AEEF Training & Certification Program
Adopting a governance framework without training the people who operate it is a recipe for shelf-ware. The AEEF Training & Certification Program exists to close that gap. Every certification track is designed around a single principle:
You don't govern what you don't understand.
This program ensures that every role in your organization -- from the developer writing prompts to the executive approving budgets -- has the knowledge required to make AI-assisted engineering work safely, productively, and at scale.
Program Philosophy
Most governance training fails because it treats compliance as a checkbox exercise. Engineers sit through slide decks, pass a quiz, and return to their desks having learned nothing they can apply. The AEEF program takes the opposite approach:
- Hands-on first. Every module includes a lab exercise using real AEEF repositories and tools. You learn by doing, not by reading.
- Role-specific. A developer does not need the same knowledge as a CTO. Each track covers exactly what that role needs -- no more, no less.
- Tier-aligned. Training content maps directly to the three AEEF implementation tiers. You learn the tier your organization is adopting.
- Progressive. Tracks build on each other. A developer who completes their certification can pursue the architect track. A manager who completes their track can mentor their team through the developer track.
- Evidence-based. Every claim in the training materials is backed by the same research cited in Why AI Coding Governance?. No hype, no vendor marketing.
Certification Tracks
The program offers four certification tracks, each targeting a specific organizational role and time commitment:
| Track | Certification Title | Duration | Target Role | Maturity Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developer | AEEF Certified AI Engineer | 24 hours | Software engineers, tech leads | Tier 1-3 hands-on |
| Architect | AEEF Certified AI Architect | 16 hours | Solution/system architects | Agent SDLC design |
| Manager | AEEF Certified AI Engineering Manager | 8 hours | Engineering managers, directors | Governance + metrics |
| Executive | AEEF Certified AI Executive | 4 hours | CTO, VP Engineering, board | Strategy + ROI |
Learning Path Diagram
Executive Track (4 hours)
|-- Strategic overview, ROI calculation, board metrics
|-- No prerequisites -- designed for non-technical leaders
|
Manager Track (8 hours)
|-- Governance setup, metrics dashboards, team enablement
|-- Prerequisite: Executive track or equivalent business context
|
Architect Track (16 hours)
|-- Agent SDLC design, orchestration patterns, contract authoring
|-- Prerequisite: Manager track or 2+ years engineering management
|
Developer Track (24 hours)
|-- Hands-on with all 3 tiers, CLI workflow, prompt engineering
|-- Prerequisite: 1+ year software development experience
The tracks are independent -- you do not need to complete the Executive track before taking the Developer track. However, understanding the business context (Executive/Manager tracks) improves the quality of governance decisions at the Architect and Developer levels. Organizations rolling out AEEF across the board should start with Executive and Manager certifications, then move to Architect and Developer.
Track Details
Developer Track -- AEEF Certified AI Engineer (24 hours)
The most comprehensive track. Developers work through all three AEEF tiers, configure real projects, write agent contracts, build CI pipelines, and complete a capstone migration project. This track produces engineers who can operate independently within an AEEF-governed codebase.
8 modules, 3 hours each:
| Module | Topic | Key Lab |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AI Coding Fundamentals | Set up Claude Code with AEEF config |
| 2 | Tier 1: Quick Start | Configure Tier 1 for your project |
| 3 | Prompt Engineering for Production | Write CLAUDE.md for a real project |
| 4 | Tier 2: Transformation | Run 4-agent workflow using AEEF CLI |
| 5 | Quality Gates & Security | Write 3 custom Semgrep rules |
| 6 | Tier 3: Production | Set up monitoring for Tier 3 project |
| 7 | Orchestration Patterns | Implement a parallel agent workflow |
| 8 | Capstone Project | Tier 1 to Tier 2 migration |
Full details: Developer Certification
Architect Track -- AEEF Certified AI Architect (16 hours)
Architects learn to design agent SDLC pipelines, author contracts and handoff protocols, evaluate orchestration patterns, and make tier selection decisions for diverse project types. This track focuses on system-level thinking rather than hands-on coding.
4 modules, 4 hours each:
| Module | Topic | Key Lab |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agent SDLC Architecture | Design a 4-agent pipeline for a real project |
| 2 | Contract & Handoff Design | Author contracts for 4 agent roles |
| 3 | Orchestration Pattern Selection | Evaluate 3 orchestration approaches |
| 4 | Enterprise Scaling | Design a multi-team AEEF deployment |
Manager Track -- AEEF Certified AI Engineering Manager (8 hours)
Managers learn to build the business case, deploy governance, enable their teams, and scale AEEF adoption across projects. This track emphasizes metrics, culture, and progressive adoption rather than technical implementation.
4 modules, 2 hours each:
| Module | Topic | Key Lab |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Business Case for AI Governance | Calculate AI ROI for your organization |
| 2 | Setting Up Governance | Deploy Tier 1 governance for 3 repos |
| 3 | Team Enablement & Culture | Create AI adoption plan for your team |
| 4 | Scaling & Compliance | Create 6-week transformation roadmap |
Full details: Manager Certification
Executive Track -- AEEF Certified AI Executive (4 hours)
A focused track for senior leaders who need to understand AI engineering governance without diving into technical implementation. Covers the business case, risk landscape, ROI framework, and board-level metrics.
2 modules, 2 hours each:
| Module | Topic | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The AI Engineering Landscape | Understand market forces and risk data |
| 2 | Strategic Decision Framework | Choose tier, set timeline, define metrics |
Prerequisites
Developer Track
- 1+ year of professional software development experience
- Familiarity with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and at least one of: TypeScript, Python, or Go
- A GitHub account with access to create repositories
- Claude Code installed (or willingness to install during Module 1)
- No prior AEEF experience required
Architect Track
- 2+ years of software architecture or senior engineering experience
- Understanding of CI/CD pipelines, code review processes, and testing strategies
- Familiarity with at least two programming languages
- Recommended: completion of Developer Track modules 1-4 or equivalent experience
Manager Track
- Current engineering management or technical leadership role
- Understanding of software development lifecycle basics
- No coding required -- all labs use configuration and dashboards
- Recommended: review of Why AI Coding Governance? before starting
Executive Track
- Senior leadership role (CTO, VP Engineering, Director, or equivalent)
- No technical prerequisites
- Recommended: 30-minute pre-read on AI coding tool landscape (provided in materials)
Delivery Formats
Self-Paced Online
All four tracks are available as self-paced courses with:
- Written modules with embedded code examples
- Lab exercises using public AEEF repositories
- Auto-graded quizzes after each module
- Community forum for questions and discussion
- Certificate issued upon passing the final assessment
Best for: Individual learners, distributed teams, budget-conscious organizations.
Instructor-Led Virtual
Live sessions delivered over video conference with an AEEF-certified instructor:
- Developer Track: 4 sessions of 6 hours (or 8 sessions of 3 hours)
- Architect Track: 4 sessions of 4 hours
- Manager Track: 2 sessions of 4 hours
- Executive Track: 1 session of 4 hours (or 2 sessions of 2 hours)
Best for: Teams adopting AEEF together, organizations wanting guided rollout.
On-Site Workshop
In-person delivery at your organization's offices:
- All tracks available as on-site workshops
- Customized to your technology stack and regulatory environment
- Can combine multiple tracks in a multi-day event
- Includes post-workshop follow-up and Q&A sessions
Best for: Large organizations, regulated industries, teams that benefit from face-to-face interaction.
Mapping to AEEF Maturity Levels
Training content aligns directly with the AEEF Maturity Model:
| Maturity Level | Training Coverage | Certification Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1: Ad Hoc | Executive Track Module 1 | Understand the problem |
| Level 2: Emerging | Developer Modules 1-2, Manager Module 2 | Operate at Tier 1 |
| Level 3: Defined | Developer Modules 3-5, Manager Modules 2-3 | Operate at Tier 2 |
| Level 4: Managed | Developer Modules 6-7, Architect full track | Operate at Tier 3 |
| Level 5: Optimizing | All tracks completed, capstone project | Drive continuous improvement |
Organizations should target training at the maturity level they are adopting. A team moving from Level 1 to Level 2 does not need Production-tier training yet -- focus on the Developer Track modules 1-2 and the Manager Track module 2.
Estimated Time Investment
Per Individual
| Track | Study Time | Lab Time | Assessment | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developer | 12 hours | 10 hours | 2 hours | 24 hours |
| Architect | 8 hours | 6 hours | 2 hours | 16 hours |
| Manager | 4 hours | 3 hours | 1 hour | 8 hours |
| Executive | 3 hours | 0.5 hours | 0.5 hours | 4 hours |
Per Organization (Recommended Rollout)
For a team of 20 engineers, 3 managers, 1 architect, and 1 executive:
| Phase | Duration | Who | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 4 hours | Executive + Managers | Executive Track |
| Week 2 | 8 hours | Managers | Manager Track |
| Week 3-4 | 16 hours | Architect | Architect Track |
| Week 3-6 | 24 hours | Developers (cohorts of 5) | Developer Track |
| Week 7 | 4 hours | All | Capstone review + certification ceremony |
Total organizational investment: approximately 7 weeks from start to full certification. This timeline runs in parallel with Phase 1: Foundation of the AEEF Transformation Track.
Training as Part of Transformation
The AEEF Training & Certification Program is designed to run alongside the Transformation Track. Specifically:
- Phase 1 (Foundation): Developer Track Modules 1-3 align with Developer Training. Teams learn prompt engineering and Tier 1 configuration during the foundation phase.
- Phase 2 (Standardization): Developer Track Modules 4-5 and Manager Track Modules 2-3 align with CI pipeline hardening and quality gate deployment.
- Phase 3 (Optimization): Developer Track Modules 6-7 and the Architect Track align with Tier 3 adoption and orchestration pattern selection.
- Phase 4 (Maturity): Capstone projects and cross-track knowledge sharing align with continuous improvement practices.
Organizations following the Transformation Track should schedule certification training to match each phase. This ensures that teams have the knowledge they need before they are asked to operate at the next maturity level.
Standalone Workshops
Not every team needs a full certification track. The Workshop Catalog offers standalone sessions ranging from 30 minutes to a full day that can be delivered independently:
- AEEF in 30 Minutes -- Deploy Tier 1 governance in a single session
- AI Governance for CTOs -- Executive briefing with ROI framework
- Agent SDLC Deep Dive -- Technical deep dive for architects
- CI Pipeline Hardening -- Hands-on for DevOps and platform engineers
- Multi-Agent Orchestration -- Advanced full-day workshop
- Compliance & Sovereignty -- For compliance and legal teams
- AEEF CLI Mastery -- Hands-on CLI workflow training
- From Vibe Coding to Agentic Engineering -- Strategic overview for leaders
See the Workshop Catalog for full details on each session.
Assessment and Certification
Assessment Format
Each certification track concludes with a two-part assessment:
- Knowledge Assessment (Multiple Choice): 40-60 questions covering core concepts, best practices, and decision frameworks. Passing score: 80%.
- Practical Assessment: A hands-on exercise where candidates demonstrate competency by configuring, deploying, or analyzing AEEF components relevant to their track.
| Track | Multiple Choice | Practical Exercise |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | 60 questions, 90 minutes | Tier 1 to Tier 2 migration of a sample project |
| Architect | 50 questions, 75 minutes | Design agent SDLC for a provided case study |
| Manager | 40 questions, 60 minutes | Create governance deployment plan for 3 teams |
| Executive | 30 questions, 45 minutes | Evaluate ROI and recommend tier for a scenario |
Certification Validity
- Certifications are valid for 2 years from the date of issue
- Renewal requires completing a shorter update course covering framework changes
- Certified individuals are listed in the AEEF Certified Professionals directory (opt-in)
Digital Badges
Upon certification, recipients receive:
- A digital badge (OpenBadges 2.0 compliant) for LinkedIn and professional profiles
- A certificate PDF with unique verification ID
- Access to the AEEF Certified Professionals community
Pricing and Access
Open Source Materials
All training content -- modules, lab exercises, quizzes, and assessment rubrics -- is published under the same open-source license as the AEEF framework itself. Organizations can:
- Self-deliver training using the published materials
- Customize modules for their technology stack and regulatory environment
- Contribute improvements back to the training corpus
Certified Delivery
Organizations that want instructor-led delivery, custom workshops, or formal certification can engage certified AEEF trainers. Contact information and trainer directory are available at aeef.ai.
Getting Started
- Assess your starting point. Use the Adoption Paths guide to determine which AEEF tier your organization should target.
- Choose the right tracks. Match roles to certification tracks using the table above.
- Schedule training alongside transformation. Align certification timelines with your Transformation Track phases.
- Start with quick wins. The AEEF in 30 Minutes workshop gives every team member a baseline understanding before formal training begins.
- Measure impact. Track certification completion rates alongside the KPI Framework metrics to demonstrate training ROI.
Related Resources
- Developer Certification -- Full 8-module developer track
- Manager Certification -- Full 4-module manager track
- Workshop Catalog -- Standalone workshops for targeted training
- Why AI Coding Governance? -- The evidence base that underpins all training content
- Transformation Track -- The organizational adoption program that training supports
- Developer Training (Phase 1) -- Where training fits in the transformation timeline