This page keeps its original URL so learners who were sent an old link receive a clear correction. The approved options are AU0009, AU0010 and AU0011.
Corrected 15 July 2026. Check the official unit and funding pages before agreeing a start date.
All three units were approved on 21 April 2026 and have an earliest start date of 28 April 2026. They are distinct units, not interchangeable labels for one course.
Best aligned to leaders who need to set direction, assess viable use cases and create support for an evidence-based AI strategy.
Best aligned to leaders who evaluate AI options, make adoption or buying decisions, and need defensible governance and assurance.
Best aligned to leaders overseeing safe delivery, workforce change, operational risk and the ongoing performance of AI-enabled transformation.
| If your current responsibility is mainly… | Discuss this unit | Evidence you might apply at work |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing where AI can create value and setting organisational direction | AU0009 | An opportunity assessment, prioritised use case or strategy recommendation |
| Evaluating products, suppliers, adoption controls or governance | AU0010 | A vendor evaluation, assurance approach or governance decision |
| Leading implementation, workforce change, monitoring or response | AU0011 | A transformation plan, risk response or monitoring approach |
The provider should use initial assessment to confirm a genuine learning need. If at least 50% of the unit overlaps knowledge and skills you already have, the April–July 2026 funding rules say the unit is not eligible for funding.
Each current AI leadership unit has a minimum of 30 delivery hours. That is a compliance minimum, not a promise that every provider will use the same timetable. The provider may plan more hours where needed.
For funding purposes, delivery hours are live sessions in which the tutor and learner are present in the same physical or virtual space. They take place during normal working hours but outside the learner's productive job role. All delivery must fall between the recorded start and end dates and be set out in the training plan.
An extended assessment may be offered, but it is optional and sits in addition to the mandatory skills test. Do not assume that completing a unit awards a degree, diploma or another qualification unless a provider separately identifies one.
These points describe the rules for starts from 28 April to 31 July 2026. Always check the version applying on your actual start date.
No. Skills England lists it as withdrawn and gives it no earliest start date. Ask to be assessed against an approved unit.
There is no single replacement. Choose AU0009 for strategy and opportunity, AU0010 for adoption, procurement and governance, or AU0011 for delivery and organisational transformation.
Each approved unit has a minimum of 30 delivery hours with live tutor and learner presence. A provider can plan more than the minimum.
For April–July 2026 starts, non-levy employers receive government funding up to the rate. Levy employers use account funds; if these are insufficient, government funds 95% up to the rate and the employer pays 5%. Check the rules for the start date.
You complete a mandatory provider skills test. You, the provider and employer sign completion, and your employer validates the new knowledge and skills. Any extended assessment is optional and additional.
Review all three approved options before selecting a unit and start date.