Demand for artificial intelligence (AI) skills is growing. To help empower your students with AI expertise and credentials, we’ve created the new Generative AI Foundations certification, as part of our Critical Career Skills (CCS) program. Endorsed by Mindstone, a leader in AI education, this certification covers different gen AI methods and models, dives deeply into the societal impact of AI tools, and gives learners a solid base for prompt engineering, refinement, and more. From understanding how text- and image-based models are trained to knowing when to use certain prompting techniques, we’re preparing people across industries, roles, and goals to leverage AI effectively.
The impact of AI
Leveraging generative AI empowers professionals to be more efficient with their time. Handing off tedious, repetitive tasks to generative AI tools makes room for focusing on critical human touchpoints. While formerly a niche reserved for those in IT roles, using AI has become a widely essential skill.
According to recent data, 76% of marketing professionals, as well as many other non-IT roles from journalists to teachers, have started dabbling in the utilization of generative AI tools. More and more job postings list proficiency in Machine Learning (ML), generative AI, and natural language processing. Gary Gates, managing director at Pearson VUE, stated, "AI literacy has emerged as a new 'soft skill', vital for both seasoned professionals and those entering the workforce.”
Preparing future professionals
While generative AI is being implemented across industries and usage has increased over the past decade, companies are struggling to effectively prepare their employees with skills to match the ever-evolving technology. Gartner predicts that organizations will abandon 30% of generative AI projects by the end of 2025 if their workforce isn’t adequately trained. Companies are specifically looking for people with a working understanding of AI. In fact, many hiring managers value AI skills over work experience.
Empowering your learners with valuable AI knowledge and skills in the classroom is crucial for their future career opportunities, regardless of their desired field. The Generative AI Foundations curriculum and certification are a great place to start. This course also helps organizations upskill their employees to better implement AI tools. Once learners have studied and practiced all the skills covered in the course, they can take the Generative AI Foundations exam giving them an industry-recognized credential to validate they can effectively utilize generative AI technology and tools.
Get to know the exam
Developed as a collaboration between the Certiport content team, a group of generative AI professionals and educators, and psychometrician Dr. David Lauret, this course supports a standardized benchmark for generative AI competency. Lessons are brand-agnostic, keeping the content relevant and applicable to all learners.
This exam’s credentials are endorsed by Mindstone, an AI training platform that boosts productivity by 60%+ by training staff to use AI effectively in their roles, and is one of the biggest practical AI communities in the world. This strategic partnership is the first of its kind in the industry and ensures that course content is directly mapped to exam objectives and real-world applications. Learners, whether they’re taking this course on their own or getting upskilled through their employer, will have the skills they need to use AI in daily tasks and, once they have passed the exam, will have verifiable credentials to prove their proficiency.
"AI is revolutionizing work, but risks creating a digital divide. Our partnership with Pearson changes that. We're not just teaching AI skills; we're democratizing them. Mindstone's cutting-edge training, coupled with Pearson's globally recognized certification, empowers everyone to thrive in an AI-driven world. This isn't just education—it's equalizing opportunity on a global scale" said Joshua Wohle, Founder & CEO at Mindstone.
Generative AI Foundations is one part of the Critical Career Skills (CCS) program, equipping learners with key competencies that today’s employers are prioritizing. These certifications, such as Professional Communication, help learners excel in any industry or role and complement any existing curricula and professional development plans.
The Generative AI Foundations certification will be available starting October 1st through Mindhub, the Certiport candidate portal, and the Certiport store, as well as delivered on Pearson VUE’s online testing platform (OnVUE) and offered in Certiport Authorized Testing Centers.
Learn more about the Generative AI Foundations certification here.