AI Certifications to Pursue in 2024
Prepare for a Career in AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the science and engineering of creating intelligent machines and systems that can perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as vision, speech, decision making, and natural language processing. AI is transforming the world as we know it, creating new opportunities and challenges for businesses and individuals alike.
As new AI tools become commonplace, more skills and knowledge are required to make the most of them in various domains and applications. Getting certified in AI is a great way to demonstrate your expertise and proficiency in this rapidly evolving field, and to boost your career prospects and earning potential. According to a report by S&P Global, the generative AI market alone will grow 10 times by 2028. AI jobs are not only in high demand, but also pay well, with an average salary of $111,118 per year in the US.
How to Choose
Which certification and/or knowledge path is right for you? There are a few leading decision points you need to identify before deciding on a specific certification. Those include understanding the type of path you want to take, which path to take, and which area will benefit you the most.
Certification or Certificate?
First, you should decide whether you want to pursue an AI certification or an AI certificate. An AI certification is a formal recognition of your skills and knowledge in a specific area of AI, usually awarded by a professional body or an educational institution after passing an exam or a series of exams. An AI certificate, on the other hand, is an educational achievement that signifies the completion of a course or a series of courses in a specific area of AI, usually offered by an online platform or a training provider. Both options have their pros and cons, depending on your career goals, current skill level, and the time and resources you can dedicate to your education.
Narrowing the Field
Second, you should consider the topics and the domains that interest you the most in AI. AI is a broad and diverse field that encompasses many subfields, such as machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, robotics, and more. AI is applied in various industries, such as health care, finance, manufacturing, and more. You should look for an AI certification program that covers the topics and the domains that are relevant to your interests and your career aspirations.
Identify the Features and Benefits
Comparing the features and the benefits of different AI certification programs will help drive you to the area that will best fit your immediate needs for certification and career advancement. Some of the aspects that you should look for are:
The curriculum and the learning outcomes: You should check the syllabus and the objectives of the AI certification program and see if they match your expectations and your learning needs. You should also look for a program that offers a balance between theory and practice, and that provides hands-on exercises and projects to help you apply what you learn.
The instructors and the mentors: You should check the credentials and the experience of the instructors and the mentors who will guide you through the AI certification program. You should look for experts who have a solid background in AI, and who can provide you with feedback and support throughout your learning journey.
The duration and the flexibility: You should check the length and the schedule of the AI certification program and see if they fit your availability and your pace. You should look for a program that offers a reasonable duration and a flexible schedule, and that allows you to learn at your own convenience and your own speed.
The cost and the value: You should check the price and the return on investment of the AI certification program and see if they suit your budget and your career goals. You should look for a program that offers a fair cost and a high value, and that can help you boost your skills and your career prospects in the AI field.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced professional in the data science field, AI certifications can help you advance your career and stay ahead of the curve in a highly competitive market. In this article, we will explore some of the best AI certifications for 2024, and help you choose the one that suits your needs and goals.
Recommended Programs
The following represent some of the more popular and most sought-after certification programs.
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate
This is a specialized and technical AI certification program that covers the design and the implementation of AI solutions using Microsoft Azure, such as Azure Cognitive Services, Azure Bot Service, Azure Machine Learning, and more. This program is designed for AI engineers, who want to validate their skills and knowledge in building, managing, and deploying AI solutions on the cloud. To obtain this certification, you need to pass one exam that tests your ability to implement and monitor AI solutions, analyze requirements, design AI solutions, and implement responsible AI practices. The exam fee is $165, and the certification is valid for two years.
Certified Artificial Intelligence Scientist (CAIS) by the Artificial Intelligence Board of America (ARTIBA)
This is a comprehensive and rigorous AI certification program that covers the core concepts and the applications of AI, such as machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and more. This program is designed for senior AI professionals, including managers, directors, and CXOs, who want to demonstrate their expertise and leadership in the AI field. To obtain this certification, you need to pass a four-hour exam that consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. The exam fee is $450, and the certification is valid for three years.
Artificial Intelligence Certification by ARTIBA
This is a foundational and practical AI certification program that covers the basics and the best practices of AI, such as data science, Python programming, machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and more. This program is designed for beginners and intermediate AI learners, who want to gain the essential skills and knowledge to start or advance their career in the AI field. To obtain this certification, you need to pass a three-hour exam that consists of 75 multiple-choice questions. The exam fee is $300, and the certification is valid for three years.
Jetson AI Courses and Certifications by NVIDIA
This is an innovative and interactive AI certification program that covers the development and the deployment of AI applications using NVIDIA Jetson, such as image classification, object detection, face recognition, and more. This program is designed for AI enthusiasts, who want to learn how to use NVIDIA Jetson to create AI-powered devices and projects. To obtain this certification, you need to complete four courses that teach you how to use Jetson Nano, Jetson AI Fundamentals, Jetson AI Specialist, and Jetson AI Ambassador. The courses are free, and the certification is valid for life.
Intel Edge AI Certification
This is an advanced and cutting-edge AI certification program that covers the optimization and the deployment of AI models on edge devices using Intel® Distribution of OpenVINO Toolkit, such as drones, cameras, robots, and more. This program is designed for AI developers, who want to learn how to use Intel® tools and technologies to create AI solutions for the edge. To obtain this certification, you need to complete a course that teaches you how to use Intel® Distribution of OpenVINO Toolkit and pass a project that tests your ability to optimize and deploy an AI model on an edge device. The course fee is $199, and the certification is valid for life.
These are some of the best AI certification programs that you can consider for 2024. However, you should keep in mind that these are not the only options available, and that you should do your own research and comparison before choosing the one that suits you the best.
[Want to discuss this further? Hit me up on Twitter or LinkedIn]
[Subscribe to the RSS feed for this blog]
[Subscribe to the Weekly Microsoft Sentinel Newsletter]
[Subscribe to the Weekly Microsoft Defender Newsletter]
[Subscribe to the Weekly Azure OpenAI Newsletter]
[Learn KQL with the Must Learn KQL series and book]
[Learn AI Security with the Must Learn AI Security series and book]