The exam tests the categories of AI coding tools and the workflows around them, so your skills transfer as tools change. It never depends on one vendor, and no vendor endorses this certification.
A general-purpose coding chat you prompt turn-by-turn for explanations, snippets, and reviews.
e.g. Claude, ChatGPT / Codex, Gemini
In-editor completions and suggestions you accept or reject as you type.
e.g. GitHub Copilot, Cursor Tab, Gemini Code Assist
A terminal agent that plans, runs commands, edits files, runs tests, and opens PRs.
e.g. Claude Code, Aider, Codex CLI
A hosted agent that clones a repo and works autonomously, returning a branch or PR.
e.g. background / cloud coding agents
Agent mode inside the editor: multi-step edits with approval gates in your IDE.
e.g. Cursor, Copilot agent mode, Continue
Self-hosted or open agent loops you configure and run yourself.
e.g. Aider-, OpenHands-, Continue-style workflows
Owning AI-assisted work needs more than a code generator. The Skills Tech ecosystem covers the rest, and feeds proof into your certification.
Verification, checks AI-assisted changes for correctness and safety, and emits a safe-derived verification proof.
Repo ownership, proves you can understand, explain, and own a repository.
Defense, practice explaining and defending changes to managers and reviewers.
Signing and portfolio, issues the signed, verifiable certificate and hosts public verification.
Certification, the exam, missions, readiness, and the capstone that combine into the credential.