COURSE
Agent Foundations
The Agent Foundations course takes you through the core concepts behind AI agents, multi-agent systems, and agentic AI. You will learn how agents perceive, decide, and act, the different types of agents and when to use each, how multi-agent systems are structured, and how to deploy them responsibly. The knowledge you build here is the foundation for everything else in agentic AI development. Complete the course, pass the final exam, and earn your official Agent Academy certification.
Approx. 2.5 hours
6 modules
Beginner level
Self-paced
Free
Certification included
Six modules, one solid foundation
Learning Pathway
Not all agents are built the same. Different agent types have different strengths, and knowing which to reach for is one of the most practical skills in agentic AI design.
What you will learn:
- Distinguish between reactive and planning agents and understand when each is the right fit
- Explain how tool-using agents interact with external systems to take action
- Describe what evaluator agents do and how they improve system reliability
- Understand loop and persistent agents and the workflows they are designed for
40 minutes
6 lessons
Module quiz
When one agent is not enough. Learn how multiple specialized agents coordinate to tackle complex, multi-step problems that a single agent could not handle alone.
What you will learn:
- Define what a multi-agent system is and how it differs from a single-agent approach
- Understand agent roles, specialization, and how responsibilities get distributed across a system
- Explain the basics of agent coordination and how agents stay aligned on a shared goal
- Recognize the scenarios where multi-agent systems create the most value
40 minutes
6 lessons
Module quiz
Not at all! Agent Academy includes foundational courses that introduce the core concepts behind AI agents and multi-agent systems before moving into more advanced topics and hands-on development.
Agent Academy covers the full lifecycle of agentic systems, from foundational concepts to real-world implementation. Topics include AI agents and multi-agent systems, agentic RAG, responsible AI, agent design principles, vibe-coding, observability, agent testing, debugging, integrations, and building scalable agentic workflows with neuro-san.
Agent Academy includes four certification curses designed to guide learners from foundational concepts to advanced agent development. Agent Foundations introduces the core concepts behind AI agents and multi-agent systems, while Agent Design focuses on designing reliable, secure, and scalable agentic workflows. Quickstart: neuro-san provides hands-on introduction to building with the open-source agentic framework, and Applied neuro-san explores more advanced topics such as integrations, testing, observability, debugging, and production-ready agent systems.
This is the last step. The exam covers all six modules and tests your understanding of AI agents, agent types, multi-agent systems, agentic AI, RAG, and responsible deployment. Pass and you will receive your official Cognizant AI Lab Agent Foundations certification, which you can download, share on LinkedIn, and add directly to your profile as a verified credential.
What the exam covers:
- Demonstrate your understanding of AI agents, how they work, and where they create value
- Apply your knowledge of agent types, multi-agent systems, and agentic AI concepts
- Show you understand the principles of responsible and safe agent deployment
- Earn your official Agent Foundations certification from Cognizant AI Lab
10 minutes
4 questions
Shareable certificate
Add to LinkedIn
