'Even non-coders can do it': AI certification exam APEX draws praise from test-takers and industry

"Preparing for APEX made me realize something: AI capability isn't about coding — it's about the instinct to solve real work problems using AI."

Kim Ji-won, 31, who works in marketing and describes herself as "a liberal arts graduate who can't write a single line of Python," shared that reflection after sitting the APEX (AI Professional Excellence) exam last month.

APEX is an AI professional skills certification exam jointly developed by Day1 Company, in partnership with OpenAI, alongside researchers from Seoul National University, POSTECH and Korea University. Grounded in real workplace scenarios, the exam goes beyond basic AI use to assess what it calls "problem-solving thinking for verifying and reprocessing AI-generated responses." Test-takers at the inaugural exam, held May 9–10, said "the 140 minutes of the exam itself felt exactly like my own work." Industry observers say APEX is emerging as a new standard for certifying AI proficiency among non-developer professionals.

Kim and other successful candidates said their approach to work changed after earning the APEX certification. Kim said she can now complete a marketing research note that used to take 20 hours a week in just 30 minutes using an AI workflow. Park Seo-yeon, 28, who works in human resources, said she now personally handles AI-driven analysis of recruitment data to identify patterns among top candidates. "If it had been a Python exam, I wouldn't have even started," she said. "But APEX is structured so that non-majors can absolutely take it on."

Certified candidates said the credential has translated into tangible career gains — some have taken on "automation consultant" roles within their companies, while others have displayed their LinkedIn digital badge on their resumes to demonstrate AI skills in job searches and promotion bids. For many, earning APEX has evolved from a simple qualification into what they call a "career weapon."

A Day1 Company official said APEX was built on the premise that "AI capability is not just a developer's concern," adding that the exam would serve as infrastructure allowing professionals in non-developer roles — marketing, design, HR, finance and beyond — to objectively demonstrate how they apply AI within their own work contexts.

The second exam runs June 13–14, with results set to be released June 15. Registration closes Friday and is available through the official website, where the exam is also administered.