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AI Ready Ohio is the first state-level AI Ready State initiative in the United States. More than 3,300 Ohioans have started their AI upskilling journey through the program. It's a workforce and economic development program championed by JobsOhio and the Enterprise Technology Association, and powered by a coalition of community partners across Ohio. The program takes Ohioans, Ohio businesses, and Ohio communities from AI Ready to AI Enabled through certification, the Ohio AI Accelerator, and the Navigator discovery engine.

Anyone in Ohio can participate as a learner. All certification pathways are open to Ohio residents regardless of background or experience. Trainers apply for certified trainer status. Partners apply through the partnership program. Organizations apply to the Accelerator.

You earn the three foundation certificates with training hours: 2 hours unlocks AI Explorer, 4 hours unlocks AI Empowered Professional, and 8 hours unlocks AI Empowered Leader, each with a profile badge on your dashboard. Hours count from three places: in-person AI Week workshops, the free AI Ready Ohio Virtual Training Day courses, and training through an AI Ready Ohio approved training partner. Log your hours and our team verifies them. Once earned, you can stack additional hours and certificates (such as Microsoft Master, Claude Master, and ChatGPT Master), unlock access to cohort-based learning programs, and get matched to program partners and resources. Role-based, tool-based, and industry-based credentials are coming in 2027.

AI Explorer requires 2 training hours, AI Empowered Professional requires 4 total hours, and AI Empowered Leader requires 8 total hours. Hours are cumulative, so the hours you earn for AI Explorer also count toward the next two certificates.

A certification pathway is the credential you earn: AI Explorer (2 hours), AI Empowered Professional (4 hours), or AI Empowered Leader (8 hours), plus specialized certificates you stack toward after that. A program type is how you learn: virtual and in-person workshops, cohorts, or certification cohorts. Pathways and program types are independent, so you can choose the combination that fits you.

Seven sponsored cohorts are launching soon: AI for SMB, AI for Me, AI for Nonprofits, AI for Executives, AI for Manufacturing, AI for Economic Development, and AI Security Leaders. Every cohort includes an industry-recognized certification. Join the waitlist on the Learners page. More cohorts launch in 2027.

AI Ready Ohio certification is offered free or low-cost to Ohio residents through coalition support. Specific pricing varies by pathway and program type. This includes a free virtual masterclass from United States Artificial Intelligence Institute, free online learning resources, and a forthcoming catalog of free training content.

Click Get Started and share a few basics (about 30 seconds). You'll join the waitlist, and new learners are approved daily. Once approved, you'll receive an approval and intro email with links and next steps for online and in-person learning.

Four hubs are active: Greater Cincinnati (Southwest), Columbus (Central), Toledo (Northwest), and Cleveland (Northeast). Three are forming: Dayton (West), Akron/Canton (East), and Youngstown (East). The full statewide network covers all of Ohio.

Yes. AI Ready Ohio welcomes educators, industry practitioners, and workforce development professionals to apply as certified trainers. See the Trainers page for details.

A tailored AI education and implementation program for Ohio organizations. Eight tracks for startups, small business, midmarket, enterprise, nonprofits, government, research/education, and public-private partnerships. Organizations apply to a cohort and complete the program over a structured timeline. See the Accelerator page for details.

The Navigator will be Ohio's AI ecosystem discovery engine, surfacing jobs, training programs, events, partners, funding, and resources, matched to your goals, region, and role. It's still in development and not yet public. Sign up to be notified when it launches.

Apply through the Partners page. We work with universities, research institutions, employers, nonprofits, civic organizations, and technology partners across Ohio.

Use the Contact page or email us directly at hello@joineta.org.

AI Ready Ohio expands across all three pillars: more online learning resources and new certification pathways; more Ohio AI Accelerator cohorts; and statewide AI advisory and leadership convenings. More is coming soon.