CompTIA launches effort to define workforce skills for AI agents

CompTIA AgentOps+ certification will validate skills to deploy, secure and govern AI agents

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Artificial intelligence (AI) agents are rapidly moving into enterprise operations, but the skills needed to manage them responsibly remain undefined. CompTIA today announced plans to develop a new credential to define and validate those skills.

CompTIA AgentOps+ is intended to establish a vendor-neutral standard for professionals who deploy, secure, monitor and govern AI agents. The certification addresses an emerging discipline spanning AI, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and IT operations.

"The focus has been on what AI agents can do, but the more urgent question is who will secure, govern and be accountable for them," said Carl Bowman, senior vice president, exam services, CompTIA. "As agents gain access to enterprise data and workflows, organizations need professionals who can manage them securely and responsibly. CompTIA intends to help define that standard."

More than half (54%) of organizations are actively deploying AI agents, according to KPMG's first-quarter 2026 "AI Quarterly Pulse Survey."¹ The shift promises productivity gains but introduces new security, governance and operational risks. Deloitte found that only 21% of surveyed companies have a mature governance model for autonomous agents.²

CompTIA AgentOps+ is being designed around durable operational principles rather than the products or services of a single technology provider. The planned certification is expected to validate skills in:

• Deploying and integrating AI agents
• Securing agent identities, permissions and data access
• Monitoring performance, behavior and operational health
• Identifying and responding to agent-related risks and incidents
• Supporting governance, accountability, auditability and human oversight

The certification is intended for professionals in DevOps, cloud operations, platform engineering, systems administration and cybersecurity. For employers, the certification will offer a way to upskill staff and validate AI operations skills. Educational institutions and training providers can prepare learners for emerging AI operations roles.

CompTIA AgentOps+ and a comprehensive suite of related learning products are planned for release in Q2 2027.

About CompTIA
CompTIA, Inc. is the world's leading provider of vendor-neutral information technology (IT) training and certification products. CompTIA unlocks potential in millions of aspiring technology professionals and career changers. Working in partnership with thousands of academic institutions and training providers, CompTIA helps students build career-ready skills through best-in-class learning solutions, industry-recognized certifications and career resources. Learn more at https://www.comptia.org/.

Contact
Steven Ostrowski
CompTIA
[email protected]

¹ "AI Quarterly Pulse Survey Q1 2026," KPMG, March 31, 2026.
² "State of AI in the Enterprise," Deloitte, January 2026.

SOURCE CompTIA, Inc.