Individuals whose certification has been revoked, are not authorized to use any references to a certified
status.

Individuals whose certification has been revoked may file a complaint or appeal by following the complaint
and appeal process (https://pecb.com/en/complaint-and-appeal-procedure).

Note 1: For ISO/IEC 27005:2022 Risk Manager/Lead Risk Manager, failure to submit the CPD and AMF payment during the cycle will
result in a 12-month suspension period, during which you can address any outstanding AMFs and CPDs. If no action is taken during the
suspension period, the certification will be revoked.

Note 2: For CNIL– DPO, failure to comply with the recertification requirements (work experience in data protection and passing
the CNIL– DPO recertification exam) will result in a 12-month suspension period. If no action is taken during the suspension period, the
certification will be revoked.

Other Statuses

Besides being active, suspended, or revoked, a certification can be voluntary withdrawn, or designated as
Emeritus.

Emeritus Status

Means that your certification is in good standing, but does not need to be maintained by fulfilling CPD nor
AMF requirements.

To qualify and be eligible to apply for the Emeritus status, you must be over 60 years of age, have held a
PECB certification for at least five years, and you must no longer practice job functions that are specific to
the certification.

Optionally, Emeritus who would like to continue practicing job functions, such as audits and/or
implementation projects, must report their CPDs on an annual basis, and fulfill a minimum annual
requirement of 20 hours of work experience, implementation/auditing or consulting-related experience,
training, private study, coaching, attendance at seminars and conferences, or other relevant activities. AMF
is not required.

To apply for this status, please complete the form and send it to [email protected].

Important note: In order to return to active certification status, you are required to retake the exam and
apply for certification.

Check the brochure for more information about the benefits of the Emeritus Certification Status.

Voluntary Withdrawal Status

Means that your certification is in good standing, but you decide you do not want to maintain your
certification(s) anymore.

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 22
To apply for this status, please complete the form and send it to [email protected].
Individuals whose certification has been voluntarily withdrawn will no longer be allowed to present
themselves as PECB Certified Professionals.

Important note: In order to return to active certification status, you are required to retake the exam and
apply for certification.

Permanent Cessation Status

In the event that the certified individual passes away or becomes incapacitated (e.g., because of an
accident), the legal representative is responsible for sending the required information to PECB (i.e., death
certificate or medical certificate). Consequently, the name of the person will be removed from the contact list
and the PECB account will be deleted.

Upgrade and downgrade of credentials

Upgrade of credentials
PECB Professionals can apply for a higher credential once they provide evidence that proves that they fulfill
the requirements of the higher credential.

PECB Certifications can be upgraded online through your dashboard by logging here, clicking My
Certifications and then the Upgrade button.

For more information about the upgrade fee, go to the Certification Maintenance page on the PECB website.

Note: For downgraded certifications that need to be upgraded, an evaluation will be done to determine if an
exam is required prior to obtain an upgraded certification.

Downgrade of credentials
A PECB Certification can be downgraded to a lower credential due to the following reasons:

 AMF has not been paid.

 CPD hours have not been submitted.
 Insufficient CPD hours have been submitted.
 Evidence on CPD hours has not been submitted upon request.

Renewing the certification

PECB certifications are valid for three years. To maintain them, PECB certified professionals must meet the
requirements related to the designated credential, e.g., they must fulfill the required number of continual
professional development (CPD) hours. In addition, they need to pay the annual maintenance fee. For more
information, go to the Certification Maintenance page on the PECB website.

Closing a case
If candidates do not apply for certification within one year, their case will be closed. Even though the
certification period expires, candidates have the right to reopen their case. However, PECB will no longer be

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 23
responsible for any changes regarding the conditions, standards, policies, and candidate handbook that
were applicable before the case was closed. A candidate requesting their case to reopen must do so in
writing to [email protected] and pay the required fee.

Complaint and Appeal Policy

Any complaint that a candidate has must be submitted in writing no later than 30 days after PECB’s initial
decision. Within 30 working days of receiving the complaint, PECB will provide a written response to the
candidate, outlining the results of the review and any actions taken.

Candidates may request a re-evaluation of their exam results or certification decision within 30 days. If not
satisfied, they can file an appeal through the PECB Ticketing System. For more detailed information, please
refer to the Complaint and Appeal Policy | PECB

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 24
SECTION V: GENERAL POLICIES

Exams and certifications from other accredited certification bodies

PECB accepts certifications and exams from other recognized accredited certification bodies. PECB will
evaluate the requests through its equivalence process to decide whether the respective certification(s) or
exam(s) can be accepted as equivalent to the respective PECB certification (e.g., Certified Artificial
Intelligence Professional certification).

Non-discrimination and special accommodations

All candidate applications will be evaluated objectively, regardless of the candidates’ age, gender, race,
religion, nationality, or marital status.

To ensure equal opportunities for all qualified persons, PECB will make reasonable accommodations 3 for
candidates, when appropriate. If candidates need special accommodations because of a disability or a
specific physical condition, they should inform the partner/distributor in order for them to make proper
arrangements4. Any information that candidates provide regarding their disability/special needs will be
treated with confidentiality. To download the Candidates with Disabilities Form, click here.

Behavior Policy
PECB aims to provide top-quality, consistent, and accessible services for the benefit of its external
stakeholders: distributors, partners, trainers, invigilators, examiners, members of different committees and
advisory boards, and clients (trainees, examinees, certified individuals, and certificate holders), as well as
creating and maintaining a positive work environment which ensures safety and well-being of its staff, and
holds the dignity, respect and human rights of its staff in high regard.

The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that PECB is managing unacceptable behavior of external
stakeholders towards PECB staff in an impartial, confidential, fair, and timely manner. To read the Behavior
Policy, click here.

Refund Policy
PECB will refund your payment, if the requirements of the Refund Policy are met. To read the Refund Policy,
click here.

3
According to ADA, the term “reasonable accommodation” may include: (A) making existing facilities used by employees readily accessible to and
usable by individuals with disabilities; and (B) job restructuring, part-time or modified work schedules, reassignment to a vacant position, acquisition
or modification of equipment or devices, appropriate adjustment or modifications of examinations, training materials or policies, the provision of
qualified readers or interpreters, and other similar accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
4
ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (P.L. 110–325) Sec. 12189. Examinations and courses. [Section 309]: Any person that offers examinations or
courses related to applications, licensing, certification, or credentialing for secondary or post-secondary education, professional, or trade purposes
shall offer such examinations or courses in a place and manner accessible to persons with disabilities or offer alternative accessible arrangements for
such individuals.

Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

Candidate Handbook Version v1.0 25
 Address: Tel./Fax:
Headquarters T: +1-844-426-7322
6683 Jean Talon E, F: +1-844-329-7322
Suite 336 Montreal,
H1S 0A5, QC,
CANADA

Emails: PECB Help Center

Examination: Visit our Help Center to browse
[email protected] Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ),
view manuals for using PECB
Certification: website and applications, read
[email protected] documents related to PECB
processes, or to contact us via Support
Customer Service: Center’s online tracking system.
[email protected]

www.pecb.com

©2025 PECB