AIGP Certification Overview
Most AI compliance jobs don’t require coding. Surprising, right?
Take Sarah Chen. She was an HR manager not long ago. Six months after earning her AIGP certification, she landed a $95,000 job in AI governance at a healthcare company.
The catch? She’s never written a single line of code.
What Sarah did have was a solid understanding of how to manage risks tied to AI systems. And that’s really what AI governance is all about. It’s not about building neural networks or fine-tuning algorithms. It’s about making sure these systems work safely, legally, and ethically in the real world, where they actually impact people.
What’s the Deal with AIGP Certification?
The Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP) certification might sound a little intimidating, but it’s actually pretty straightforward. It’s offered by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), the same people behind well-established privacy certifications like Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM).
AIGP launched in March 2024 and it’s already getting a lot of attention. Before it even went live, over 4,000 people signed up for training.¹ That tells you there’s a demand for these skills.
Here is the AI Governance Profession Report 2025 that further supports this.
What makes AIGP different? It’s focused on governance, not technical expertise.
You won’t learn how to build AI systems—you’ll learn how to oversee them responsibly. It’s about understanding the risks, complying with regulations, and dealing with ethical challenges. Basically, the things companies need as AI becomes a bigger part of their operations.
Who Should Look Into This?
Honestly, just about anyone working around AI could benefit from this. But let’s break it down.
If you’re already in privacy, this could be a natural next step. There’s a big overlap between privacy concerns and AI governance. If you’ve got certifications like CIPP or CIPM, AIGP could build on what you already know.
Compliance officers might find this especially useful too. Think about healthcare organizations using AI diagnostics, how does this fit with HIPAA? Or financial institutions running algorithmic trading, what are the risks?
AI governance is touching just about every industry. Compliance professionals are right in the middle of it.
Risk managers have a lot to gain here as well. AI brings unique risks, and companies need people who can spot problems before they get out of hand. This certification gives you the tools to do that.
For lawyers, the timing couldn’t be better. With new laws like the EU AI Act rolling out, understanding how AI regulations impact businesses is a big deal. AIGP can help you navigate both established frameworks like the GDPR and newer ones focused on AI.
Project managers working on AI implementations? You’re not writing the code, but having a good grasp of governance can make the whole process smoother. Catching compliance issues early can save everyone a lot of headaches.
Even new grads should think about this. AI governance is a brand-new field. Nobody expects you to have years of experience yet, so this certification could be a great way to break in.
Take Marcus Rivera, a compliance officer at a mid-sized bank. He earned his AIGP last year and now leads their AI risk assessment team. His background was in traditional financial compliance, but the certification helped him understand how algorithmic decision-making affects lending practices. Same compliance mindset, different application.
The Four Knowledge Domains: What You Need to Know
AI governance might sound intimidating, but it really comes down to responsibility. Are these systems safe? Are they fair? Do they follow the laws and values we care about?
That’s the heart of it. Certifications like AIGP help you answer these questions and take the lead in a fast-growing field.
The 2025 AIGP Certification exam focuses on four domains (down from seven in the original version). The change makes it more straightforward and practical. Here’s a breakdown:
Domain I: Foundations of AI Governance
This is the “why” of AI governance. It’s not about how neural networks work. Instead, it’s about grasping what AI can and can’t do, its impact on people and businesses, and the principles behind responsible AI.
Think of it as understanding the big picture.
Domain II: Laws, Standards, and Frameworks
AI regulations are evolving fast. Take the EU AI Act, for example; it’s the most comprehensive AI law so far, with risk-based categories for different applications.
You’ll also look at current data privacy laws like GDPR and the industry frameworks that guide AI governance.
Domain III: Governing AI Development
This is all about the creation process. It includes how data is collected for training, how AI models are designed and tested, and how everything is documented.
Even if you’re not a developer, knowing how these steps work is key to overseeing them effectively.
Domain IV: Governing AI Deployment and Use
Once an AI system is live, monitoring is critical. You’ll learn how to check for bias, ensure transparency in decision-making, and manage real-world risks.
Many companies rely on third-party AI tools, so this domain also covers how to evaluate and manage those.
What to Expect From the Exam
The AIGP exam has 100 multiple-choice questions, and you’ll have three hours to finish. There’s an optional 15-minute break, but the clock doesn’t stop, so plan accordingly.
Passing requires a score of 300 out of 500.
You can take the exam online through Pearson VUE’s OnVUE platform or at a testing center—it’s your call. If you choose online, you’ll get your results instantly. That moment of knowing whether you passed? It’s a mix of relief and anticipation.
The costs break down like this:
- Exam fee: $649 for IAPP members, $799 for non-members
- Retake fee (if needed): $475 for members, $625 for non-members
- Certification maintenance: $250 every two years (or included with IAPP membership)
- IAPP Professional Membership: $295, other specific memberships available
Sure, it’s not cheap. But think about what it could mean for your career. AI governance is a growing field, and organizations are scrambling to find qualified people.
The certification could open doors to higher-paying roles or new opportunities you hadn’t considered. For many, it’s an investment that pays off quickly.
Career Impact and Salary Expectations
Have you ever noticed how much adding a certification can change your career trajectory?
Take IAPP certifications, for example. According to the 2023 IAPP Privacy Professional Salary Survey, having just one certification can boost your salary by 13%.² Stack a few more, and that number jumps to over 27%. That’s a pretty clear signal that these credentials matter.
And it’s not just privacy certifications. AI-related skills are in huge demand right now.
Jobs requiring AI expertise can come with a salary bump of up to 25%, according to PwC’s 2024 Global AI Jobs Barometer.³ The demand for skilled AI professionals has skyrocketed too. Back in 2012, there was one job posting for every AI specialist role. Today? There are seven.
What’s more interesting are the roles we didn’t even think about a few years ago:
- AI compliance specialists
- AI ethics experts
- AI governance analysts
- AI policy advisors
- AI risk managers
McKinsey’s 2024 survey on AI adoption found that 13% of organizations have already hired compliance specialists, and 6% have brought in ethics experts.⁴ Companies are trying to figure out how to use AI responsibly, and the people stepping into these roles are helping define what that looks like.
This shift isn’t just academic. AI governance is becoming a priority.
Almost half (47%) of organizations rank it in their top five priorities, and 77% are actively working on governance strategies, according to IAPP’s 2025 AI Governance Profession Report.⁵
And get this—according to PwC’s 2024 Global CEO Survey, 69% of CEOs think AI will require most of their workforce to reskill.⁶ That’s huge. It means this isn’t just a tech problem; it’s a people problem.
Preparation Strategy
If you’re thinking about getting into this space, certifications like the AIGP are one way to get ahead.
Preparing for the AIGP exam takes some effort, though. The IAPP’s official materials, like the AIGP Body of Knowledge (the comprehensive study outline that covers all exam topics) and Exam Blueprint, are a good starting point. But I’ll be honest, they’re not always enough.
A lot of candidates say the official courses feel incomplete, like trying to put together a puzzle with missing pieces.
That’s where third-party resources come in. Privacy Bootcamp has a 100% pass guarantee and a refund rate under 2%, which says a lot about their effectiveness.⁷ Another solid option is Dr. Kyle David’s Udemy Course, which many people swear by.
Using multiple resources often gives you a clearer picture, kind of like looking at a problem from different angles.
If you’re starting fresh, plan to spend 4 to 6 weeks studying. It’s not just about cramming for the test, though. This field is still developing, and the knowledge you gain now will be useful far beyond the exam.
Think of it like planting seeds. You’re building expertise that could open doors in ways you haven’t even thought of yet.
Ready to dive into one of these new roles? It’s a real opportunity to influence how AI gets built and used.
Footnotes
¹ IAPP Press Release, March 5, 2024
² IAPP Privacy Professional Salary Survey 2023 – Executive Summary
³ PwC 2024 Global AI Jobs Barometer Press Release, May 21, 2024
⁴ McKinsey “The state of AI: How organizations are rewiring to capture value,” 2024
⁵ IAPP AI Governance Profession Report 2025
⁶ PwC 27th Annual Global CEO Survey 2024
⁷ Privacy Bootcamp AIGP Certification Information Page
