# AI security certifications in 2026: an honest comparison

> Every AI security certification we could verify in October 2026 (ISACA AAISM, CompTIA SecAI+, GIAC GAIPS, IAPP AIGP, OffSec OSAI and more): price, format, who it is for.

- Published: 2026-10-22
- Topics: AI security, Career, Certifications
- Canonical page: https://thesecguy.com/notes/ai-security-certifications-2026/
- Publisher: The Sec Guy (https://thesecguy.com)

**Short answer:** As of October 2026 there are only a few real AI security certifications. ISACA AAISM is for managers who already hold CISM or CISSP. CompTIA SecAI+ (launched February 2026) and GIAC GAIPS are for hands-on practitioners, IAPP AIGP is for AI governance, and OffSec OSAI is a practical exam for red teamers. ISC2's AI security certification is still in development, so pick by the job you do.

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If you're searching for an "AI security certification", here's the short version. There are now a few real ones, from ISACA, CompTIA, GIAC and IAPP, plus practical exams from OffSec and others. They test different jobs. A manager, a hands-on engineer, a governance lead and a red teamer should not take the same exam.

Everything below was checked on the official pages on **22 October 2026**. Prices are the vendors' list prices in USD and change by country and over time, so check the official link before you pay. Where a vendor's page doesn't show a number, we say so instead of guessing.

## The comparison

| Certification | Who it's for | Format | Price (list) | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **ISACA AAISM** (Advanced in AI Security Management) | Security managers and CISOs running an AI security program | Computer-based exam, test centre or remote | $459 members, $599 non-members (+ $50 application fee) | Active **CISM or CISSP** |
| **CompTIA SecAI+** (CY0-001) | Practitioners securing AI systems and using AI in security work | Up to 60 questions, multiple choice and performance-based, 60 minutes | Not shown on the certification page; see the CompTIA store | None required; CompTIA recommends 3 to 4 years in IT and 2+ years hands-on security |
| **GIAC GAIPS** (AI Platform Security) | AI/ML, AppSec and cloud security engineers, developers, auditors | 54 questions, 2 hours, 65% to pass | GIAC lists $999 for most practitioner certification attempts; the matching SANS course SEC545 is $8,260 | None |
| **IAPP AIGP** (AI Governance Professional) | Privacy, legal, risk and governance roles | Exam (see the IAPP handbook) | $649 members, $799 non-members | None |
| **CSA TAISE** (Trusted AI Safety Expert) | People leading safe and secure AI adoption, governance and risk | 60 multiple-choice questions, 120 minutes, 80% to pass | $795, training and two exam attempts included | None |
| **OffSec OSAI** (from AI-300 Advanced AI Red Teaming) | Red teamers and pentesters | 24-hour proctored practical exam against an AI-enabled environment | From $1,749 (course + exam, 90 days of access); Learn One $2,749 a year | None stated |
| **Practical DevSecOps CAISP** (Certified AI Security Professional) | AppSec, DevSecOps and MLOps engineers | Practical: 5 challenges in 6 hours, then a report within 24 hours | $1,099 list | None stated |

## The cloud exams that now include AI

These are not "AI security certifications", but the cloud vendors have started to put AI workloads into their security exams. If you secure a cloud for a living, one of these may be the better first step.

- **Microsoft SC-500: Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate.** Microsoft retired AZ-500 on 31 August 2026 and points people to SC-500. The skills measured are identity, access and governance; storage, databases and networking; compute; and security posture, across Azure, hybrid and AI-enabled environments. 120 minutes; price depends on your country. ([certification](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/cloud-and-ai-security-engineer-associate), [study guide](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/resources/study-guides/sc-500))
- **AWS.** There is no AWS certification named "AI security". The closest pair is **AWS Certified Security – Specialty** (65 questions, 170 minutes, $300) for the security side, and **AWS Certified Generative AI Developer – Professional** (75 questions, 180 minutes, $300), which expects knowledge of AWS security best practices and identity management. ([Security Specialty](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-security-specialty/), [Generative AI Developer](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-generative-ai-developer-professional/))
- **Google Cloud.** Google's certification list has security exams (Professional Cloud Security Engineer, Security Operations Engineer) and AI exams (Generative AI Leader, Agentic Architect, Machine Learning Engineer), but no exam dedicated to AI security. ([Google Cloud certifications](https://cloud.google.com/learn/certification))

## Coming, but not here yet

- **ISC2.** In July 2026 ISC2 asked members to volunteer to help define the knowledge and skills for an AI security credential. No exam or date has been published. ([ISC2, 15 July 2026](https://www.isc2.org/Insights/2026/07/ai-security-certification-development))
- **More GIAC AI certifications.** SANS and GIAC have announced four fully AI-focused certifications by the end of 2026, mapped to SEC535, SEC545, SEC595 and SEC598. GAIPS is the one we could verify as available. ([SANS announcement](https://www.sans.org/press/announcements/sans-giac-launch-ai-focused-cybersecurity-certifications))

## Which one should you take?

- **You manage security and already hold CISM or CISSP:** ISACA AAISM. It is built for you and it's the only one here that requires a senior credential first. If you audit, ISACA's sister exam **AAIA** (Advanced in AI Audit) needs CISA or a similar designation. ([AAIA](https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/aaia))
- **You're a hands-on security practitioner who wants a recognised vendor-neutral exam:** CompTIA SecAI+. Its biggest domain, at 40%, is securing AI systems.
- **Your employer pays for SANS training:** GIAC GAIPS with SEC545. With the $8,260 course it's by far the most expensive route here.
- **You work in privacy, legal or GRC:** IAPP AIGP. It's about governing AI, not breaking or defending it.
- **You red-team for a living:** a practical exam like OffSec OSAI proves more than multiple choice ever will.
- **You secure Azure:** SC-500 first. Microsoft names it as the replacement for the retired AZ-500.

One honest rule from the [cloud roadmap](https://thesecguy.com/notes/cloud-security-roadmap-2027/) applies here too: **take the exam after you've done the work, not instead of it.** In interviews, a lab you built and can explain beats a badge.

## Where our course fits (and where it doesn't)

We sell a course called **[AI Security Engineer](https://thesecguy.com/course/)**. To be clear about what it is:

- It is **not an industry certification** and it isn't accredited. You get a certificate of completion from The Sec Guy after a graded capstone.
- It **is** hands-on practice: prompt injection, RAG data leaks, agents and MCP, the AI supply chain, and securing AI workloads on AWS, Azure or Google Cloud, with a $0 local version of every lab.
- It covers many of the topics these exams test, so it can work as practice before one of them. It doesn't replace an exam's official study material.
- Founding price $49 or ₹499, then $199 or ₹1,999.

If you want to try before you pay, start with the free lesson [It's OK not to know this yet](https://thesecguy.com/course/free/0-2-its-ok-not-to-know-this-yet/), or read [how to become an AI security engineer](https://thesecguy.com/notes/how-to-become-an-ai-security-engineer/).

## Sources

All checked 22 October 2026.

- ISACA, [Advanced in AI Security Management (AAISM)](https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/aaism) and [Advanced in AI Audit (AAIA)](https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/aaia)
- CompTIA, [SecAI+](https://www.comptia.org/en-us/certifications/secai/)
- GIAC, [AI Platform Security (GAIPS)](https://www.giac.org/certifications/ai-security-platform-security-gaips) and [certification pricing](https://www.giac.org/certifications/pricing); SANS, [SEC545: GenAI and LLM Application Security](https://www.sans.org/cyber-security-courses/genai-llm-application-security-5day/)
- IAPP, [AIGP](https://iapp.org/certify/aigp/) and [AIGP exam in the IAPP store](https://store.iapp.org/aigp-exam/)
- Cloud Security Alliance, [TAISE](https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/education/taise)
- OffSec, [AI-300: Advanced AI Red Teaming (OSAI)](https://www.offsec.com/courses/ai-300/)
- Practical DevSecOps, [Certified AI Security Professional](https://www.practical-devsecops.com/certified-ai-security-professional/)
- Microsoft, [Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (SC-500)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/cloud-and-ai-security-engineer-associate) and [AZ-500 retirement notice](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/azure-security-engineer/)
- AWS, [Security – Specialty](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-security-specialty/) and [Generative AI Developer – Professional](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-generative-ai-developer-professional/)
- Google Cloud, [certifications](https://cloud.google.com/learn/certification)
- ISC2, [AI security certification development](https://www.isc2.org/Insights/2026/07/ai-security-certification-development)
- SANS, [AI-focused certifications announcement](https://www.sans.org/press/announcements/sans-giac-launch-ai-focused-cybersecurity-certifications)

The Sec Guy is independent and isn't paid by any of these vendors. Names are trademarks of their owners.