With AI reshaping IT services, certifications are emerging as a way for MSPs to prove expertise and readiness. But will they deliver competitive advantage in the race to monetize AI services and boost sales? The jury is still out on the ROI.
We asked some MSPs and industry experts to weigh in on the pros and cons, and how they see AI certifications—and customer expectations—evolving.
Do AI Certifications Cut Through the Noise?
AI certifications can demonstrate proficiency, says Stuart Bryan, president of MSP I-M Technology, an MSP in Norwich, Connecticut. “Clients are flooded with AI pitches and are rightfully skeptical. Certifications help cut through the noise by showing we’ve done the work to implement AI responsibly.”
Certifications and certificates signal that holders have what it takes to properly deploy, use, govern, and secure AI applications.
“AI certifications don’t automatically make someone an expert, but they do show intentionality,” he says. “For MSPs, they signal that we’re investing in and understanding how to use AI securely and practically, not just chasing buzzwords,” says Bryan, who has a Generative AI certification from MSP training organization Breach Secure Now (BSN).
Casey Marks, CISO for ISC2, a certification body focused on security, says earning credentials from credible organizations like ISC2 “reassures customers that they know how to deploy AI securely, keep pace with regulations, and avoid costly missteps. That confidence is a clear competitive advantage.”
Ron Lear, vice president, frameworks and models, at ISACA, says MSPs with certifications are better prepared to successfully complete implementations and meet clients’ business goals.
But not everyone is rushing to earn AI certifications. Bob Coppedge, CEO of MSP Simplex-IT, an MSP in Stow, Ohio, says neither he nor his staff is getting AI-certified. “We’re too busy learning to use the tools. The idea behind a certification is that the person has developed proficiency in the best practices behind the technology. At this point those best practices are essentially at best a 1.0 definition. This is the case where real-world experience trumps a piece of paper,” he says.
But do certifications speed up ROI? Bryan says it’s hard to calculate but notes that his team saves time in completing tasks by applying their AI knowledge into their workflows.
What MSPs Need from AI Certifications
The introduction of Generative AI in 2022 caused an explosion in AI demand, outpacing skills development. The resulting talent gap hinders organizations’ AI plans. Some 65% of companies polled by online training platform Pluralsight abandon AI projects due to a lack of skills. And 85% are looking to replace or outsource jobs to fill the gap, the poll says.
MSPs can help the gap. Bryan says AI curricula should not just teach them what AI is, but also how to implement it responsibly. “The best certifications should focus on practical applications for NPOs [nonprofit organizations] and SMBs, covering use cases, how to measure ROI, risk mitigation, data privacy, compliance, integration with existing systems, and governance.”
ISACA’s Lear says a curriculum should cover proper data management, security, and a disciplined approach to building AI-augmented capabilities. Learning AI governance is critical as it becomes a new way of working, “replacing antiquated and inefficient processes with better performing processes,” he says.
AI-related security is also a must. MSPs often are responsible for securing client environments, so they need to learn AI-related risks and mitigation strategies. “For MSPs, the real value is being able to put AI into practice safely in customer environments while balancing business and regulatory requirements,” says Marks.
The 2024 ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study revealed that more than one-third of cybersecurity professionals say AI is their team’s biggest skills gap. “MSPs who build this expertise are well positioned to close that gap for their customers,” says Marks.
Availability of AI Training and Certifications
ISACA and ISC2 are among many organizations offering AI curricula. ISACA’s offerings include certifications on AI Audit (AAIA) and Advanced in AI Security Management (AAISM), which Lear says address skills gaps for individuals in AI-related roles. ISC2 offers a Building AI Strategy certificate on foundational and nontechnical skills to help MSPs “develop AI skills more quickly, keep pace with customer needs, and show that their staff are ready to guide secure adoption at scale,” says Marks.
Industry education and training organization CompTIA offers certifications in AI Essentials and AI Prompting Essentials for beginners looking to integrate AI into their careers.
AI Certs, founded in 2023, offers role-based AI certification programs, such as AI+ Executive, AI+ Prompt Engineer, AI+ Architect, and more.
In addition, vendors such as Microsoft, Google, NVIDIA, and AWS offer training, as do online platforms like Pluralsight, DataCamp, and DeepLearning.AI. And distributor TD Synnex’s Destination AI delivers AI-focused resources, including access to subject matter experts, enablement, and go-to-market strategies.
Client Education: Students Become Teachers
By earning AI credentials, MSPs can shift from student to teachers, educating clients about the technology.
Bryan says I-M Technology started its AI journey two years ago. “We started educating clients on it in Q4 of last year and selling an AI platform in Q1 of 2025. We made the point of promoting and providing training right from the beginning as well.”
Certifications give MSPs a framework for AI conversations with clients, he says. “Most small businesses don’t need flashy chatbots; they need automation, smarter data insights, and improved service delivery. Understanding our clients’ pain points helps us identify use cases and implementation opportunities. Training helps us guide them to the right solutions.”
With the monetization of AI in its infancy for MSPs, certifications may give an MSPs an advantage, agrees Chris Gotstein, president of GoTech IT Solutions, an MSP based in Brookfield, Wisconsin. He has been utilizing the Breach Secure Now AI certification track and will likely pursue Microsoft Copilot and other certifications as they mature. “I think for right now in this early stage, certification is going to be important because everyone knows just a little bit about AI. The certification elevates you to the next level. Five years from now, I don’t think certification will be as important from a client [perspective] because they’ll kind of just expect you to know it.”
