Salesforce is tackling the AI skills gap head-on! At Dreamforce 2024, they unveiled free AI virtual workshops, in-person courses, and certifications available through December 31, 2025.
Whether you're just beginning your AI journey or looking to sharpen your expertise, this is an incredible chance to level up at no cost. Here’s everything you need to know to get started.
Great question! Salesforce understands that the demand for AI skills is soaring, and they’re committed to expanding access to learning—what they often call “democratizing” education. By offering free training and certifications, they’re breaking down barriers to AI upskilling, ensuring everyone can stay ahead in a rapidly evolving field.
I like to think they’re also mindful of the growing number of people using AI without the proper knowledge. AI carries significant risks, and the importance of mastering the basics before diving in can’t be overstated.
Salesforce is making two AI certifications free through December 31, 2025:
- AI Associate Certification
- AI Specialist Certification
If you've already signed up for one of these exams and paid for it, don’t worry—Salesforce may issue you a refund. I know from friends and colleagues that have paid and taken the AI Specialist exam since it launched on the 9th September that they have already automatically received a refund.
"Individuals (excluding employees or MVPs) who have registered for the Salesforce Certified AI Associate exam on or after 8:00 am PST September 23, 2024 will receive a refund via the payment method they used."
"With the recent launch of AI Specialist, all individuals (excluding employees or MVPs) who have registered for the Salesforce Certified AI Specialist exam will receive a refund via the payment method they used, regardless of exam schedule date."
Source: AI Training and Certifications for All FAQ
This means that if you took and paid for the AI Associate exam in the past 18 months, you won’t be eligible for a refund. Refunds are only available to those who registered for the exam on or after September 23, 2024.
Starting in November 2024, Salesforce will offer virtual hands-on workshops to get you AI-ready. These include:
- How to Build Your First Agent
- Run Your Sales Organization Using Agentforce Sales Agents
- Run Your Service Organization Using Agentforce Service Agents
- Get Started with Copilot
- Get Started with Prompt Builder
These workshops are a perfect way to get hands-on experience with Salesforce’s AI tools. The only catch? You’ve got to sign up and complete them by December 31, 2025.
Salesforce will also be launching free, 3-day instructor-led courses starting in late 2024. These will teach you how to use Salesforce’s AI products like Agentforce. The courses are in-person only and will be available in San Francisco and London, with more locations opening soon.
