Certified AI Consultant (AIC): Certification Training

Instructor: Walter Rodriguez, PhD, PE, CM, PM
Platform: Canvas LMS | Format: Self-paced with optional live Zoom office hours
Duration: 1 to 6 weeks (flexible pacing)
Prerequisites: None. Ideal for professionals transitioning into AI advisory or solution design roles.

🎯 Course Description

This course empowers professionals to become AI consultants by blending foundational knowledge with practical consulting skills. Participants will explore AI technologies, develop use-case proposals, address ethical and compliance concerns, build no-code prototypes, and craft a personalized consulting strategy. The course culminates in a project portfolio and AI consulting pitch deck. It also prepares learners to pursue AI consulting independently or in alignment with industry-recognized certifications such as Microsoft AI Fundamentals, CPMAI™, and IEEE Ethical AI. Participants will also earn a certificate upon successful completion.

📌 Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will:

  • Understand the role and scope of AI consulting across sectors

  • Identify AI tools and platforms relevant to client needs

  • Translate business or organizational problems into AI-powered solutions

  • Design and assess ethical, feasible AI use cases

  • Prototype AI tools using no-code/low-code platforms

  • Build a consulting toolkit including proposals, pricing, and branding

📦 Course Modules

Week 1. Why Become an AI Consultant? > AI market > Consulting minset > Business Understanding) > MS AI900 > Use Case Awareness

Week 2. Understanding AI Tools > Core AI/ML concepts, tools, platforms > AI-900: Core AI Workloads (vision, NLP, decision) > Data Understanding > AIBusiness

Week 3. Scoping and Proposing AI Solutions > Needs analysis, feasibility, ROI > Data Prep > Modeling > MS AI900: AI in Business Scenarios

Week 4. Ethics and Compliance in AI > Risk, bias, trust, laws, governance > IEEE AI Ethics > Governance Layers

Week 5. Prototyping with No-Code Tools > Use ChatGPT, Zapier, Notion, etc. > MS AI900: Conversational AI & Demos > Evaluation > Building Use Case Solutions

Week 6. Becoming a Practicing AI Consultant > Pitch deck, pricing, branding > Deployment & Ops > General consulting certification prep

🔍 Detailed Certification Mapping per Module

🧠 Module 1: Why AI Consulting?

  • Business Understanding

    • Deliverable: Statement of Purpose + Client Discovery Outline

  • MS AI900 Fundamentals: Identify real-world use cases for AI

🧠 Module 2: Understanding AI Tools

  • MS AI900 Domains:

    • Machine Learning, NLP, Vision, Knowledge Mining

  • Data Understanding

  • IEEE: Literacy in capabilities and risks

  • Activity: Build your "AI Tech Radar" customized to your consulting niche

🧠 Module 3: Scoping & Proposal Design

  • Data Prep, Modeling Approaches

  • MS AI900: Choose AI model types based on business needs

  • Project: 1-page consulting proposal + feasibility matrix

  • Peer Review: Evaluate peers using a certification-aligned rubric

🧠 Module 4: Ethics & Compliance

  • IEEE AI Ethics & CertNexus:

    • Topics: Transparency, privacy, bias, auditability

  • CPMAI™ Governance Layer

  • Project: Fill out AI Use Case Risk Matrix + Reflection Post

  • Discussion: “Would you take on this ethically risky project?”

🧠 Module 5: Prototyping AI Solutions

  • AI-900: Demonstrate Conversational AI + Responsible AI

  • Build low-code or business-aligned solutions

  • Project: No-code screencast or tool integration storyboard

🧠 Module 6: Practicing AI Consulting

  • AI Deployment & Business Integration

  • MS AI900/IEEE: Explain how your solution supports responsible deployment

  • Final Project: Pitch deck + branding strategy with a nod to certification next steps

🏅 Final Certificate

Upon completion, learners receive:

✅ Certificate of Completion: AI Consultant
✅ Preparation Summary for AI-900, CPMAI™, and IEEE AI Ethics Certifications

📚 Required Materials

All materials are provided within Canvas, including:

  • Video lectures

  • Readings and templates

  • Downloadable tools and demos

  • Links to free tools, such as ChatGPT, Zapier, Notion AI, and other no-code tools

🧠 Grading & Completion

  • This is an active learning, non-graded, certificate-based course

  • Completion is based on the submission of weekly activities (discussions, projects) and the final consulting pitch

  • Feedback is provided via peer review and instructor comments

  • A certificate is issued upon completing all six modules

🔄 Participation Expectations

  • Engage in weekly discussion boards and project-based learning

  • Provide feedback to peers when requested

  • Schedule at least one optional Zoom session with the instructor for feedback

👥 Who Should Take This Course

  • Professionals seeking to enter or enhance AI consulting or teaching practice

  • Faculty, entrepreneurs, and veterans transitioning into digital careers

  • Consultants or advisors expanding their services with AI capabilities

🧰 Capstone Outcome

Participants will leave the course with:

  • A defined AI consulting practice area and mission

  • A case-based use case proposal and ethics analysis

  • A no-code demo or prototype concept

  • A pitch deck and brochure to attract clients

Certified Innovation Professional (CIP)

The Certified Innovation Professional (CIP) training is designed to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to drive innovation in their industry—from education and healthcare to logistics, and manufacturing. The training covers the entire innovation spectrum, from idea generation to implementation and sustainability—with a special focus on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance innovation processes and outcomes. This project-based instruction and discussions are based on Rodriguez, W. (2023). How We Innovate: The Starling Truth About How, Why, Where, and When It Happens. And Rodriguez, W. (1992). The Modeling of Design Ideas: Graphics and Visualization Techniques for Engineers. McGraw-Hill, among many other references, case studies, and research.

Certified Innovation Professional (CIP)

Overview

The Certified Innovation Professional (CIP) training is designed to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to drive innovation in their organizations. The training covers the entire innovation spectrum, from idea generation to implementation and sustainability—with a special focus on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance innovation processes and outcomes.

Objectives

  • Develop a deep understanding of innovation principles and practices

  • Learn how to apply design thinking, lean startup, and other innovation methodologies

  • Understand how to create a culture of innovation within an organization

  • Develop skills in ideation, prototyping, and experimentation

  • Learn how to measure and evaluate innovation success

  • Integrate AI technologies to enhance and drive innovation

  • Understand ethical considerations and best practices in using AI for innovation

Structure

The CIP training consists of six modules, each focusing on a different aspect of innovation:

Module 1: Innovation Fundamentals

  • Definition and types of innovation

  • Innovation trends and future directions

  • Innovation metrics and benchmarking

Module 2: Design Thinking and Ideation

  • Introduction to design thinking

  • Empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test

  • Ideation techniques and tools

Module 3: Lean Startup and Experimentation

  • Introduction to Lean Startup

  • Build, measure, learn

  • Experimentation and prototyping

Module 4: Innovation Strategy and Leadership

  • Innovation strategy development

  • Innovation leadership and culture

  • Change management and communication

Module 5: Innovation Tools and Technologies

  • Introduction to innovation tools and technologies

  • AI, blockchain, and other emerging technologies

  • Digital innovation and transformation

Module 6: Innovation Implementation and Sustainability

  • Innovation project management

  • Scaling and sustaining innovation

  • Measuring innovation success

Bonus: AI for Innovation

  • Introduction to AI and its role in innovation

  • AI-driven ideation and problem-solving techniques

  • Using machine learning for predictive analytics and trend forecasting

  • AI tools for automating innovation processes

  • Case studies on successful AI-driven innovations

  • Ethical considerations and best practices in AI

Program Delivery

The CIP program will be delivered through a combination of online and in-person “coffee” sessions, including:

  • Online modules and coursework

  • In-person workshops and training sessions

  • Live webinars and Q&A sessions

  • Coaching and mentoring

Program Assessment

Participants will be assessed through a combination of:

  • Discussions, quizzes, and exams

  • Individual and group projects and presentations

  • Individual assignments and case studies

  • Final project and presentation

Program Duration

The CIP program will be completed over six months, with the following hybrid activities:

  • Online modules and coursework

  • In-person workshops and training sessions

  • Live webinars and Q&A sessions

  • Coaching and mentoring

Program Fee

The program fee will be $4,700, which includes all program materials, online and in-person sessions, and coaching and mentoring. Free for SWFL Residents with Grant Approval.

Target Audience

The CIP program is designed for professionals and leaders who want to develop their innovation skills and knowledge, including:

  • Innovation managers and directors

  • Product managers and developers

  • Business leaders and entrepreneurs

  • Designers and creatives

  • Technologists and engineers

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for the CIP program, but participants are expected to have a basic understanding of business and entrepreneurship concepts or experience.

Certification

Upon completing the program, participants will receive a Certified Innovation Professional (CIP) designation valid for three years. To maintain certification, participants must complete continuing education requirements and adhere to a code of ethics.

Entrepreneurship & Intrapreneurship in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Era

This free online training uses the ADAPT peer-learning model to equip participants with the skills, knowledge, and insights to innovate, design-think, and develop new ventures in the rapidly evolving landscape shaped by Artificial Intelligence (AI). It combines foundational entrepreneurship principles with a deep understanding of AI technologies, their applications, ethical considerations, and their impact on various industries. The curriculum emphasizes experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, logistics, impact investment, and real-world application through projects, case studies, and partnerships with startups and established organizations in the AI field. Coursewell has designed a curriculum focused on using AI to counteract traditional startup challenges, thereby significantly improving the effectiveness of entrepreneurship. This leads to a significant increase in the number of startups that thrive and become productive. The resulting prosperity brings forth opportunities and innovations we have never witnessed before. Click here to register freely in SWFL.

Objectives

  • Equip participants with foundational entrepreneurial skills to identify opportunities, develop business models, raise capital, and launch ventures—powered by AI.

  • Provide a deep understanding of AI technologies and applications, allowing students to conceptualize innovative solutions and products.

  • Foster critical thinking and ethical reasoning to address the challenges and implications of integrating AI in business ventures.

  • Promote interdisciplinary learning and collaboration between students from business, technology, and other diverse fields.

  • Encourage practical application and experiential learning through projects, internships, and interaction with industry experts and entrepreneurs.

Courses

Foundations of Entrepreneurship in AI: Introduction to entrepreneurial & design thinking, opportunity recognition, and value creation in the AI landscape. Understand the basics of entrepreneurship and AI. Identify opportunities and challenges in the AI field. Entrepreneurial Mindset, Basics of AI, Market Trends in AI, Opportunity Recognition.

AI Technology and Applications: Exploration of core AI technologies, tools, and their applications in various industries. Gain deep insights into AI technologies and tools. Understand the application of AI in diverse sectors. Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision, Robotics, AI in Healthcare, Finance, etc.

Entrepreneurial Strategy and Innovation in AI: Develop strategies for innovation, competitive advantage, and value creation using AI. Formulate entrepreneurial strategies integrating AI. Analyze AI-driven business models and value propositions. Business Model Innovation, Competitive Strategy, Value Proposition Design, Lean Startup Methodology.

Ethics and Social Responsibility in AI Entrepreneurship: Examination of ethical considerations, social responsibility, and impact of AI on society and individuals. Explore ethical dilemmas and considerations in AI. Develop ethical and socially responsible AI-driven solutions. Ethical Theories, Bias and Fairness in AI, Privacy and Security, Social Impact of AI.

AI Product Development and Management: Hands-on experience in developing, managing, and scaling AI-driven products. Design and develop AI-driven products. Manage and scale AI products effectively. Product Lifecycle, AI Product Design, Product Management, Scaling AI Products.

Entrepreneurial Finance and AI: Exploration of financing options, financial modeling, and valuation for AI startups. Understand the financial aspects of launching and growing AI startups. Evaluate and model financial sustainability and growth. Funding Options, Financial Modeling, Valuation of AI Startups, Exit Strategies.

Capstone Project: Launching an AI Startup: Integrative project where students conceptualize, develop, and present a business plan for an AI-driven venture. Apply learned concepts to develop a comprehensive business plan. Demonstrate critical thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurial skills. Business Plan Development, Pitching, Market Analysis, Prototyping.

Internship/Practicum: Real-world experience with startups or established organizations in the AI field. Apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. Gain practical insights and experience in the AI entrepreneurial landscape.

Depending on the sponsor’s organization and projects.

Additional Workshops, and Events: Networking Events with AI entrepreneurs, investors, and experts. Hackathons and Competitions focusing on developing AI-driven solutions. Mentorship Sessions with successful AI entrepreneurs and industry professionals.

For queries, please email walter@coursewell.com indicating why you wish to join our team of successful participants.