Certification guide
AIGP Certification and Other AI Governance Certifications (2026)
The Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP) is the IAPP’s AI governance credential; its exam went on sale on April 2, 2024 [10]. As of October 2026 the exam costs $649 for IAPP members and $799 for non-members, with 100 questions in 3 hours including an optional break [2][3]. This guide covers the exam, the 2026 Body of Knowledge, every fee, how to keep the credential, and how it compares with ISACA’s AI credentials and ISO/IEC 42001 lead implementer and lead auditor courses. Every figure links to the issuer’s own page.
Reviewed 30 Oct 2026 · next review by 29 Dec 2026 · 31 sources · report an error
AIGP at a glance
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP) | IAPP [1] |
| Questions | 100 multiple choice, about 30% tied to case studies; 85 scored and 15 unscored | Candidate handbook [2] |
| Time | 3 hours in total: 165 minutes of exam time plus an optional 15-minute break | Handbook and IAPP store [2][3] |
| Passing score | 300 or higher on a scale of 100 to 500 | Candidate handbook [2] |
| Where | Pearson VUE test centers worldwide, or online through Pearson VUE’s OnVUE remote proctoring | Handbook and IAPP store [2][3] |
| Exam fee | $649 for IAPP members, $799 for non-members | IAPP store [3] |
| Retake fee | $475 for members, $625 for non-members | Candidate handbook [2] |
| Prerequisites | None | Candidate handbook [2] |
| Syllabus | Body of Knowledge and Exam Blueprint v2.1, effective February 2, 2026 | IAPP BoK [4] |
| Certification term | 2 years from the day after you pass; 20 CPE credits per term | Candidate handbook [2] |
The AIGP exam: format, scoring and booking
Each question has one correct answer and three plausible wrong ones. Only the 85 scored questions count toward your result, at one point each; unanswered questions are marked wrong, and there is no extra penalty for a wrong answer [2]. The IAPP converts your raw score to a scaled score, and 300 passes. Its handbook says the cut score is set by an exam development board using psychometric analysis, and that passing does not require 100% mastery [2].
- Buy, then book. You buy the exam in the IAPP store, then schedule it with Pearson VUE from your MyIAPP account. You have 1 year from purchase to sit it, or the fee is forfeited [2][9].
- Online or in person. OnVUE remote proctoring is not available in some countries, and military-base test sites are limited to people with base access. Book at least 24 hours ahead [2].
- Language. The IAPP store lists the AIGP exam in English [3].
- Results. The IAPP says computer-based exam results are generally given right after the exam [9]. When new exam forms launched in February 2025, it said scores would take four to six weeks [5].
What the AIGP covers: Body of Knowledge v2.1
The exam follows the IAPP’s AIGP Body of Knowledge (BoK) and Exam Blueprint. Version 2.1 was approved on September 9, 2025 and took effect on February 2, 2026, replacing version 2.0.1 [4]. It has 4 domains. The blueprint gives each domain a range of questions rather than a fixed count:
| Domain | Questions | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| I. Understanding the foundations of AI governance | 16–20 | What AI is and why it needs governance; setting organizational expectations; policies and procedures across the AI life cycle, including third-party risk [4] |
| II. Understanding how laws, standards and frameworks apply to AI | 19–23 | Privacy laws applied to AI; other existing laws; the main elements of AI-specific laws; industry standards and tools (NIST AI RMF, ISO 22989, 42001, 42005) [4] |
| III. Understanding how to govern AI development | 21–25 | Designing and building the AI system; collecting and using training and testing data; release, monitoring and maintenance [4] |
| IV. Understanding how to govern AI deployment and use | 21–25 | Key factors and risks in deciding to deploy, including deployment options such as fine-tuning, RAG and agentic architectures; assessing the AI system; governing deployment and use [4] |
Domain II names specific laws and standards: its introduction refers to the EU AI Act and the South Korean AI Basic Law, and its indicators cover the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and Playbook and the ISO standards 22989, 42001 and 42005 [4]. Our ISO 42001 guide, NIST AI RMF page and EU AI Act page cover those texts.
Recent changes to the AIGP
- 01
- 02
February 3, 2025: seven domains become four
New exam forms and an updated BoK took effect. The IAPP cut the domains from seven to four, condensed overlapping indicators, added six new ones, and removed the history of AI, overly technical content not tied to governance, laws not yet adopted, and the old Domain VII on ongoing issues [5].
- 03
February 2, 2026: version 2.1
The BoK was extended to cover generative and agentic AI. It now names ISO/IEC 42005 (AI system impact assessment) alongside 22989 and 42001, and lists agentic architectures and retrieval-augmented generation among deployment factors [4].
- 04
How much the AIGP costs
| Item | IAPP member | Non-member | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam | $649 | $799 | IAPP store [3] |
| Retake | $475 | $625 | Candidate handbook [2] |
| Official online training (13-hour equivalent) | $995 | $1,195 | IAPP store [7] |
| Digital practice exam | $60 (listed price) | $60 (listed price) | IAPP store [7] |
| Maintenance fee per 2-year term | Included while membership is active | $250; the first term is included with the exam | Handbook and IAPP store [2][3][8] |
| Annual professional membership | $295 | Not applicable | IAPP store [8] |
| Path | What you buy | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Non-member, self-study | Exam and practice exam | $859 |
| Member, self-study | Membership, exam and practice exam | $1,004 |
| Member, official online course | Membership, exam, course and practice exam | $1,999 |
| Non-member, official online course | Exam, course and practice exam | $2,054 |
Keeping the AIGP: CPE and renewal
- Term. Each certification term lasts 2 years, starting the day after you pass [2].
- Credits. By the end of each term, submit 20 continuing education (CPE) credits whose content matches the AIGP Body of Knowledge [2].
- Fee. Non-members pay $250 per term; for members it is a membership benefit while the membership stays active [2][8].
- If you miss it. Missing either requirement suspends the credential. If the suspension is not resolved in time, it is revoked and you have to pass the exam again [2].
- Official training counts. The IAPP’s online AIGP course carries 13 CPE credits [7].
Other AI governance certifications compared
These are the credentials people most often weigh against the AIGP. We list only credentials whose issuer pages we checked on October 30, 2026, with fees as published there. ISACA’s three live AI credentials are add-ons: each requires an existing credential such as the CISA, CISM or CISSP [15][19][21].
| Credential | Best for | Prerequisites | Exam | Fee | Upkeep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIGP (IAPP) | AI governance across law, standards, development and deployment | None [2] | 100 questions, 3 hours including break; Pearson VUE or OnVUE [2] | $649 member, $799 non-member [3] | 20 CPE per 2 years; $250 per term for non-members [2] |
| AAIA, Advanced in AI Audit (ISACA) | Auditors assessing AI | Active CISA, or a listed credential such as CIA, US CPA, ACCA or ICAEW ACA with an IT audit or advisory focus [15][17] | 90 questions, 2.5 hours; pass 450 on 200–800; PSI center or remote [16] | $459 member, $599 non-member, plus $50 application [15] | 10 hours of AI CPE a year [17] |
| AAISM, Advanced in AI Security Management (ISACA) | Security leaders managing AI risk and controls | Active CISM or CISSP [19] | 90 questions; PSI center or remote [20][19] | $459 member, $599 non-member, plus $50 application [19] | ISACA CPE policy [19] |
| AAIR, Advanced in AI Risk (ISACA) | IT risk and advisory professionals | A qualifying credential such as CISA, CISM, CRISC, CGEIT, CDPSE, CISSP, CIA or PMI-RMP [21] | PSI center or remote; question count not published on its page [21] | $459 member, $599 non-member, plus $50 application [21] | ISACA CPE policy [21] |
| ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Implementer (PECB) | People building an AI management system | None for the provisional level; the full Lead Implementer title needs 5 years’ experience (2 in AI management) and 300 project hours [23] | 80 multiple-choice questions, open book, pass 70%; on day 5 of the course [24][23] | Price not listed by PECB; exam and certification fees are included in the course price [23] | Annual maintenance fee and CPD; amounts not listed in the handbook [24][26] |
| ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Auditor (PECB) | Internal and external auditors of an AI management system | None for the provisional level; the full Lead Auditor title needs 5 years’ experience (2 in AI) and 300 audit hours [25] | Exam on day 5 of the course; one free retake within 12 months [25] | Price not listed by PECB; exam fee included in the course price [25] | Annual maintenance fee and CPD [26] |
| ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Auditor and Lead Implementer (BSI) | The same roles, trained by a certification body | None listed [27][28] | Four-day courses, live online or classroom; the implementer course includes a certificate exam [27][28] | UK: £2,585 + VAT (auditor), £2,600 + VAT (implementer) [27][28] | BSI Training Academy certificate [27][28] |
| CIPP/US, CIPP/E, CIPM (IAPP) | Privacy law (CIPP) or privacy program management (CIPM); complements AIGP | Same IAPP process as the AIGP: buy the exam, then sit it within a year [9] | CIPM: 90 questions, 2.5 hours plus a 15-minute break [13] | $550 each [12][13] | 20 CPE per 2 years; $250 maintenance fee for non-members [8] |
- ISACA AAIG (Advanced in AI Governance). In beta and not yet launched. Candidates need an active CGEIT or six years of enterprise governance experience including at least one AI role; ISACA has not published its exam fee [22].
- ISC2 AI security certification. In development. A free pilot exam (160 items, three hours, English, at test centers only) runs from mid-December 2026 to January 24, 2027, and ISC2 does not expect the credential to be operational until 2027 [29].
- ISACA AAIA launch. ISACA announced the AAIA on May 19, 2025 and introduced the AAISM in September 2025 [18][31].
- Accreditation. The IAPP’s ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) page lists the CIPM, CIPP/E, CIPP/US and CIPT as accredited under ISO 17024; the AIGP is not on that list as of October 30, 2026 [11].
How to choose: by role, cost and time
| Your role | Start with | Add later | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy lawyer or privacy professional | AIGP | CIPP/US or CIPP/E | AIGP Domain II covers how privacy law and AI-specific laws apply to AI [4]; the CIPP adds jurisdiction-specific privacy law and is ANAB-accredited [11] |
| GRC, internal audit or IT audit | AAIA if you hold a CISA or listed audit credential; otherwise AIGP | ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Auditor; AAIR for risk roles | The AAIA is audit-specific, and AI operations is 46% of its exam [16]; a 42001 lead auditor course teaches auditing an AI management system [25] |
| Security | AAISM if you hold a CISM or CISSP | AIGP for governance breadth | AAISM weights AI technologies and controls at 38% of the exam [20]; ISC2’s AI security credential is still in pilot [29] |
| Engineering, product or data science | AIGP | ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Implementer | AIGP Domains III and IV, on governing development and deployment, account for 42–50 questions [4] |
| AI governance or compliance program owner | AIGP | CIPM; ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Implementer | The CIPM covers running a privacy program [12]; the 42001 implementer course covers building the management system [23] |
- Lowest cost. The AIGP exam alone is $799 for a non-member, with no prerequisites [3][2]. ISACA’s AI exams are cheaper at $459 to $599 plus $50, but each requires a credential you may not hold [15][19].
- Least time. The IAPP recommends at least 30 hours of training and study per certification [9]. ISO/IEC 42001 lead courses take four (BSI) or five (PECB, exam included) days [27][23].
- Most hands-on. If you will run or audit an ISO 42001 program, a lead implementer or lead auditor course teaches the standard clause by clause; the AIGP is broader and covers law as well as standards [4][23].
- Need outside help instead? Compare AI governance consulting firms and AI audit firms, or the AI governance platforms teams use to run the program.
AIGP study plan using official resources
- 01
Download the Body of Knowledge
Use version 2.1, effective February 2, 2026. Rate yourself against each performance indicator and spend most time on Domains III and IV, which together account for 42–50 questions [4].
- 02
Get the free IAPP study materials
The AIGP page links the BoK, a free study guide and other preparation resources at no cost [1].
- 03
- 04
Read the primary texts the BoK names
The NIST AI RMF and Playbook, ISO/IEC 22989, 42001 and 42005, and AI-specific laws such as the EU AI Act [4]. Start with our ISO 42001 guide and EU AI Act page.
- 05
Budget the hours
Plan at least 30 hours of training and study, the IAPP’s recommended minimum [9].
- 06
- 07
- 08
Plan your CPE
After you pass, log 20 BoK-related credits over the 2-year term [2].
Is the AIGP worth it?
There is no published data on AIGP holders’ pay, and we found no official IAPP count of AIGP holders. The best public evidence is the IAPP’s Salary and Jobs Report 2025–26, a survey of more than 1,600 people in over 60 countries, run in March and April 2025 [14]:
- $169,700
- is the level half of respondents working in both privacy and AI governance earn more than[14]IAPP survey, March–April 2025
- $151,800
- is the level half of respondents working only in AI governance earn less than[14]IAPP survey, March–April 2025
- $221,000
- median salary for technical AI governance roles in the technology sector[14]IAPP survey, March–April 2025
- 77%
- of respondents held at least one IAPP certification[14]IAPP survey, March–April 2025
The IAPP says median salary was higher for respondents with any one IAPP qualification, and higher again for those with several [14]. Two caveats: the report does not separate AIGP holders, and it shows a correlation, not that the credential caused the pay difference. And 77% of respondents already held an IAPP certification, so the comparison group is small [14].
Frequently asked questions
+How much does the AIGP certification cost?
The exam is $649 for IAPP members and $799 for non-members [3]. A retake is $475 or $625 [2]. The official online course adds $995 or $1,195 [7], and non-members pay $250 every 2 years to keep the credential [8].
+How many questions are on the AIGP exam, and what is the passing score?
100 multiple-choice questions, of which 85 are scored, in 3 hours including an optional 15-minute break. You need a scaled score of 300 on a 100–500 scale [2].
+What is the AIGP pass rate?
The IAPP does not publish one. Its candidate handbook explains how the cut score is set but gives no pass rate [2], so treat pass rates quoted elsewhere as unofficial.
+How hard is the AIGP exam?
There is no official difficulty measure. It has no prerequisites, about 30% of questions are tied to case studies, and the IAPP says passing does not require 100% mastery [2]. It spans law, standards and the AI lifecycle, so people new to one of those areas usually need the most study [4].
+How long should I study for the AIGP?
The IAPP recommends at least 30 hours of training and study per certification [9]. Its official online course is the equivalent of 13 hours of live training [7], so budget time for reading and practice questions on top.
+Does the AIGP expire?
It runs in 2-year terms. To renew, submit 20 CPE credits and, as a non-member, pay $250. Miss either and the credential is suspended, then revoked if not fixed, after which you must retake the exam [2].
+Can I take the AIGP exam online?
Yes. You can take it remotely through Pearson VUE’s OnVUE, except in some countries where OnVUE is not offered, or in person at a Pearson VUE test center [2][3].
+AIGP vs CIPP: which should I get first?
Get the AIGP first if your job is AI governance; get a CIPP first if it is privacy law in a given jurisdiction. The CIPP exams cost $550 [12], and CIPP/US and CIPP/E are ANAB-accredited, which the AIGP is not yet [11]. Many privacy professionals hold both.
+AIGP vs AAIA: what is the difference?
The AIGP is open to anyone and covers AI governance broadly [2][4]. ISACA’s AAIA is an audit credential for people who already hold a CISA or a listed audit or accounting credential, with 90 questions and a fee of $459 to $599 [15][16].
+Which Body of Knowledge version is the AIGP exam based on now?
Version 2.1, effective February 2, 2026. It added generative and agentic AI, and ISO/IEC 42005 alongside 22989 and 42001 [4]. The IAPP gives at least 90 days’ notice before exam content changes [4].
+Is an ISO 42001 Lead Auditor certificate the same as ISO 42001 certification?
No. A lead auditor or lead implementer certificate shows a person’s skills [23][25]. An organization is ISO 42001 certified only after an accredited certification body audits its AI management system; see our ISO 42001 certification guide.
+Do I need an AI governance certification to comply with the EU AI Act?
No. For the Act’s AI literacy duty, the European Commission says there is no need for a certificate and that organizations can keep internal training records instead [30].
Sources
- [1]IAPP, AIGP: Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional.
- [2]IAPP, AIGP Candidate Handbook.
- [3]IAPP Store, AIGP Exam.
- [4]IAPP, AIGP Body of Knowledge and Exam Blueprint, version 2.1 (2026-02-02).
- [5]IAPP, Q1 2025 annual updates (AIGP) (2025).
- [6]IAPP, AIGP training.
- [7]IAPP Store, AI Governance Professional (AIGP) Online Training.
- [8]IAPP Store, Certification Maintenance Fee.
- [9]IAPP, Certification process.
- [10]IAPP, IAPP launches new AI Governance Professional certification (2024-03-05).
- [11]IAPP, ANAB accreditation.
- [12]IAPP Store, Certification exams.
- [13]IAPP Store, CIPM Exam.
- [14]IAPP, Salary and Jobs Report 2025–26: Privacy, AI Governance and Digital Responsibility (2025-08-03).
- [15]ISACA, AAIA certification.
- [16]ISACA, ISACA Advanced in AI Audit (AAIA) exam candidate guide (2025).
- [17]ISACA, Earn an AAIA certification.
- [18]ISACA, ISACA launches Advanced in AI Audit (AAIA) certification (2025-05-19).
- [19]ISACA, AAISM certification.
- [20]ISACA, AAISM exam content outline.
- [21]ISACA, AAIR: Advanced in AI Risk.
- [22]ISACA, AAIG: Advanced in AI Governance (beta).
- [23]PECB, ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Implementer.
- [24]PECB, ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Implementer candidate handbook (v1.5) (2026).
- [25]PECB, ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Auditor.
- [26]PECB, Exam rules and policies.
- [27]BSI, ISO/IEC 42001:2023 Artificial Intelligence Management System Lead Auditor (UK).
- [28]BSI, ISO/IEC 42001:2023 Artificial Intelligence Lead Implementer (UK).
- [29]ISC2, ISC2 developing AI security certification.
- [30]European Commission, AI literacy: questions and answers.
- [31]ISACA, ISACA introduces Advanced in AI Security Management credential (2025-09-02).
How we keep this page current
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