Frequently Asked Questions

A: Simply contact help@sidecar.ai, and we will help you out!  

A: The AI Learning Hub is designed for association professionals looking to master AI and apply it to real-world challenges. This self-paced platform offers specialized lessons, hands-on practice, and strategic insights to help you work smarter and drive innovation. You can access the Learning Hub by purchasing an individual or teams-level subscription.

A: While you can choose courses relevant to your role, it’s recommended that everyone begins with Foundations of AI, then proceed to AI Prompting.

A: All courses are asynchronous, meaning you can take them at your own pace, whenever and wherever it works for you! Each course is divided into smaller, digestible lessons so you can fit learning into your schedule easily. Most courses are 1 to 2 hours in length.
 
💡 Since each course is broken into multiple lessons, you can complete them at your own pace, whether that’s a few at once or spread over multiple sessions.

A: You sign in (or sign up) via the Sidecar / AI Learning Hub platform: learn.sidecar.ai. 

A: The Association AI Professional (AAiP) Certification is a foundational program designed to equip association professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven world. This certification demonstrates your mastery of AI concepts and your ability to apply them effectively within your organization.

Why Get Certified?
✅ Gain expertise in AI applications tailored for associations
✅ Showcase your leadership in navigating AI advancements
✅ Enhance your career prospects with a recognized certification

How to Earn Your AAiP Certification
To achieve certification, you will:
📌 Complete a series of comprehensive AI courses
📌 Pass exams that validate your AI knowledge and skills

The AAiP certification is valid for one year, ensuring that you stay up to date with the latest AI trends and innovations in the association space. By earning this credential, you position yourself as a leader in AI adoption, ready to guide your organization through technology-driven change. 

A: Required Courses for AAiP Certification

You’ll need to complete the following core courses (in any order of your choosing):

• Foundations of AI

• AI Prompting

• Strategy in the Age of AI

• Data + AI

• AI in Events and Education

• AI Agents

• AI in Marketing and Member Communications

Final AAiP Certification Steps

After completing the seven core courses, and the related exams, go to the Association AI Professional Certification section in the learning hub.

Submit a short video(less than 2 minutes) explaining how you currently use AI

Complete the demographics survey

Complete the Evaluation Survey

A: Many learners complete the full certification in about 30 days, averaging ~3-5 hours per week. 

 AI is evolving at an extraordinary pace, and staying current isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential. That’s why we require frequent renewal: to ensure certified individuals are not only up to speed on the latest advancements but also actively applying AI in meaningful ways. We believe knowledge alone isn’t enough; real impact comes from hands-on experience and the ability to adapt AI tools in real-world contexts.

Your AAiP certification is valid for 1 year. To maintain your AAiP certification in good standing, each year, professionals must complete:
Ongoing AI education every 12 monthsStay aligned with current best practices and emerging capabilities.Have met all previous AAiP Requirements
The “What’s New in AI” course every six months
This includes the Fall 2025 6-Month Update in AI, now ready for you in the Learning Hub.

Three elective hours of AI learning annually
Take any 2 Sidecar Continuing Education(CE) courses or submit outside learning for approval.
👉 Submit your elective hour documentation here

Maintain an active subscription to the Sidecar AI Learning Hub
This ensures uninterrupted access to updates, new courses, and maintenance materials.

For more information on AAiP maintenance, check out our AAiP Maintenance page.
 

A: To maintain your AAiP certification, you may submit external learning hours from the following approved education providers:

• DeepLearning.AI (Coursera)

• Google (Coursera + Cloud Skills Boost)

• Microsoft Learn + Coursera

• IBM Skills Network

• OpenAI Learn

• LinkedIn Learning — AI courses only

• Industry Providers with AI-specific courses

(e.g., AICPA/CPA.com, AMA, SHRM, PMI AI-focused modules only)

Important: Introductory Courses Do Not Qualify Maintenance hours must reflect your continued advancement in AI competency. Courses that are introductory, beginner-level, or equivalent to the AAiP curriculum are not eligible.

Eligible courses must be:

• Intermediate or advanced

• Beyond the level of content covered in AAiP

• Focused on applied AI, prompting, agents, workflows, data for AI, or responsible AI

If you have questions about a course, you may submit it for review when you log your maintenance hours.

A: Yes. Completing the 7 core courses in the Learning Hub earns you 11 CAE credit hours. 

A: The Use Case Library is a collection of short, real-world AI examples tailored for associations. Each video, under 10 minutes, demonstrates a practical way to apply AI in your daily work. From creating a podcast with a notebook language model to generating FAQs with ChatGPT, these use cases are designed to spark ideas and help you turn AI Learning Hub insights into immediate, meaningful improvements in your workflows.

Want to suggest a topic for the Use Case Library? Please send this to help@sidecar.ai.

A: digitalNow is the premier annual conference for association leaders focused on the future of leadership, technology, and innovation. It brings together CEOs, executives, and industry visionaries to explore how associations can thrive in a rapidly changing world.

A: digitalNow is designed for senior leaders and decision-makers within associations—especially those interested in digital transformation, AI, and leadership innovation. 

A: Attendees can expect keynote sessions from thought leaders, interactive workshops, real-world case studies, and extensive networking with peers driving change in the association sector. 

A: digitalNow is held annually at a rotating location in the U.S., usually Washington DC or Chicago, IL. Registration and further details are always available at digitalnow.sidecar.ai.

A: Yes. digitalNow is presented by Sidecar and aligned with its mission to empower associations to innovate, lead, and leverage emerging technology, especially AI. 

A: The Sidecar Scoop is a free, 3x weekly newsletter for association professionals, providing curated insights, tools, and stories at the intersection of AI, leadership, and association strategy. 

A: Each edition includes practical AI tips, thought leadership articles, key industry news, and exclusive insights from the Sidecar team and community. 

A: You can sign up for free https://sidecar.ai/sidecarscoop to start receiving the Sidecar Scoop directly in your inbox each week.

A: The Sidecar Sync is a podcast hosted by Amith Nagarajan and Mallory Mejias, exploring how AI and innovation are transforming associations, leadership, and the future of work. 

A: Each episode dives into themes like: 

• How associations can adopt and lead with AI

• The role of automation and reasoning models

• Leadership, learning, and organizational transformation

• Interviews with experts, technologists, and association leaders 

A: Sidecar Sync is available on all major platforms—Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts—as well as directly at https://sidecar.ai/sidecar-sync-podcast. 

A: New episodes are released weekly, with each episode running about 30–40 minutes.

A: The Sidecar Blog is Sidecar’s hub for thought leadership, commentary, and resources centered on associations, AI, leadership, engagement, technology, and strategy. 

A: The blog covers a wide range of topics including: 

• Association management and industry trends

• Applications of AI and emerging tech in associations

• Leadership, culture, and change management

• Member engagement and communications strategy

• Expert interviews and success stories

A: The blog features articles from Sidecar’s team (including Mallory Mejias, Erica Salm Rench, Sofi Giglio, Jason Marchese, Amith Nagarajan, and John Huisman), alongside guest contributors from the association and technology sectors. 

A: Yes. The Sidecar Blog is open and accessible to everyone, no subscription required. 

A: The Mastermind is an elite peer-network designed for senior association professionals who are committed to turning AI insight into real organizational change. Over 12 months, you’ll work collaboratively in monthly sessions to build 10+ AI agents, apply them in your own ecosystem, and gain direct access to innovation resources and leadership peers. 

A: The group is tailored for association CEOs, CXOs and other senior executives who want to lead their organizations into the AI-future. Curiosity and the willingness to act matter more than prior AI experience, no AI knowledge is required to participate.

A: Membership features: 

• 12 monthly sessions (10 virtual + 2 in-person at the digitalNow conference and a Sidecar Innovation Hub) with 90-minute gatherings (longer for the in-person meetings).

   

• Practical, hands-on work: you’ll build real AI agents that you’ll be able to deploy in your organization.

   

• All recordings and transcripts of sessions, a private online forum for peer discussion and implementation ideas.

   

• Complimentary access to digitalNow (fall; the current year's event) and Sidecar’s Innovation Hub (spring; the current year's event). 

   

• Optional additional team-member registration: bring a second executive from your organization at 50% of the investment, creating a team learning experience.

A: Get started by visiting: https://sidecar.ai/association-ai-mastermind