3 Free AI Certifications For Beginners To Get Hired In 2025
Start with building general AI fluency, then progress from there and learn applied AI getty
AI certifications are the new degrees. Cheaper, quicker to complete, more value to employers, and increases your chances of hiring by 94% compared to the undergraduate route.
Having AI courses under your belt signals to employers that you’re a more likely fit for their AI-focused culture, especially as large companies like Amazon and Salesforce move towards mass AI implementation and restructuring their workplaces.
In 2025, it’s no longer a question of, Should I study AI? Is it needed?
It’s now a matter of, Which AI certifications should I study to get hired?
Regardless of your career goals, you need AI, but you need to be able to choose the right certifications so you can learn the right skills specific to your goals, role, and industry.
How to get hired through AI certifications
Which AI courses you should study first
If AI courses are really worth all the hype
Which AI Certification Should You Start First?
If you’re a complete newbie to the AI world and are seeking to build your AI skills from scratch, here are the best courses you can start with today. (These are free at the time of writing, and get your toes dipped in the water.)
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3 Free AI Certifications For Beginners To Get Hired In 2025
ByRachel Wells, Contributor. Rachel Wells is a writer who covers freelancing, AI, and remote work.
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Jul 16, 2025, 07:45am EDT
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Black professional woman with digital overlay learning AI and tech
Start with building general AI fluency, then
progress from there and learn applied AILess
getty
AI certifications are the new degrees. Cheaper, quicker to complete, more value to employers, and increases your chances of hiring by 94% compared to the undergraduate route.
Having AI courses under your belt signals to employers that you’re a more likely fit for their AI-focused culture, especially as large companies like Amazon and Salesforce move towards mass AI implementation and restructuring their workplaces.
In 2025, it’s no longer a question of, Should I study AI? Is it needed?
It’s now a matter of, Which AI certifications should I study to get hired?
Regardless of your career goals, you need AI, but you need to be able to choose the right certifications so you can learn the right skills specific to your goals, role, and industry.
In this article, you’ll discover:
How to get hired through AI certifications
Which AI courses you should study first
If AI courses are really worth all the hype
Which AI Certification Should You Start First?
If you’re a complete newbie to the AI world and are seeking to build your AI skills from scratch, here are the best courses you can start with today. (These are free at the time of writing, and get your toes dipped in the water.)
Introduction to Generative AI by Google Cloud
Generative AI for Beginners by Microsoft (a free 18-lesson video course)
AWS Simulearn—Generative AI (free as part of the AWS Skill-Builder subscription if you have one already)
You can discover more free AI courses in this Forbes article, and learn about free Generative AI courses here.
Once you’ve studied and understood the essentials, it’s important to not leave it there. Move from having generic knowledge to building applied AI skills.
According to IBM executive and vice president Justina Nixon-Saintil, applied AI is one of the most important AI skills to build because that’s when you begin to see real, tangible benefits in your work, business, and/or career.
0
Leadership
Careers
3 Free AI Certifications For Beginners To Get Hired In 2025
ByRachel Wells, Contributor. Rachel Wells is a writer who covers freelancing, AI, and remote work.
Follow Author
Jul 16, 2025, 07:45am EDT
Share
Save
Comment
0
Black professional woman with digital overlay learning AI and tech
Start with building general AI fluency, then
progress from there and learn applied AILess
getty
AI certifications are the new degrees. Cheaper, quicker to complete, more value to employers, and increases your chances of hiring by 94% compared to the undergraduate route.
Having AI courses under your belt signals to employers that you’re a more likely fit for their AI-focused culture, especially as large companies like Amazon and Salesforce move towards mass AI implementation and restructuring their workplaces.
In 2025, it’s no longer a question of, Should I study AI? Is it needed?
It’s now a matter of, Which AI certifications should I study to get hired?
Regardless of your career goals, you need AI, but you need to be able to choose the right certifications so you can learn the right skills specific to your goals, role, and industry.
In this article, you’ll discover:
How to get hired through AI certifications
Which AI courses you should study first
If AI courses are really worth all the hype
Which AI Certification Should You Start First?
If you’re a complete newbie to the AI world and are seeking to build your AI skills from scratch, here are the best courses you can start with today. (These are free at the time of writing, and get your toes dipped in the water.)
Introduction to Generative AI by Google Cloud
Generative AI for Beginners by Microsoft (a free 18-lesson video course)
AWS Simulearn—Generative AI (free as part of the AWS Skill-Builder subscription if you have one already)
You can discover more free AI courses in this Forbes article, and learn about free Generative AI courses here.
Once you’ve studied and understood the essentials, it’s important to not leave it there. Move from having generic knowledge to building applied AI skills.
According to IBM executive and vice president Justina Nixon-Saintil, applied AI is one of the most important AI skills to build because that’s when you begin to see real, tangible benefits in your work, business, and/or career.
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03:12
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“Start with general AI fluency,” Nixon-Saintil advises, “then figure out how to make it work in your role.”
This is where role and industry-specific AI courses like the ones below can be helpful:
ChatGPT Foundations for K-12 Educators, by Common Sense Media and OpenAI
Generative AI Content Creation, by Adobe, via Coursera (can be accessed for free using the financial aid option)
PMI’s Artificial Intelligence in Project Management course
GenAI for UX Designers, via Coursera
Generative AI for HR Professionals, via Coursera
Are AI Certifications Worth It?
Sure, hands-on AI experience is valuable, but putting a stamp on it through a certification that evidences you’ve completed a course demonstrates that you’re in the league of top-tier talent, and that you’ve taken the time to invest in yourself, even if you don't have a degree.
0
Leadership
Careers
3 Free AI Certifications For Beginners To Get Hired In 2025
ByRachel Wells, Contributor. Rachel Wells is a writer who covers freelancing, AI, and remote work.
Follow Author
Jul 16, 2025, 07:45am EDT
Share
Save
Comment
0
Black professional woman with digital overlay learning AI and tech
Start with building general AI fluency, then
progress from there and learn applied AILess
getty
AI certifications are the new degrees. Cheaper, quicker to complete, more value to employers, and increases your chances of hiring by 94% compared to the undergraduate route.
Having AI courses under your belt signals to employers that you’re a more likely fit for their AI-focused culture, especially as large companies like Amazon and Salesforce move towards mass AI implementation and restructuring their workplaces.
In 2025, it’s no longer a question of, Should I study AI? Is it needed?
It’s now a matter of, Which AI certifications should I study to get hired?
Regardless of your career goals, you need AI, but you need to be able to choose the right certifications so you can learn the right skills specific to your goals, role, and industry.
In this article, you’ll discover:
How to get hired through AI certifications
Which AI courses you should study first
If AI courses are really worth all the hype
Which AI Certification Should You Start First?
If you’re a complete newbie to the AI world and are seeking to build your AI skills from scratch, here are the best courses you can start with today. (These are free at the time of writing, and get your toes dipped in the water.)
Introduction to Generative AI by Google Cloud
Generative AI for Beginners by Microsoft (a free 18-lesson video course)
AWS Simulearn—Generative AI (free as part of the AWS Skill-Builder subscription if you have one already)
You can discover more free AI courses in this Forbes article, and learn about free Generative AI courses here.
Once you’ve studied and understood the essentials, it’s important to not leave it there. Move from having generic knowledge to building applied AI skills.
According to IBM executive and vice president Justina Nixon-Saintil, applied AI is one of the most important AI skills to build because that’s when you begin to see real, tangible benefits in your work, business, and/or career.
symbol
00:13
03:12
Read More
“Start with general AI fluency,” Nixon-Saintil advises, “then figure out how to make it work in your role.”
This is where role and industry-specific AI courses like the ones below can be helpful:
ChatGPT Foundations for K-12 Educators, by Common Sense Media and OpenAI
Generative AI Content Creation, by Adobe, via Coursera (can be accessed for free using the financial aid option)
PMI’s Artificial Intelligence in Project Management course
GenAI for UX Designers, via Coursera
Generative AI for HR Professionals, via Coursera
Are AI Certifications Worth It?
Sure, hands-on AI experience is valuable, but putting a stamp on it through a certification that evidences you’ve completed a course demonstrates that you’re in the league of top-tier talent, and that you’ve taken the time to invest in yourself, even if you don't have a degree.
Employers like to see evidence of credentials on your resume.
Why?
Because it demonstrates:
Passion for continuous growth and learning, a growth mindset which matches their work culture.
That you’re relevant and in tune with the needs of the industry and therefore with the market they operate in.
That you’re just as serious about AI implementation as they are, and are the perfect person to partner with in their journey to optimizing their processes and workflows with AI.
According to a 2024 AWS survey of 3,297 employees and 1,340 organizations in the U.S., employers’ findings revealed that:
92% of organizations intend to use AI-powered solutions by 2028.
Employers believe that workers in specific departments, like sales and marketing (85%) and human resources (78%), will derive significant value from AI implementation.
Employers are even willing to pay a premium for AI-skilled talent. Here’s what it breaks down to across business functions and departments:
AI-skilled IT professionals--up to 47% higher salary
AI-skilled sales and marketing professionals--43% higher salary
AI-skilled finance professionals 42% higher salary
AI-skilled business operations professionals--41% higher salary
AI-skilled legal, regulatory, and compliance professionals --37% higher salary
AI-skilled HR professionals--35% higher salary
What Should You Look For In An AI Certification?
When shopping around for AI courses, bear in mind that anyone can offer an AI course, so this is fairly unregulated territory.
To ensure you’re getting maximum value as relates to your job search and rapid career growth, ask yourself these questions.:
Does the AI course include hands-on projects so I can build a portfolio?
Is the course provider recognised by employers?
If not, is it taught by a proven expert in AI technology?
Even better, does this expert have a background in the field I want to pursue?
Does the course teach applied AI principles specific to my desired role in industry?
Does this course come with a certificate?
Is the financial investment worth it? There are many AI courses that are free, however, if you are to pay for a course, you need to be even more vigilant that it meets the above criteria first.
What’s stopping you from beginning your AI upskilling journey right now? Be real with yourself.
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