IDCA Launches AI Factory Specialist (AIFS)® Certification to Build Global AI Infrastructure Skills

The International Data Center Authority (IDCA) has introduced a new certification program aimed at one of the fastest-growing needs in enterprise technology: expertise in the infrastructure behind artificial intelligence.

Announced in Washington on July 7, 2026, the new AI Factory Specialist (AIFS)® certification is designed to help professionals understand how to plan, design, operate, and optimize the environments that support AI at scale. As organizations race to deploy AI across industries, the demand is expanding not only for software and model talent, but also for specialists who can build and manage the physical and digital systems that make AI possible.

IDCA says the program was created to fill a gap in the market. Many AI education tracks focus on algorithms, model development, or application-layer tools, while traditional data center training often centers on legacy infrastructure. The AIFS® certification instead targets the emerging discipline of AI-ready infrastructure—the power, cooling, networking, engineering, operations, and sustainability frameworks required for modern AI deployments and so-called “AI Factories.”

Lizabeth Hood, IDCA’s Global Head of Education and Membership, said the organization viewed the launch as a necessary step for a market that is changing quickly. With IDCA’s long-standing role in standards, education, and certification, she said the industry needed a specialized course tailored to the realities of AI infrastructure.

The timing reflects a broader industry shift. As AI becomes a defining force in economic development, companies and governments are increasingly focused on the data centers and digital infrastructure needed to support large-scale compute workloads. These environments place new demands on facility design, capacity planning, operations, and workforce readiness. AI workloads are different from traditional enterprise IT jobs, and the infrastructure supporting them must evolve accordingly.

IDCA Chairman and CEO Mehdi Paryavi described AI as the defining technology of the current era, but noted that its success ultimately depends on the strength of the infrastructure underneath it. According to Paryavi, AI Factories represent the next stage of digital infrastructure, requiring new approaches to engineering, maintenance, sustainability, and long-term operational planning.

The certification is intended for a broad audience. IDCA says the program is relevant for infrastructure engineers, data center technicians, AI infrastructure architects, consultants, operators, technology executives, investors, and public-sector stakeholders. In other words, it is aimed not just at hands-on technical staff, but at decision-makers who need a structured understanding of how AI-ready facilities are built and managed.

Gordon Gillerman, chairman of the IDCA Technical Standards Committee, said the new certification aligns with the organization’s broader mission of advancing global standards and workforce development across digital infrastructure.

According to IDCA, the AIFS® program combines technical instruction with industry best practices, practical methodologies, and real-world case studies. The goal is to give participants usable knowledge for a range of deployments, from enterprise AI environments to hyperscale AI Factory operations.

The course is now available through IDCA’s global network of training partners and authorized education providers. Delivery options include both virtual learning and instructor-led classroom sessions, making it accessible to professionals in different regions and at different stages of their careers.

The launch also underscores a growing reality in the AI economy: infrastructure expertise is becoming a strategic asset. As AI adoption expands, organizations will need more professionals who understand not just software stacks, but also the facilities, systems, and operational models capable of sustaining high-performance AI workloads.

IDCA, which operates in more than 40 countries, positions itself as an independent Digital Economy think tank working with governments and industry on AI policy, digital hubs, and infrastructure standardization. The AIFS® certification appears to be part of that larger effort to shape the workforce behind the next generation of AI-enabled economies.

More information and registration details are available through IDCA’s training portal.