> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://agenticadvertisingorg-feature-feedback.mintlify.site/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # AdCP certification program > AdCP certification program: three tiers (Basics, Practitioner, Specialist) taught by Addie, an AI teaching assistant. Free foundational modules, member-only advanced tracks. # AdCP certification program AI is remaking advertising. The question is whether you'll direct the change or react to it. AgenticAdvertising.org's vision is a Cre(ai)tive Economy where every brand and creator thrives through agentic collaboration. That economy needs people who understand how these systems work — not just technically, but strategically. Agentic advertising is already here — AI agents negotiating media buys, optimizing creative in real time, managing campaigns across channels autonomously. The people who understand how to direct these systems will shape what comes next. Everyone else will be catching up. The certification program exists to build that expertise. The AdCP certification program gets you there through interactive, AI-guided modules. No lectures. No multiple-choice tests. You learn by doing — discussing real scenarios, working with live sandbox agents, and building your own advertising agent. Open Addie and say "I want to start the certification program." No account required — the Basics track is free. ## What learning with Addie feels like Certification happens in conversation. Addie, your AI teaching assistant, adapts to your experience level — asking questions, explaining concepts, walking through real scenarios. It's like having a knowledgeable colleague who never gets impatient. Addie assesses your understanding the same way: through conversation. Can you explain concepts clearly? Can you apply them to real scenarios? Can you use the protocol tools correctly? The program is designed for anyone in advertising — programmatic traders, media planners, brand managers, agency executives, and engineers alike. No prior programming experience is required. Three modules, about 50 minutes total, and you'll have earned your first credential. Most learners finish the Basics track in a few lunch breaks. ## Everyone builds You don't need to be an engineer to build an advertising agent. At the Practitioner level, you'll build a real, working agent — a buyer agent, a seller agent, or a platform agent — using an AI coding assistant like Claude Code or Cursor. This is vibe coding: you describe what you want to build in plain language. The AI coding assistant writes the code. You validate it against real AdCP schemas and iterate on the design with Addie. The coding part is fast. The real assessment is whether you can specify what you need, reason about how it works, and improve it through iteration. These are skills every advertising professional should have. **By the end of the Practitioner track, you'll have built your own working advertising agent.** ## Three-tier credential model **Free and open to everyone.** Complete three foundation modules to demonstrate you understand what agentic advertising is, how AdCP works, and the full protocol landscape. Modules: [A1](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/foundations/a1-agentic-advertising), [A2](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/foundations/a2-protocol-architecture), [A3](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/foundations/a3-ecosystem-governance) **Basics plus a role track — ending with building your own agent.** Complete the Basics modules and one role track (publisher, buyer, or platform). The track culminates in a build project where you create a working advertising agent. No prior programming experience required. Modules: A1–A3 + one track (B1–B4, C1–C4, or D1–D4) **Protocol mastery.** Deep dive into a specific protocol area: media buy, creative, signals, governance, or sponsored intelligence. Combines hands-on lab and adaptive exam. Requires: Practitioner + specialist module Specialist credentials align with the protocol's domains. Within each domain, AdCP defines **specialisms** — specific flows an agent supports, declared in `get_adcp_capabilities`. Agents demonstrate each specialism by passing its compliance storyboard. The specialist track teaches you to reason about these claims and validate agents against them. See the [Compliance Catalog](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/building/verification/compliance-catalog) for the full taxonomy. ## How it works Each module follows the same pattern: 1. **Read** — Review the reading list on this page to build context 2. **Learn** — Start the module with Addie for interactive, Socratic-style teaching 3. **Practice** — Work through exercises against live sandbox agents 4. **Demonstrate** — Show you can do 3–5 specific things that every learner must demonstrate Every module has a set of required demonstrations — the same for everyone, regardless of experience. An ad tech veteran and a first-timer both verify the same core competencies. Addie adapts the teaching to your level, but the bar is consistent. See [how we teach](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/instructional-design#assessment-fairness) for details. ## Learning paths ### Basics (free) Everyone starts here. All three modules are free — no membership required. | Module | Topic | Duration | Free? | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------- | -------- | ----- | | [A1](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/foundations/a1-agentic-advertising) | Why AdCP | 15 min | Yes | | [A2](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/foundations/a2-protocol-architecture) | Your first media buy | 20 min | Yes | | [A3](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/foundations/a3-ecosystem-governance) | The AdCP landscape | 15 min | Yes | ### Role tracks (choose your path) After Basics, choose the track that matches your role. Each track is four modules culminating in a build project. | Track | For | Modules | Duration | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | ------- | --------- | | [Publisher / seller](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/tracks/publisher) | Publishers, SSPs, supply-side platforms | B1–B4 | \~103 min | | [Buyer / brand](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/tracks/buyer) | Brands, agencies, DSPs | C1–C4 | \~92 min | | [Platform / intermediary](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/tracks/platform) | Ad tech platforms, exchanges, data companies | D1–D4 | \~89 min | ### Specialist modules (protocol mastery) Each specialist module combines a hands-on lab with an adaptive exam in a specific protocol area. Requires the Practitioner credential. | Specialist | Protocol area | Duration | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | | [S1: Media buy](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/specialist/media-buy) | Transactions, pricing, multi-agent orchestration | 45 min | | [S2: Creative](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/specialist/creative) | Asset workflows, format compliance, cross-platform adaptation | 45 min | | [S3: Signals](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/specialist/signals) | Signal discovery, activation, privacy, optimization loops | 45 min | | [S4: Governance](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/specialist/governance) | Brand safety, supply chain compliance, content standards | 45 min | | [S5: Sponsored Intelligence](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/specialist/sponsored-intelligence) | Conversational brand experiences, session lifecycle | 45 min | | [S6: Security](/dist/docs/3.1.0-rc.13/learning/specialist/security) | Threat model, 5-layer defense, idempotency semantics, governance verification, SSRF discipline | 60 min | ## Get started Open Addie and ask to start the AdCP certification program. Addie will guide you through module A1 — no account required.