SETTING GLOBAL STANDARDS FOR TRUSTED AI CREDENTIALSAI Competence Framework v1.29 · current release
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Overlays

An overlay is a set of statements specific to a professional function performed across domains. It applies on top of the core domains, to people who instruct, enable or audit AI competence in others.

Three overlays published · 33 statements · version 1.29

Overlay, domain and extension distinguished
UnitAnswersApplies to
DomainWhat area of competence?Everyone, in any role
OverlayWhat professional function?Those performing that function
ExtensionWhat applied context?Those working in that context

An instructor teaching AI competence is performing a distinct professional function that carries its own obligations regardless of context, which is why instruction is an overlay rather than an extension. A marketing manager using AI is doing the same work as an analyst in a different context, which is an extension.

The three overlays
O1PUBLISHED

Instruction and assessment

Statements for those who teach AI competence or assess it in others: designing instruction against defined statements, and judging evidence of competence rather than of familiarity.

11 statements published at v1.29 · L2 to L4

Full scope for O1
O2PUBLISHED

Organisational enablement

Statements for those who enable AI use across an organisation: provision, policy, support and capability building, as distinct from performing the work themselves.

11 statements published at v1.29 · L2 to L4

Full scope for O2
O3PUBLISHED

Assurance and audit

Statements for those auditing AI systems and the evidence behind them: engagement, independence and reporting obligations. D6 produces assurance evidence; O3 covers the obligations of the person examining it.

11 statements published at v1.29 · L2 to L4 · referenced by D6.L4.03

Full scope for O3
How an overlay is applied

On top of the core, never instead of it

An overlay adds statements. It never modifies or replaces a core statement. A credential for instructors is assembled from core domain statements at the level the instructor must themselves hold, plus the overlay statements covering the obligations of instructing.

Each overlay page carries the same template as a domain page with one added section: how the overlay combines with core statements in practice.

Worked shape — an instruction credential
CoreDomain statements at the level the instructor must hold themselves
OverlayO1 statements covering the obligations of instructing and assessing
ExtensionApplied-context statements only where the instruction is context-specific

Illustrative shape only. Weightings are set by the awarding body in the credential specification, not by the framework.

This page displays version 1.29 · last reviewed 30.08.2026