Certification schemes
What a scheme contains
Every scheme follows the same structure
Scope
The occupational role and level the scheme certifies, and what holders are certified to do.
Competence requirements
Published competencies, syllabus and learning outcomes, plus formal eligibility criteria.
Assessment methods
Exam blueprint, question types, duration and a cut score set through a documented standard-setting procedure.
Certification decision
Made by an independent decision maker who was not involved in training or assessing the candidate.
Surveillance & recertification
Certificates are valid for three years and renewed through CPD evidence or re-examination.
Suspension & withdrawal
Defined criteria and a fair process for suspending, withdrawing or revoking certification.
Accreditation: AQSCERT is accredited by DA, an IAF MLA signatory, to ISO/IEC 17024. Our programmes are developed by leading experts from industry.
Published schemes
10 certification schemes
- v1.0
AQS-SCH-IT-01
Project Management Certification Scheme
Personnel certification of individuals working in project management roles, at the levels defined in this scheme. Certifications for professionals who plan, govern and deliver projects, programmes and products.
Effective 1 Jan 2026 · Initial scheme version.
- AQS-PM31 IICTI Certified Programme ManagerProfessional
- AQS-PM IICTI Certified Project ManagerProfessional
- AQS-PM32 IICTI Certified Product ManagerProfessional
- AQS-ISM38 IICTI Certified IT Service ManagerProfessional
- AQS-SM IICTI Certified Scrum MasterProfessional
- v1.0
AQS-SCH-IT-02
Software Development Certification Scheme
Personnel certification of individuals working in software development roles, at the levels defined in this scheme. Certifications for developers, testers and architects who design, build and assure software.
Effective 1 Jan 2026 · Initial scheme version.
- AQS-MAD IICTI Certified Mobile Application DeveloperProfessional
- AQS-NJD IICTI Certified Node.js DeveloperProfessional
- AQS-SQE IICTI Certified Software Quality EngineerProfessional
- AQS-DE IICTI Certified DevOps EngineerProfessional
- AQS-AD IICTI Certified API DeveloperProfessional
- AQS-PD IICTI Certified Python DeveloperProfessional
- AQS-ST IICTI Certified Software TesterProfessional
- AQS-SOA IICTI Certified Service Oriented ArchitectProfessional
- AQS-BCD IICTI Certified Blockchain DeveloperProfessional
- AQS-ISM IICTI Certified IT Service Management ProfessionalProfessional
- AQS-SA14 IICTI Certified Software ArchitectProfessional
- AQS-SA36 IICTI Certified Solutions ArchitectProfessional
- AQS-EA IICTI Certified Enterprise ArchitectProfessional
- AQS-BD IICTI Certified Backend DeveloperProfessional
- AQS-FSD IICTI Certified Full Stack DeveloperProfessional
- AQS-EIS IICTI Certified ERP Implementation SpecialistProfessional
- AQS-UXD IICTI Certified UI & UX DesignerProfessional
- AQS-SDN IICTI Certified .NET Software DeveloperProfessional
- AQS-JD IICTI Certified Java DeveloperProfessional
- AQS-SAT IICTI Certified Software Automation TesterProfessional
- AQS-FD IICTI Certified Frontend DeveloperProfessional
- v1.0
AQS-SCH-IT-03
Data Certification Scheme
Personnel certification of individuals working in data roles, at the levels defined in this scheme. Certifications for professionals who manage, engineer, analyse and govern data.
Effective 1 Jan 2026 · Initial scheme version.
- AQS-DCIS IICTI Certified Data Center Infrastructure SpecialistProfessional
- AQS-DA12 IICTI Certified Data AnalystProfessional
- AQS-DE28 IICTI Certified Data EngineerProfessional
- AQS-BID IICTI Certified Business Intelligence DeveloperProfessional
- AQS-DBI IICTI Certified Database ImplementationProfessional
- AQS-DA IICTI Certified Database AdministratorProfessional
- AQS-DD IICTI Certified Database DeveloperProfessional
- v1.0
AQS-SCH-IT-04
Security Certification Scheme
Personnel certification of individuals working in security roles, at the levels defined in this scheme. Certifications for professionals who protect systems, networks, applications and information.
Effective 1 Jan 2026 · Initial scheme version.
- AQS-SCA IICTI Certified Security Compliance AuditorProfessional
- AQS-CSAU IICTI Certified Cloud Security AuditorProfessional
- AQS-C IICTI Certified CybersecurityProfessional
- AQS-SOM IICTI Certified Security Operations ManagerProfessional
- AQS-NS IICTI Certified Network Security ProfessionalProfessional
- AQS-DISP IICTI Certified Digital Identity Security ProfessionalProfessional
- AQS-CSS IICTI Certified Container Security SpecialistProfessional
- AQS-PT IICTI Certified Penetration TestingProfessional
- AQS-ASS IICTI Certified AI Security SpecialistProfessional
- AQS-ASE IICTI Certified Application Security EngineerProfessional
- AQS-FA IICTI Certified Firewall AdministratorProfessional
- AQS-ZTSA IICTI Certified Zero Trust Security ArchitectProfessional
- AQS-TIA IICTI Certified Threat Intelligence AnalystProfessional
- AQS-IRS IICTI Certified Incident Response SpecialistProfessional
- AQS-VMS IICTI Certified Vulnerability Management SpecialistProfessional
- AQS-CSE IICTI Certified Cloud Security EngineerProfessional
- AQS-DFI IICTI Certified Digital Forensics InvestigatorProfessional
- AQS-CYSA IICTI Certified Cybersecurity AnalystProfessional
- v1.0
AQS-SCH-IT-05
IT Operations Certification Scheme
Personnel certification of individuals working in it operations roles, at the levels defined in this scheme. Certifications for professionals who run, support and recover IT systems and services.
Effective 1 Jan 2026 · Initial scheme version.
- AQS-LA IICTI Certified Linux AdministratorProfessional
- AQS-SA34 IICTI Certified System AdministratorProfessional
- AQS-ISDT IICTI Certified IT Service Desk TechnicianProfessional
- AQS-SA52 IICTI Certified Storage AdministratorProfessional
- AQS-IIM IICTI Certified IT Infrastructure ManagerProfessional
- AQS-SA IICTI Certified Server AdministrationProfessional
- AQS-BDR IICTI Certified Backup and Disaster Recovery ProfessionalProfessional
- v1.0
AQS-SCH-IT-06
Networking Certification Scheme
Personnel certification of individuals working in networking roles, at the levels defined in this scheme. Certifications for professionals who design, operate and secure networks.
Effective 1 Jan 2026 · Initial scheme version.
- AQS-NE IICTI Certified Network EngineerProfessional
- AQS-NA IICTI Certified Network AdministratorProfessional
- AQS-RS IICTI Certified Routing and Switching ProfessionalProfessional
- v1.0
AQS-SCH-IT-07
Artificial Intelligence Certification Scheme
Personnel certification of individuals working in artificial intelligence roles, at the levels defined in this scheme. Certifications for professionals who build, operate and secure AI and machine-learning systems.
Effective 1 Jan 2026 · Initial scheme version.
- AQS-AAD IICTI Certified AI Agent DeveloperProfessional
- AQS-PEP IICTI Certified Prompt Engineering ProfessionalProfessional
- AQS-AME IICTI Certified Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning EngineerProfessional
- AQS-CVE IICTI Certified Computer Vision EngineerProfessional
- AQS-RAS IICTI Certified Responsible AI SpecialistProfessional
- AQS-AGP IICTI Certified AI Governance ProfessionalProfessional
- AQS-AAE IICTI Certified AI Automation EngineerProfessional
- AQS-AA IICTI Certified AI AuditorProfessional
- AQS-GAE IICTI Certified Generative AI EngineerProfessional
- AQS-ME IICTI Certified MLOps EngineerProfessional
- AQS-DS IICTI Certified Data ScientistProfessional
- AQS-LLME IICTI Certified Large Language Model EngineerProfessional
- v1.0
AQS-SCH-IT-08
Cloud Certification Scheme
Personnel certification of individuals working in cloud roles, at the levels defined in this scheme. Certifications for professionals who design, operate and secure cloud platforms.
Effective 1 Jan 2026 · Initial scheme version.
- AQS-KA IICTI Certified Kubernetes AdministratorProfessional
- AQS-PE IICTI Certified Platform EngineerProfessional
- AQS-CSA IICTI Certified Cloud Solutions ArchitectProfessional
- AQS-VE IICTI Certified Virtualization EngineerProfessional
- AQS-SRE IICTI Certified Site Reliability EngineerProfessional
- AQS-CMS IICTI Certified Cloud Migration SpecialistProfessional
- AQS-FP IICTI Certified FinOps ProfessionalProfessional
- AQS-CA IICTI Certified Cloud AdministratorProfessional
- v1.0
AQS-SCH-IT-09
Audit, Risk & Governance Certification Scheme
Personnel certification of individuals working in audit, risk & governance roles, at the levels defined in this scheme. Certifications for professionals who audit, govern and manage risk and compliance in IT.
Effective 1 Jan 2026 · Initial scheme version.
- AQS-SIMA IICTI Certified Security Incident Management Auditor (SIM)Professional
- AQS-ISA IICTI Certified Information Security AuditorProfessional
- AQS-DPPP IICTI Certified Data Protection and Privacy ProfessionalProfessional
- AQS-CSMLA IICTI Certified CSIRT Maturity & Security Incident Management Lead AuditorExpert
- v1.0
AQS-SCH-IT-10
Business Analysis & Process Certification Scheme
Personnel certification of individuals working in business analysis & process roles, at the levels defined in this scheme. Certifications for professionals who analyse business needs and improve processes.
Effective 1 Jan 2026 · Initial scheme version.