Cardiff and Vale College
BCS* Essentials Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (AI) (PLA) is a free beginner course from Cardiff and Vale College, online or in person. It's free under Personal Learning Accounts.
It ends with an exam certification. Next intake not announced. Cardiff and Vale College doesn't say how long it takes.
Suits employed adults living in Wales who want a recognised entry-level AI certificate without paying for it. What stands out is the funding: the Personal Learning Account covers the course and the page says the usual salary cap does not apply. The main caveat is that no dates are published, so learners have to contact the college. Outside the PLA scheme, the BCS Essentials Certificate in Artificial Intelligence exam alone costs £160 + VAT, with training extra.
Cardiff and Vale College course preparing learners for the BCS Essentials Certificate in AI. Three half-day workshops cover AI history, ethics, UK law, machine learning, data quality and AI at work, then about 23 hours of self-study and a half-day exam preparation workshop lead to a 20-question exam. Free for adults eligible for a Welsh Personal Learning Account.
More courses on responsible AI and ethics and on machine learning.
See also: AI certifications compared.
Business professionals, Managers and leaders, Everyone (no background needed).
Level: beginner (as stated by the provider). Delivery: online or in person, Cardiff.
Not stated by provider.
Free under Personal Learning Accounts.
Certificate: exam certification. BCS Essentials Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (exam).
Cardiff and Vale College is a UK provider. We checked this course on its own page on 12 Oct 2026.
The price is shown in pounds, as the provider states it.
If you want a free, government-backed start instead, AI Skills Boost gives every adult in the UK free AI courses, and finishing selected ones earns an AI foundations badge.
UK funding: Personal Learning Accounts.
Other UK courses on AI literacy and fundamentals: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Online (Forth Valley College), Living with AI (Scottish AI Alliance), An Introduction to AI (North East Scotland College).
See also: free and funded training by nation, AI courses for managers and leaders.
Next intake not announced.
It's free under Personal Learning Accounts.
Yes: exam certification. The provider calls it "BCS Essentials Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (exam)".
It's a beginner course. The provider does not list prerequisites.
Next intake not announced.
Yes, every one we list is free or free to learn, including BCS Foundation Award: Award in Understanding the Role of Ethics in the Responsible Use of AI (PLA) and BCS Foundation Award: How AI Can Support Your Organisation (PLA).
BCS* Essentials Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (AI) (PLA): Free under Personal Learning Accounts, BCS Foundation Award: Award in Understanding the Role of Ethics in the Responsible Use of AI (PLA): Free under Personal Learning Accounts, BCS Foundation Award: How AI Can Support Your Organisation (PLA): Free under Personal Learning Accounts, BCS Foundation Award: Award in Machine Learning (PLA): Free under Personal Learning Accounts and BCS* Foundation Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (AI) (PLA): Free under Personal Learning Accounts. Fees are shown as Cardiff and Vale College shows them and never converted.
Cardiff and Vale College
Next: 8 Mar 2027
Cardiff and Vale College
Next: 18 Jan 2027
Department for Education
Start any time
| Course | Delivery | Cost | Level | Hours | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Capabilities and LimitationsAnthropic Academy | Online, self-paced | Free | Beginner | Not stated | Free certificate |
| AI Fluency: Framework & FoundationsAnthropic Academy | Online, self-paced | Free | Beginner | Not stated | Free certificate |
| AI FoundationsOpenAI Academy | Online, self-paced | Free | Beginner | 1.5 | Free badge |
| AI in primary computingNational Centre for Computing Education | Online, self-paced | Free | Beginner | 1.5 | Certificate not stated |
We're setting up a newsletter for new courses, price changes and funded intakes. Until it starts, New this week lists every change.