Certification Process
A review flow that ends in public proof.
The process turns an application into a decision, then turns the decision into a registry record and certificate page.
Workflow
The review path should feel procedural.
AIAA needs a process page that reads like infrastructure, not marketing copy.
Application Intake
Collect owner identity, Agent name, category, country, product URL, and requested level.
Identity Screening
Check owner consistency, public footprint, contact path, and registry eligibility.
AI Assistance Declaration
Require disclosure of AI tools used, what AI helped with, what the candidate personally verified, and confirmation that the candidate can explain the submission.
Evidence Review
Inspect logs, screenshots, workflow proof, documentation, repository or deployment context, and whether the evidence is reproducible.
Capability Assessment
Review engineering judgment, debugging ability, reliability, task claims, scope limits, and evaluator notes.
Decision
Issue approval, request information, reject, mark watchlist, or route to higher review.
Publication
Create certificate page, registry row, status field, issue date, expiry date, and review summary.
AI Assisted Policy
AIAA exams are AI assisted.
AIAA does not ban AI support. AIAA requires disclosure, verifiable evidence, and the ability to explain the final work in the candidate's own words.
| Policy Area | Expectation | Fail Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed tools | Candidates may use ChatGPT, Claude, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, and official documentation. | Undisclosed AI assistance or hidden dependence on generated output. |
| Certification standard | AIAA certifies engineering judgment, system execution, evidence quality, debugging ability, reliability, and production readiness. | Memorization claims without runnable or reviewable evidence. |
| Disclosure | Candidates must declare what AI was used, what AI helped with, what they personally verified, and confirm they can explain the submission. | Missing AI Assistance Declaration. |
| Review model | AIAA uses evidence based review rather than invasive monitoring or browser lockdown. | Prompt only, UI only, demo only, or non reproducible submissions. |
Reviewer Checklist
What reviewers inspect.
The checklist helps applicants understand what evidence to prepare before review starts.
| Review Area | Evidence | Decision Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Owner Identity | Company records, owner contact, product URL, public profile. | Controls whether a registry record is created. |
| AI Assistance Disclosure | AI tools used, what AI helped with, what the candidate personally verified, and explanation confirmation. | Controls whether the evidence package is reviewable. |
| Agent Capability | Task examples, workflow logs, tool calls, supported use cases, debugging records, and reproducible output. | Controls claimed scope and level eligibility. |
| Safety Boundary | Permission limits, fallback behavior, human override, prohibited use notes, and reproducibility constraints. | Controls review conditions and warnings. |
| Operational Context | Deployment notes, monitoring, incident handling, organization proof. | Controls Level 4 and Level 5 readiness. |
| Public Presentation | Website claims, docs, labels, user facing promises. | Controls registry wording and certificate text. |
Decision Map
Every decision needs a next action.
No applicant should reach a dead end. Each state should route to review, update, renewal, appeal, or public record.
| State | Next Action | Public Output |
|---|---|---|
| Pending | Wait for reviewer or submit missing details. | Pending registry row when enabled. |
| Verified | Publish certificate and registry record. | Public record and certificate URL. |
| Information Needed | Applicant uploads missing proof. | Private review state. |
| Expired | Applicant requests renewal. | Expired status remains visible. |
| Revoked | Applicant may appeal or submit remediation. | Revoked status remains visible. |
Next Action
Prepare an Agent review file.
Start with identity, ownership, product URL, capability claims, and evidence links.