AI training glossary
128 terms explained in plain English.
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- Certificate of completionA document confirming that someone attended or finished a course. On its own, it doesn’t confirm they passed an assessment.Buying and measuring training
- CertificationA credential awarded after passing an assessment against a defined standard, sometimes with an expiry date or renewal requirement.Buying and measuring training
- Completion rateThe share of enrolled learners who finish a course. A high completion rate doesn’t show that people use what they learned.Buying and measuring training
- Continuing professional development(CPD)The ongoing learning professionals do to keep their skills current, often required by professional bodies as a condition of membership.Buying and measuring training
- CPD hours(CPD points)The units in which CPD is recorded. Many professional bodies count one hour of structured learning as one CPD hour, though rules differ by body.Buying and measuring training
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- Training budgetThe money an organization sets aside for staff learning, often planned per employee per year or per department.Buying and measuring training
- Training day rateA fixed fee for a trainer’s full day of delivery, often with a separate fee for preparation or customization.Buying and measuring training
- Training ROI(Return on training investment)The value training returns compared with what it cost, measured through results such as time saved, errors reduced or revenue gained.Buying and measuring training
Commonly confused terms
AI literacy is understanding what AI is and what it can and can’t do. AI fluency is the practical ability to work with it well on your own tasks. Literacy comes first; fluency comes from practice.
Upskilling improves how someone does their current job. Reskilling prepares them for a different job.
A workshop is hands-on: participants practice on real tasks. A masterclass is expert-led and deep on one topic, with more demonstration than practice. “Training” is the umbrella term for both.
An assistant responds to each request and waits for the next one. An agent takes a goal, plans the steps and uses tools to carry them out with less direction.
An outcome states what the learner can do afterward. An objective states what the trainer aims to achieve. Many organizations use the two interchangeably.
A certificate of completion shows someone finished a course. A certification shows they passed an assessment against a standard. Accreditation is when an external body approves the course or provider itself.
E-learning is delivered entirely through digital platforms. Blended learning combines online study with in-person sessions. Live online training is real-time and trainer-led over video.
A self-paced course runs on each learner’s schedule. A cohort-based course moves a group through together on fixed dates, with live sessions and peer discussion.