Forward deployed engineer certification
Become a certified forward deployed engineer.
ADaSci offers two FDE credentials. Start with the 30-hour CFDE, or go straight to the 60-hour CFDAS, which combines CFDE with agentic AI architecture.
Start here · Practitioner
CFDE30 hours · 60-question exam
Add · Practitioner
CAASA30 hours · 60-question exam
Or both at once · Advanced
CFDAS60 hours · 120-question exam
CFDAS draws on the CFDE and CAASA curricula.
01 · The role
What a forward deployed engineer does.
An FDE works directly with one customer to turn an AI product into a system that runs inside their business. They learn how its data, tools and teams work, ship against real constraints, and feed what they learn back to the product team.
The role blends software engineering, applied machine learning, solution architecture and consulting.
- 1Scope the problemWith the customer's stakeholders
- 2Connect to their dataInternal systems, permissions, quality
- 3Build agents and integrationsAgainst real constraints
- 4Harden itSecurity, compliance, observability
- 5Measure the resultDid it move a business number?
- 6Feed back to productWhat to build next
02 · Choose your credential
Three credentials on the FDE path.
CFDE
Certified Forward Deployed Engineer (CFDE)
A globally recognized certification that equips engineers to translate ambiguous customer needs into production-ready, enterprise-grade solutions through rapid, customer-centric engineering.
30 h · 60 questions
From $164.99CFDAS
Certified Forward-Deployed AI Specialist (CFDAS)
Architect, forward-deploy, and productionise customer-centric Agentic AI systems, transforming real-world business challenges into scalable, governed, and high-impact enterprise solutions.
60 h · 120 questions
From $375CAASA
Certified Agentic AI System Architect (CAASA)
The industry-recognized agentic AI certification for engineers, architects and AI leaders. Master multi-agent systems, orchestration, governance and production deployment in 30 hours.
30 h · 60 questions
From $24903 · What CFDAS covers
Twelve modules, one exam.
60 hours self-paced, then a 120-question, 2 hours proctored exam. CFDE covers the right-hand column on its own.
- 01Foundations of agentic AI
- 02Designing agentic AI architectures
- 03Tools and frameworks for agentic AI
- 04Evaluating, monitoring and deploying agentic AI systems
- 05Building multi-agent systems using MCP, A2A protocols and ADK framework
- 06Security, governance and future developments in agentic AI systems
- 01Foundations of forward deployed engineering
- 02Agentic AI paradigms and frameworks
- 03Cloud-native architecture and DevOps automation
- 04Security, observability and compliance
- 05Customer-centric engineering and solutions
04 · Who it's for
Engineers who work close to the customer.
- Forward-Deployed / Field Engineers
- AI / ML Engineers & Agentic AI Developers
- Solutions Architects & Enterprise AI Architects
- Full-Stack & Platform Engineers
- Technical Consultants & AI Implementation Specialists
- Data Scientists
- Technical Product Managers & AI Program Leads
CFDAS · Fee and format
- Standard tuition
- $375
- Member price
- From $187.50 (Premium) · $262.50 (General)
- Format
- 60 hours self-paced
- Exam
- 120 questions · 2 hours · proctored online
- Validity
- Lifetime, with a verifiable digital badge
05 · FAQ
Common questions.
CFDE is the 30-hour forward deployed engineer track. CFDAS is the 60-hour designation that combines the CFDE and CAASA curricula into one credential.
CFDAS is 60 hours, self-paced. When you're ready, you sit a two-hour exam at a time that suits you.
There are no mandatory prerequisites. Python, LLMs, cloud platforms, APIs and basic software architecture are recommended.
Yes. 120 multiple-choice questions, two hours, closed book and proctored online.
Every credential has a unique ID. Employers enter it on the verification page and see the holder, credential and issue date. The check is free.
Standard tuition is $375, with lower prices for ADaSci General and Premium members. Course access is lifetime.