EC-Council Unveils Comprehensive AI Certification Suite to Bolster U.S. Workforce and Security
In response to the escalating integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across industries, EC-Council, renowned for its Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) credential, has introduced the Enterprise AI Credential Suite. This suite comprises four specialized AI certifications and an updated Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) program, marking the organization’s most significant expansion in its 25-year history. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between rapid AI adoption and the preparedness of the workforce to manage, secure, and govern these technologies effectively.
Addressing a Critical Need
The urgency for such certifications is underscored by projections indicating that unmanaged AI risks could amount to $5.5 trillion globally. Additionally, the United States faces a shortfall of approximately 700,000 professionals requiring reskilling in AI and cybersecurity domains. This scenario highlights a pressing need for structured educational pathways to equip the workforce with the necessary skills to navigate the evolving AI landscape.
Alignment with National Initiatives
EC-Council’s launch aligns with U.S. governmental priorities emphasizing workforce development and applied AI education. Executive Order 14179 and the July 2025 AI Action Plan’s workforce development pillar advocate for expanding AI education pathways and building job-relevant skills across various professional and skilled-trade roles. As organizations transition AI from pilot projects to integral components of daily operations and decision-making, the demand for proficient personnel becomes increasingly critical.
Economic and Security Implications
The economic implications of unaddressed AI risks are substantial. IDC estimates suggest that unmanaged AI risks could reach $5.5 trillion globally. Concurrently, Bain & Company projects a 700,000-person gap in AI and cybersecurity skills within the United States. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) have identified workforce readiness as a primary constraint on AI-driven productivity and growth, emphasizing the need for comprehensive training programs.
Security concerns are escalating alongside AI adoption. Reports indicate that 87% of organizations have experienced AI-driven attacks, and generative AI traffic has surged by 890%, expanding attack surfaces that many teams are still learning to defend. Moreover, AI talent remains concentrated, with 67% located in just 15 U.S. cities, and women representing only 28% of the AI workforce, highlighting persistent access and participation gaps as demand increases.
Introducing the Enterprise AI Credential Suite
The Enterprise AI Credential Suite is designed to reflect the practical development of AI capabilities within organizations. At its core is the Artificial Intelligence Essentials (AIE) certification, which establishes foundational AI literacy and responsible usage across various roles. This certification is supported by EC-Council’s proprietary Adopt. Defend. Govern. (ADG) framework, which outlines the operationalization of AI at scale in real-world environments.
The ADG Framework
– Adopt: Prepares teams to deploy AI deliberately, ensuring readiness and implementing safeguards.
– Defend: Focuses on securing AI systems against threats such as prompt injection, data poisoning, model exploitation, and AI supply-chain compromises.
– Govern: Emphasizes embedding accountability, oversight, and risk management into AI systems from the outset.
Role-Specific Certifications
Within this structured framework, the four new certifications cater to specific workforce needs across the AI lifecycle:
1. Artificial Intelligence Essentials (AIE): Builds foundational AI literacy, enabling professionals to understand and engage with AI technologies responsibly.
2. Certified AI Program Manager (CAIPM): Equips individuals to translate AI strategy into execution, aligning teams, governance, and delivery to drive measurable return on investment and enterprise-scale intelligence.
3. Certified Offensive AI Security Professional (COASP): Develops elite capabilities to test vulnerabilities in large language models (LLMs), simulate exploits, and secure AI infrastructure, thereby hardening enterprises against emerging threats.
4. Certified Responsible AI Governance & Ethics (CRAGE): Focuses on responsible AI practices, governance, and ethics at an enterprise scale, ensuring compliance with standards such as NIST and ISO.
Enhancing Executive Leadership
In addition to these certifications, EC-Council has updated its Certified CISO program to version 4 (Certified CISO v4). This revision addresses the evolving risk environments driven by AI, strengthening leadership readiness as intelligent systems become integral to core business operations and security decision-making.
Jay Bavisi, Group President of EC-Council, emphasized the importance of this initiative:
AI is moving from experimentation to infrastructure, and the workforce has to move with it. These programs are built to give professionals practical capability across adoption, security, and governance, so organizations can scale AI with confidence and clear accountability.
Building on a Legacy of Excellence
This expansion builds upon EC-Council’s longstanding collaboration with government and defense organizations, including its existing recognition under DoD 8140 baseline certification. As AI security and workforce readiness gain national importance, EC-Council’s comprehensive training and certification programs are poised to play a pivotal role in preparing professionals to meet these challenges.
About EC-Council
Founded in 2001, EC-Council is the creator of the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) program and a global leader in cybersecurity education. The organization offers over 200 certifications and degrees across various cybersecurity domains, including forensics, security analysis, threat intelligence, and information security. An ISO/IEC 17024 accredited organization, EC-Council has certified over 350,000 professionals worldwide, serving clients ranging from government agencies to Fortune 100 companies.
