ISO/IEC 42001 is the international standard for an AI management system, the policies, objectives and processes an organization uses to govern how it builds and uses AI. The Global AI Certification Council (GAICC) sets the pass mark for its Foundation exam at 70 percent on 40 questions. Only 6 of those questions test plain recall, while 20 expect you to apply, analyze or evaluate the standard's requirements. As you work through ISO/IEC 42001 Foundation exam questions, mark the ones you answer by guessing, and study those topics first.
| The ISO/IEC 42001 Foundation Certification | |
|---|---|
| Certification | ISO/IEC 42001 Foundation, shown on GAICC's course page as GAICC Certified ISO/IEC 42001 Foundation |
| Certification level | Foundation, which GAICC lists as Tier 1 of its ISO/IEC 42001 certifications |
| Track | GAICC's ISO/IEC 42001 certification path, where Foundation is the starting point before advanced courses such as Lead Implementer |
| Technology | AI governance and ISO/IEC 42001, the standard for building and auditing an AIMS (Artificial Intelligence Management System) |
| Job roles | Managers and product owners who need a working understanding of ISO/IEC 42001. GAICC also names IT and business professionals, junior compliance and risk officers, data scientists, analysts and AI engineers, and students starting out in AI governance |
| Exams required | The ISO/IEC 42001 Foundation exam, taken after the required training |
| Prerequisites | No earlier certification and no experience required. Candidates must be at least 18 and complete at least 16 contact hours of structured ISO/IEC 42001 Foundation training first, through a GAICC self-paced course, a GAICC Authorized Training Partner or Certified Instructor, or a GAICC recognized institution |
| Certification validity | Three years from the date of certification. Renewed with 20 hours of CPD (continuing professional development) over the three years, a Code of Ethics reaffirmation and a renewal fee, with a three-month grace period after expiry |
| The ISO/IEC 42001 Foundation Exam | |
| Exam name | GAICC ISO/IEC 42001 Foundation |
| Exam code | ISO-IEC-42001-Foundation |
| Current exam version | Version 1.2 of GAICC's examination content outline |
| Questions on the real exam | 40 scored questions |
| Question formats | Single-answer multiple choice, with four options (A to D) |
| Time allowed | 60 minutes |
| Scoring | 70 percent to pass. GAICC treats this mark as provisional and confirms it for each version of the exam paper through a standard-setting study |
| How you take it | Online only and closed book, with AI proctoring on the GAICC hub. There is no test center option. You apply and book through the GAICC certification portal |
| Exam fee | US$199, or US$99 for GAICC members, as listed in GAICC's candidate handbook. The Foundation course bundle (US$675, or US$498 with membership) includes one exam voucher |
| Languages | English, with other languages on request |
| Retake policy | Each registration includes one attempt and one free resit, taken within 12 months of registering. Further attempts need a new registration at the exam fee |
| Our ISO/IEC 42001 Foundation Practice Questions | |
| Practice questions in our bank | 40 questions |
| Matched to | Kept in line with the current ISO/IEC 42001 Foundation skills outline |
| Question bank updated | Nov 2, 2026 |
| Formats | PDF and practice test (browser-based or Windows desktop), both in one purchase |
| Free demo | Available for both the PDF and the practice test |
| Free updates | 90 days from purchase, with longer periods available at checkout |
Start with the free ISO/IEC 42001 Foundation demo of both formats, then move to the full bank once guessing gives way to knowing the standard.