AI Agents course
Build intelligent systems that act autonomously
I built this course as a full route from zero to expert, taking you from AI fundamentals to secure, production-ready agent systems with no prerequisites.
- FoundationsStart from absolute basics with no coding experience required.
- SecurityEvery module includes proper security controls and threat awareness.
- CPD120 CPD credits with free assessments and account pass records.
This course has six stages that build on each other. Move through them at your own pace, but I recommend following the order. Security is woven throughout, not bolted on at the end.
CPD and pass records
If you want CPD evidence and account pass records, sign in before you start learning so the system can record your progress. Assessments and pass records are free.
AI agent delivery lifecycle
From problem framing to secure operation
This sequence keeps build quality, security, and learner confidence aligned.
Rendering diagram...
🤖Course stages
Stage 1. FoundationsCPD ready
Stage 1. Foundations
No technical experience required. Build your understanding from the ground up.
Progress0%
20 hoursStart
Stage 2. Core conceptsCPD ready
Stage 2. Core concepts
Build deep understanding of how AI agents work under the hood.
Progress0%
25 hoursStart
Stage 3. Practical buildingCPD ready
Stage 3. Practical building
Hands-on implementation of real-world agent systems.
Progress0%
30 hoursStart
Stage 4. Security and ethicsCPD ready
Stage 4. Security and ethics
Critical understanding of AI security threats and responsible deployment.
Progress0%
15 hoursStart
Stage 5. Advanced masteryCPD ready
Stage 5. Advanced mastery
Expert-level techniques for production AI systems.
Progress0%
25 hoursStart
Stage 6. Capstone and certificationCPD ready
Stage 6. Capstone and certification
Demonstrate mastery through a comprehensive project.
Progress0%
5 hoursStart
CPD hours
AI Agents
120
hours
Hours are fixed by the course design. Timed assessment time is included once on pass.
11📚How to use this course
How to use this AI agents course
Treat each stage as practical rehearsal for a production-grade agent system.
- 1
Begin with stage one foundations
Even experienced learners benefit from aligned terminology and mental models.
- 2
Follow stages in sequence
Each stage depends on the decisions and controls from the previous stage.
- 3
Complete practical exercises
Reading alone cannot build implementation competence.
- 4
Prioritise security and ethics stage outcomes
Most real deployments fail through weak controls, not weak ideas.
- 5
Record concise CPD evidence
Write short notes after each module so progress is defensible.
- 6
Revisit earlier stages after capstone
Your second pass reveals gaps that were not visible at first.
🛠️Further practice
Studios and practice to make agent development concrete.
05🧪Assessment blueprint
Assessment and practice assessment
AI Agents assessment blueprint
Practice and timed assessments are available for every stage. Question sets are pulled from the live published bank, so exact session length can vary while standards stay fixed.
Foundations
mixedUnderstand the core ReAct, tool, and memory patterns.
Questions: 50
Time: 75 minutes
Pass mark: 70%
Core concepts
mixedReasoning loops, tool contracts, and memory design that stand up under pressure.
Questions: 50
Time: 75 minutes
Pass mark: 70%
Practical building
mixedBuild and orchestrate agents with safe tool use and reliable workflows.
Questions: 50
Time: 75 minutes
Pass mark: 70%
Security and ethics
scenarioThreat modelling, prompt injection defence, and responsible deployment.
Questions: 50
Time: 75 minutes
Pass mark: 70%
Advanced mastery
mixedScale, reliability, and evaluation for production grade agent systems.
Questions: 50
Time: 75 minutes
Pass mark: 70%
Capstone
scenarioEnd to end delivery, governance, and documented operational readiness.
Questions: 50
Time: 75 minutes
Pass mark: 70%
Design rules
- Every tier must align to behaviour, safety, and observability trade-offs.
- Questions will reward answers that surface assumptions, risks, and verification plans.
06📚Standards and certifications
07🧾Terminology translation
08📦What you will build
Throughout this course, you will create practical artefacts that demonstrate real competence. These are not toy examples but working systems you can show to employers and clients.
04⏱️CPD timing
CPD timing
Time estimate (transparent)
I publish time estimates because CPD needs to be defensible. The goal is honesty, not marketing.
Guided learning
120h
Core levels, structured learning
Practice and consolidation
3h
Summary, drills, revisits
Notional range
80 to 180 hours
Quick route. Core concepts and one exercise per module. Standard route. All exercises and reflections for CPD evidence. Deep route. Extra projects, portfolio artefacts, and peer review.
How I estimate time
I use a notional learning hours approach and I keep the assumptions visible. Where modules are content heavy, I add practice so the hours are earned, not claimed.
- Reading: 225 words per minute, multiplied by 1.3 for note taking and checking understanding.
- Labs and practice: about 15 minutes per guided activity, including at least one retry.
- Reflection for CPD: about 8 minutes per module for a short defensible note and evidence link.
- Assessments: about 1.4 minutes per question for reading, thinking, and review.
If you study faster or slower, your hours will differ. What matters is that the method is consistent and the activities are real.
09🧩Module coverage matrix
Coverage matrix
Module-level coverage
This matrix makes the course defensible: each module is tied to an outcome focus, the anchor standards, and the evidence you can produce.
| Level | Module | Outcome focus | Domains | Alignment | Assessment | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations | 1 Understanding Ai agents-1-1-understanding-ai Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | Understanding AI systems and capabilities | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Foundations | 2 Llms To Agents agents-1-2-llms-to-agents Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | LLM behaviour and limitations | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Foundations | 3 Command Line agents-1-3-command-line Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | AI agent design, safety, and deployment | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Foundations | 4 Environment Setup agents-1-4-environment-setup Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | AI agent design, safety, and deployment | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Foundations | 5 First Ai Interaction agents-1-5-first-ai-interaction Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | AI agent design, safety, and deployment | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Core Concepts | 1 How Agents Think agents-2-1-how-agents-think Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | AI agent design, safety, and deployment | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Core Concepts | 2 Tools And Actions agents-2-2-tools-and-actions Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | Tool calling and action execution | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Core Concepts | 3 Memory And Context agents-2-3-memory-and-context Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | Memory architecture and context management | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Core Concepts | 4 Design Patterns agents-2-4-design-patterns Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | Agent design patterns and architectures | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Core Concepts | 5 Architecture Fundamentals agents-2-5-architecture-fundamentals Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | AI agent design, safety, and deployment | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Practical Building | 1 Building First Agent agents-3-1-building-first-agent Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | AI agent design, safety, and deployment | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Practical Building | 2 Multi Agent Systems agents-3-2-multi-agent-systems Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | Multi-agent coordination and orchestration | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Practical Building | 3 Workflow Automation N8n agents-3-3-workflow-automation-n8n Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | Workflow automation and integration | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Practical Building | 4 Model Context Protocol agents-3-4-model-context-protocol Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | AI agent design, safety, and deployment | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Practical Building | 5 Integration And Apis agents-3-5-integration-and-apis Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | AI agent design, safety, and deployment | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Security & Ethics | 1 Threat Landscape agents-4-1-threat-landscape Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | AI agent design, safety, and deployment | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Security & Ethics | 2 Secure Implementation agents-4-2-secure-implementation Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | AI agent design, safety, and deployment | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Security & Ethics | 3 Ethics Responsible Ai agents-4-3-ethics-responsible-ai Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | Responsible AI and ethical deployment | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Advanced | 1 Fine Tuning Models agents-5-1-fine-tuning-models Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | Model customisation and fine-tuning | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Advanced | 2 Enterprise Architectures agents-5-2-enterprise-architectures Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | Enterprise architecture for agents | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Advanced | 3 Production Deployment agents-5-3-production-deployment Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | Production deployment and monitoring | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Advanced | 4 Research Frontiers agents-5-4-research-frontiers Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | AI agent design, safety, and deployment | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Capstone | 1 Capstone Project agents-6-1-capstone-project Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | Practical application and project work | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
| Capstone | 2 Peer Review Certification agents-6-2-peer-review-certification Anchors: OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications 2025, OWASP API Security Top 10 2023, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), UK AI cyber security code of practice, CISA Secure by Design, NIST post quantum cryptography standards, FIPS 203 to 205 | AI agent design, safety, and deployment | - | - | Practice + timed | Template + rubric |
📚CPD
Log minutes as you study and practise. Your records stay in this browser. Use the export view when you need a clean summary for your CPD system.
12🏁Certification assessment
Each stage has a timed assessment with detailed feedback after submission. You need an account to start. Question counts are session based and pulled from the live published bank. Pass evidence is recorded in your account with free access.
Practice before the timed attempt
Use the AI Builder Studio, the practice quizzes, and the capstone project to practise first. Then start the timed attempt when you are ready.
Foundations assessment
Covers Stage 1 Foundations. Timed session with feedback after submission.
Core concepts assessment
Covers Stage 2 Core Concepts. Focus on agent design patterns.
Practical building assessment
Covers Stage 3 Practical Building. Hands-on implementation focus.
Security and ethics assessment
Covers Stage 4 Security and Ethics. Production readiness focus.
Advanced mastery assessment
Covers Stage 5 Advanced Mastery. Scale, optimisation, and governance.
Capstone assessment
Covers Stage 6 Capstone. End-to-end delivery thinking.
All content is protected. By enrolling, you agree to our terms.
View Course Terms & IP Policy