Do Machine Learning (AI) Engineers Need Certifications? Here are 15 AI-related certifications that can help you change careers.

2024.06.28

  • Advice for Engineers
機械学習(AI)エンジニアに資格は必要?転職に役立つAI関連の資格15選を紹介

For those considering a career change to machine learning (AI) engineering, qualifications are important: the field of AI is developing rapidly, and certifications to prove your skills are attracting more and more attention.

In this article, we will introduce 15 AI-related certifications that will help you in your job search and explain how each certification can benefit your career. We hope you will find it useful.

Do machine learning (AI) engineers need to be certified?


機械学習(AI)エンジニアに資格は必要?

As a prerequisite, there are no specific qualifications required to become a machine learning (AI) engineer. However, having a certification can prove your skill set objectively, which can be advantageous when changing jobs or getting a promotion.

In particular, AI-related qualifications are highly valued as evidence of up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the latest technologies, so there is no harm in acquiring such qualifications. In addition, the process of acquiring qualifications provides systematic knowledge, so you can solidify a foundation that will be useful in your work.

If there are applicants with similar abilities and achievements, it is better to have materials to showcase your skills, since your qualification may determine whether you are successful or not.

Benefits of certification for machine learning (AI) engineers


機械学習(AI)エンジニアが資格を取得するメリット

To enhance your career as a machine learning engineer (AI), certification can be very beneficial. Below we discuss some of the specific benefits of certification.

You can prove your skills.

By acquiring qualifications, you can objectively prove your specialized knowledge and skills in AI and machine learning.

Naturally, it is better to have the qualifications section of your resume filled in than to have it blank, which gives a good impression to the hiring manager. Having qualifications proves that you have knowledge of machine learning, which is especially useful if you are considering a career change from a different industry.

It is predicted that there will be a shortage of approximately 120,000 AI personnel by 2030, and a serious shortage is expected to continue. Therefore, AI-related certifications will continue to be in high demand in the future.

Leading to Career Advancement

In recent years, AI-related qualifications have been attracting a lot of attention, and companies are increasingly encouraging their employees to acquire qualifications. Obtaining a certification improves your reputation in the industry and at the company, increasing your chances for promotion and salary increases. 

Of course, certification alone does not directly lead to career advancement, but it is an effective means of proving skills and knowledge and expanding career options.

AI-related certifications will allow you to narrow your field of expertise or challenge yourself in new areas, broadening your career path options. You will be able to narrow your focus and broaden your career path.

Clear learning goals will help keep you motivated

Another benefit of acquiring a certification is the clarity of learning goals. Most certification exams clearly define the scope and curriculum of the exam, so you know exactly what knowledge and skills you need to acquire. This makes it easier to make a study plan and to study more efficiently.

With clear goals, it will be easier to feel the progress of your studies, which will help you maintain your motivation. In addition, having a concrete goal of obtaining a certification will increase your motivation for learning and help you develop the habit of studying systematically.

You can engage in friendly competition with your machine learning peers.

By obtaining a certification in machine learning, you will be able to communicate with people who have the same certification or who are aiming for the same certification through SNS and other means, and share the latest information and tips for learning. This will help you gain perspectives and solutions that you may not have realized on your own, and will lead to improvements in your technical skills.

In addition, there are also communications that are only available to those who have obtained certifications. For example, the Community of Deep Learning Evangelists (CDLE), a community that only those who have passed the G and E certifications can join, is a large AI community of over 60,000 people consisting of those who have passed the certifications run by the Japan Deep Learning Association. It is a privilege for those who have passed the certification to deepen their knowledge by participating in the official Slack and being provided with a place to output their work.

At United World, our career advisors will support your job search for a machine learning (AI) engineer. In addition to certification acquisition, we also provide advice on how to improve your skills for a successful career change, as well as a variety of other consultations related to career change. If you have any concerns about changing jobs, please feel free to contact us.

Talk to United World about 
career change.

15 Certifications to Help You Become a Machine Learning (AI) Engineer


With AI-related certifications popping up one after another, many people may be scratching their heads and wondering, "I don't know which one to get..." Here are 15 AI-related certifications that will help you become a machine learning engineer. Here we introduce 15 AI-related certifications that will help you become a machine learning engineer.

Major overseas AI-related qualifications are also explained, so please refer to them for your future qualifications.
 

Name of QualificationTest Contentsmethod of taking an examinationExamination fee (tax included)Difficulty (pass rate)
Python Engineer Certification ExaminationPython3 Engineer Certification Basic Exam:.
O'Reilly Japan "Python Tutorial, 4th Edition
Python3 Engineer Certification Data Analysis Exam: Shoei-sha "New Data Analysis Textbook in Python
Python3 Engineer Certification Data Analysis Exam: Shoei-sha "New Data Analysis Textbook with Python
Python3 Engineer Certification Practice Exam: "Python3 Engineer Certification Practice Exam" by Gijutsu-Hyohronron Co.
Python3 Engineer Certification Practice Exam: "Python Practice Recipes" by Gijutsu-Hyohronron Co.
CBT system(※1)Python3 Engineer Certification Basic Exam: 11,000 yen (general)
Python3 Engineer Certification Data Analysis Exam: 11,000 yen (general)
Practical exam for Python3 Engineer Certification: 13,200 yen
Python3 Engineer Certification Basic Exam: 75%.
Python3 Engineer Certification Data Analysis Exam: 75%-85
Practical exam for Python3 Engineer Certification: around 50
statistical testLevel 1: Statistical mathematics, statistical applications
Level 1: Establishment and random variables, various probability distributions, statistical inference (estimation) (testing), regression analysis, sample survey methods, etc.
CBT method
PBT method for Level 1 only
Level 1: 10,000 yen (when taking "Statistical Mathematics and Statistical Applications" at the same time)
Level 1: 8,000 yen (general)
Level 1: around 20
Level 1: around 20
Certified AI and IoT ConsultantThe Role of the AIC
Basics of AI, IoT, and Big Data
Case Analysis
Venue/OnlineAI/IoT Junior Consultant: 16,500 yen
AI/IoT Senior Consultant: 66,000 yen
AI/IoT Master Consultant: 99,000 yen
Each level: 80% to 90
G-testDefinition, trends and problems of artificial intelligence, specific methods of machine learning, overview of deep learning, methods and social implementationOnline (home examination)13,200 yen (general)Approx. 60-70
E QualificationsApplied mathematics, machine learning, deep learning, development and operational environmentsConducted at various test sites33,000yen(General)
27,500(Member)
Around 70
AI Implementation TestClass B: Super Introduction to AI (Learning and Reasoning, Data and Tasks, Pattern Recognition, History, Reading and Writing Representation, Computation and Organization, Development and Operations)
Level A: AI, Programming/Mathematics
S level: NL, /Model
CBT systemClass B: 9,900 yen (general)
Class A: 14,850 yen (general)
Class S: 33,000 yen
70% (of the total)
IT Passport ExaminationTechnology
Basic theory, computer systems, technical elements
Management
Development technology, project management, service management
Strategies
Corporate and legal affairs, management strategy, system strategy
CBT system7,500 yenAround 50
National Examination for Basic Information Technology EngineersTechnology
Basic theory, computer systems, technical elements, development technology
Management
Project management, service management
Strategies
Systems strategy, management strategy, corporate and legal affairs
CBT system7,500 yen47.1% (pass rate for fiscal year 2023 when the new examination system was introduced)
Applied Information Technology Engineer ExaminationTechnology
Basic theory/computer systems/technical elements/development technology
Management
Project management/Service management
Strategies
System strategy/Management strategy/Corporate and legal affairs
CBT system7,500 yenAround 25% (approximate pass rate for the last 5 years)
Data Scientist CertificationData science capabilities
Data engineering skills
Business
CBT system10,000 yen (general)1st session: 66%.
2nd round: 50%.
Third session: 42%.
Fourth session: 44%.
Fifth session: 38%.
Sixth session: 44%.
AWS Certified Machine Learning-Specialty- 40,000 yen 
AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI FundamentalsExplanation of Artificial Intelligence workloads and considerations
Explained the basic principles of machine learning in Azure
Explains the capabilities of Azure's computer vision workloads
Explained the features of the Natural Language Processing (NLP) workload in Azure
Describes the features of the generative AI workloads on Azure
Online/Test Center12,500 yen (Japan)-
AI-102: Designing and Implementing a Microsoft Azure AI SolutionPlanning and management of Azure AI solutions, implementation of content moderation solutions
Implementing a computer vision solution
Implement a natural language processing solution
Implement a Knowledge Mining and Document Intelligence solution
Implementing a Generative AI Solution
Online/Test Center21,102 yen (Japan) 
DP-100: Designing and Implementing Data Science Solutions in AzureDesign and preparation of machine learning solutions
Data exploration and model training
Preparation for model deployment
Deploy and retrain models
Online/Test Center21,102 yen (Japan)-
Professional Data EngineerDesign of data processing systems
Data capture and processing, data storage
Preparation and specification of data for analysis
Data workload management and automation
Remote Monitoring Online/Test CenterApprox. 31,000 yen (based on exchange route as of June 11, 2024)-

(*1) CBT (Computer Based Testing) method: Examination taken via the Internet using a computer provided at the examination site.

Python Engineer Certification Examination

The Python Engineer Certification Examination is an examination to evaluate expertise in the general-purpose programming language Python, and is sponsored by the Python Engineer Training Promotion Association.

The following three Python certifications are currently available
 

  • Python 3 Engineer Certification Basic Exam 
  • Python 3 Engineer Certification Data Analysis Exam 
  • Python 3 Engineer Certification Practical Exam 


By first taking and passing the Basic Exam, then the Data Analysis Exam, and finally the Practical Exam, you will be able to systematically deepen your Python skills. The Practical Exam is the highest level of Python certification in Japan, and is expected to be highly regarded when you change jobs because you can prove your knowledge at a practical level.

The questions for the Python Engineer Certification Exam are based on the content of O'Reilly Japan's "Python Tutorial," so be sure to check it out.

Python Engineer Certification Examination Official Website

Statistics Certification Examination

The Statistics Certification Examination, administered by the Japan Statistical Quality Assurance Promotion Association, is a test to evaluate statistical knowledge and skills, and also tests knowledge of AI development.

The statistics certification consists of 10 categories: five general categories from Level 1 to Level 4, and six specialized categories: statistical researcher, professional statistical researcher, basic data science, development, and expert. Depending on your level of knowledge and skills and your objectives, you can take the examination in any of the 10 categories.

In order to work on solving real-world problems as a machine learning engineer, we recommend that you take the Level 1 or higher.

Statistics Certification Examination Official Website

Certified AI/IoT Consultant (AIC)

The Certified AI/IoT Consultant (AIC) certification is administered by the Association for the Promotion of AI/IoT (AIPA) and certifies the consultant's ability to specialize in AI x IoT. The AIC certification consists of the following three levels, which can be taken in this order
 

  • AI/IoT Junior Consultant (AIJC)
  • AI/IoT Senior Consultant (AISC)
  • AI/IoT Master Consultant (AIMC)


To obtain the AIC certification, you must take the AIC training courses available for each level online and pass the exam. The training for juniors is half a day, for seniors two days, and for masters three days.

The Junior and Senior certifications are valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

Certified AI/IoT Consultant (AIC) official website

G Certificate

The G-Certification is a certification test to evaluate the candidate's basic knowledge of AI and deep learning and ability to appropriately apply AI technology to business. As of March 2024, the total number of examinees has reached 120,000, and the number of successful examinees has exceeded 80,000.

In this certification exam, you can understand the approximate structure and mechanism of AI/deep learning by systematically learning about AI/deep learning, such as "what is AI/deep learning" and "what AI can do and what you should pay attention to.

Furthermore, upon passing the G-Certificate, you will be able to join CDLE, one of the largest AI human resource communities in Japan. This will provide you with opportunities for networking and information exchange, and will expand your opportunities for continuous learning and practice.

G certification official website

E-Certification

The E certification, also sponsored by the JDLA, is a comprehensive and in-depth examination that tests the candidate's understanding of AI and deep learning, and is more technical in nature than the G certification.

The syllabus is updated every year or two, so it is necessary to keep up with the latest knowledge. Also, past exam questions are not published, making it difficult to predict the content of the exam, so you will need to be creative in your study methods.

To qualify for the E certification, you must have completed the JDLA Certification Program for Deep Learning Engineers within the past two years. If the certification program is covered by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's education and training benefit program, you may be eligible for up to 70% subsidy, so please check the official website.

E-qualification official website

AI Implementation Certification Examination

The AI Implementation Certification Test is sponsored by EQUATION Inc. and evaluates actual implementation skills in addition to theoretical knowledge of AI technology. the test consists of the following three levels to help students acquire the necessary knowledge and skills as AI engineers in a step-by-step manner.
 

  • Level B: The first level of the G (generalist) certification test, which tests comprehensive knowledge of AI.
  • Class A: A level that can also challenge the certification program of the E certification for AI difficulties.
  • S-kyu: The most difficult certification for AI at present.


Reference: AI Implementation Certification Official Website

 

For those who wish to systematically acquire AI knowledge and implementation skills, we recommend the following plan to step up step by step.
 

  1. Class B (acquire basic knowledge of AI)
  2. Grade G certification (mastery of business application skills for AI technology)
  3. Class A certification (mastery of deep learning implementation skills)
  4. E certification (Develop expertise as a deep learning engineer)
  5. Class S (acquire cutting-edge deep learning technology)


To prepare for the AI Implementation Certification Test, the official website lists the official teaching materials and recommended books for each level, so be sure to check them carefully before proceeding with your preparation.

AI Implementation Certification Examination official website

IT Passport Examination

The IT Passport Examination is administered by the Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA), and is a national examination that certifies basic knowledge of IT. The exam tests comprehensive knowledge in a wide range of areas, including knowledge of new technologies (AI, Big Data, IoT, etc.), an overview of new methods (Agile, etc.), knowledge of general management (management strategy, marketing, finance, legal affairs, etc.), knowledge of IT (security, network, etc.), and project management. Comprehensive knowledge in a wide range of fields is tested.

The Information Technology Engineer Examination is divided into 13 categories, and the IT Passport Examination is the most basic "Level 1" of the 13 categories. As shown in the pass rate data for the past five years, one out of every two applicants passed the exam, making it a relatively easy certification exam compared to other national examinations.
 

Year (Spring)Pass Rate
202058.8%
202152.7%
202251.6%
202350.3%
2024(April only)50.1%

Reference: Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA), "Information Processing Engineer Examination Statistics (April 2024)

IT Passport Examination official website

Basic Information Technology Engineer Examination

Like the IT Passport Examination, the Basic Information Technology Engineer Examination is a national examination administered by the IPA to certify the basic knowledge and skills required to become an advanced IT professional. The examination system was changed in April 2023, and now consists of two parts, Subject A and Subject B (formerly the morning and afternoon examinations). Subject A tests basic IT knowledge, while Subject B tests more specialized knowledge.

The Basic Information Technology Engineer Examination is positioned as Level 2 of the Information Technology Engineer Examination category, and is one of the easier national examinations to pass.

However, it is not an easy exam to pass without preparation. Even if you are already working in the IT field and have some knowledge of IT, you will need to spend about 50 hours studying for the exam. The average pass rate for fiscal year 2023, when the new examination system was introduced, was 47.1%.

Basic Information Technology Engineer Examination official website

Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination

The Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination is also administered by the IPA, and is a difficult national examination that is classified as Level 3 in the Information Technology Engineer Examination category. This exam is designed to assess basic information technology knowledge as well as more advanced specialized knowledge and applied skills.

While the Basic Information Technology Engineer exam is multiple-choice, the Applied Information Technology Engineer exam is written in the afternoon, testing deeper knowledge and applied skills.

The pass rate for the last five years has been around 25%, so this is not an easy exam to pass. The scope of the exam is quite broad, so it is difficult to pass without preparation.

However, there is information that about half of the questions on the Applied Information Technology Engineer exam are from past exams, so it is important to repeatedly solve past exams.
 

Fiscal year (spring term)Pass Rate
201923.4%
202023%
202124%
202224.3%
202327.2%

27.2% (Reference: Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA))

Reference: Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA), "Information Processing Engineer Examination, Information Security Assistance Staff Examination Statistics (2024 Spring Examination)

Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination official website

Data Scientist Certification Examination

The Data Scientist Certificate (DS Certificate), organized by the Data Scientists Association of Japan (DSAJ), is a certification examination that certifies that an applicant has basic knowledge and skills in mathematics, data science, and AI education. Since it was first held in September 2021, the number of examinees has been increasing in line with the growing demand for data professionals.

The Association classifies the skills of data scientists into the following four levels
 

  • Senior Data Scientist (industry-leading level)
  • Full Data Scientist (building block level) 
  • Associate Data Scientist (solo level)
  • Assistant Data Scientist (apprentice level)


Please note that although six examinations have been conducted so far, only the Data Scientist Certification Test™ Literacy Level (abbreviated as DS Test® ★), which corresponds to the "Apprentice Level," can be taken.

Data Scientist Certification Test official website

AWS Certified Machine Learning-Specialty

AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty recognizes expertise and skills in building, training, tuning, and deploying machine learning models on Amazon Web Services (AWS) It is an official Amazon certification.

The specific scope of the exam has not been published, but resources for exam preparation, including an exam guide and practice questions, are available on the official AWS certification exam website. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the type of question format.

AWS Certified Machine Learning-Specialty official website

AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals

Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900) is a Microsoft Azure certification that demonstrates basic knowledge of machine learning and AI. Azure certifications are divided into three levels: Fundamentals, Associate, and Expert.

The AI-900 exam is designed to be taken by those with no particular technical background, and is recommended as the next exam for those who have passed the aforementioned G certification and wish to deepen their knowledge of AI.

Microsoft offers a free course, Microsoft Learn, as a learning resource for Azure certification, and there are many courses available to help you pass the AI-900, so take advantage of these resources to learn more efficiently.

AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals official website

AI-102: Designing and Implementing a Microsoft Azure AI Solution

Designing and Implementing a Microsoft Azure AI Solution (AI-102) is another Microsoft Azure certification and is designed for intermediate-level professionals who want to demonstrate their ability to design, build, and manage AI solutions in a Microsoft Azure environment. The AI-102 is a certification for intermediate-level professionals.

In addition to the knowledge required for the AI-900, the AI-102 requires in-depth knowledge of each service and solution design knowledge to organize requirements and select appropriate services from a given scenario.

As with AI-900, make good use of Microsoft Learn, a free course offered by Microsoft.

AI-102: Designing and Implementing a Microsoft Azure AI Solution official website

DP-100: Designing and Implementing a Data Science Solution in Azure

The Designing and Implementing Data Science Solutions in Azure (DP-100) is a Microsoft Azure certification that certifies your ability to design, build, and operate data science solutions in an Azure environment. Specifically, the exam tests the candidate's skills in building a machine learning pipeline through a browser and Python library using Azure Machine Learning functionality, from learning to deployment to monitoring.

The DP-100 is an intermediate level certification and is not too difficult to pass if properly studied. Although not a national certification, this Microsoft certification is internationally recognized and can be an advantage when looking for a new job.

As with the AI-900 and AI-102, you can study for the DP-100 through Microsoft Learn, a free course offered by Microsoft.

DP-100 official website

Professional Data Engineer

The Professional Data Engineer is one of the certifications offered by Google Cloud, which certifies your skills and knowledge as a data engineer. The exam tests expertise in the area of data engineering, including data design, construction, operations, and security.

The pass rate is not disclosed, but it is said to be a level that even those with extensive work experience as data engineers struggle with. However, as more and more companies are using Google Cloud Platform in recent years, holding the Professional Data Engineer certification will make it easier to apply for good-paying jobs.

Although there are no specific requirements to take the exam, three years of industry experience and at least one year of experience in designing and managing Google Cloud solutions will make the learning process easier.

Professional Data Engineer official website

Summary: Get certified and become a machine learning (AI) engineer!


まとめ:資格を取得して機械学習(AI)エンジニアに転職しよう

In this article, we have introduced 15 AI-related certifications that can help you become a machine learning engineer.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, there are no specific qualifications that are required to become a machine learning (AI) engineer. However, having a certification will give you an advantage when changing jobs or getting a promotion because you can objectively prove your skill set.

If there are applicants with similar abilities and achievements, it is possible that your qualifications will determine whether or not you are successful, so why not take a proactive approach?

In addition, United World Inc. has dedicated career advisors who work closely with each individual to support his or her job search. After carefully listening to your detailed requirements and career plans, we will introduce you to the best job opportunities that suit you, so please feel free to contact us if you want to conduct your job search efficiently.

Talk to United World about 
career change.

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