# PECB ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Implementer: study planner

Question counts and levels come from PECB's ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Implementer Candidate Handbook, version 1.5 (2026), read on 2 October 2026. The hours are our suggestion: each domain gets the same share of your time as it has of the 80 questions. Check the current handbook before you start in case the counts have changed.

## Hours by domain

| Domain | Questions | Share | 10 hours | 20 hours | 30 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Fundamental principles and concepts of an artificial intelligence management system (AIMS) | 17 | 21.25% | 2.25 | 4.25 | 6.5 |
| 2. Artificial intelligence management system requirements | 5 | 6.25% | 0.5 | 1.25 | 1.75 |
| 3. Planning of an AIMS implementation based on ISO/IEC 42001 | 20 | 25% | 2.5 | 5 | 7.5 |
| 4. Implementation of an AIMS based on ISO/IEC 42001 | 18 | 22.5% | 2.25 | 4.5 | 6.75 |
| 5. Monitoring and measurement of an AIMS based on ISO/IEC 42001 | 10 | 12.5% | 1.25 | 2.5 | 3.75 |
| 6. Continual improvement and preparation for an AIMS certification audit | 10 | 12.5% | 1.25 | 2.5 | 3.75 |
| **Total** | **80** | **100%** | **10** | **20** | **30** |

Hours are in quarter hours: 0.25 is 15 minutes, 0.5 is 30 minutes and 0.75 is 45 minutes. The 20-hour column is exact, at 15 minutes per question. At 10 hours (7.5 minutes per question) and 30 hours (22.5 minutes per question), domains 1 and 2 fall exactly halfway between quarter hours, so we round domain 1 up and domain 2 down by 7.5 minutes each. Every column still sums to its budget.

## Hours by level

| Level | Domains | Questions | Share | 10 hours | 20 hours | 30 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehension, application, analysis | 1, 2 and 5 | 32 | 40% | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| Evaluation | 3, 4 and 6 | 48 | 60% | 6 | 12 | 18 |
| **Total** | | **80** | **100%** | **10** | **20** | **30** |

## Pace for timed practice

| Set | Questions | Time at the exam's average pace |
|---|---|---|
| One question | 1 | 2 minutes 15 seconds |
| One scenario set | 5 | 11 minutes 15 seconds |
| Short timed set | 20 | 45 minutes |
| Half the paper | 40 | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Full paper | 80 | 3 hours |

## 1. Fundamental principles and concepts of an artificial intelligence management system (AIMS)

17 questions, 21.25%. Level: comprehension, application, analysis. Matching course day, on our reading of PECB's agenda: day 1.

- [ ] Hours in the calendar: 2.25, 4.25 or 6.5
- [ ] Course materials for this domain read once, start to finish
- [ ] Key terms defined in your own words in the notes you take during the course (our suggestion)
- [ ] Practice questions done untimed, every rationale read
- [ ] One timed set at 2 minutes 15 seconds a question

## 2. Artificial intelligence management system requirements

5 questions, 6.25%. Level: comprehension, application, analysis. Matching course day, on our reading: day 1.

- [ ] Hours in the calendar: 0.5, 1.25 or 1.75
- [ ] Hard copy of ISO/IEC 42001 tabbed so you can find your way around it fast (our suggestion)
- [ ] Lookups timed with the standard open; any page that takes over a minute gets a tab (our suggestion)
- [ ] Practice questions done untimed, every rationale read
- [ ] One timed set at 2 minutes 15 seconds a question

## 3. Planning of an AIMS implementation based on ISO/IEC 42001

20 questions, 25%. Level: evaluation. Matching course day, on our reading: day 2.

- [ ] Hours in the calendar: 2.5, 5 or 7.5
- [ ] Course materials for this domain read, and the pages you will need tabbed
- [ ] At least half the hours spent on practice questions (our suggestion)
- [ ] For every practice question, said why each wrong option is wrong before checking the answer
- [ ] Scenario sets done as sets of five, timed at 11 minutes 15 seconds a set

## 4. Implementation of an AIMS based on ISO/IEC 42001

18 questions, 22.5%. Level: evaluation. Matching course day, on our reading: day 3.

- [ ] Hours in the calendar: 2.25, 4.5 or 6.75
- [ ] Course materials for this domain read, and the pages you will need tabbed
- [ ] At least half the hours spent on practice questions (our suggestion)
- [ ] For every practice question, said why each wrong option is wrong before checking the answer
- [ ] Scenario sets done as sets of five, timed at 11 minutes 15 seconds a set

## 5. Monitoring and measurement of an AIMS based on ISO/IEC 42001

10 questions, 12.5%. Level: comprehension, application, analysis. Matching course day, on our reading: day 4.

- [ ] Hours in the calendar: 1.25, 2.5 or 3.75
- [ ] Course materials for this domain read once, start to finish
- [ ] Practice questions done untimed, every rationale read
- [ ] One timed set at 2 minutes 15 seconds a question

## 6. Continual improvement and preparation for an AIMS certification audit

10 questions, 12.5%. Level: evaluation. Matching course day, on our reading: day 4.

- [ ] Hours in the calendar: 1.25, 2.5 or 3.75
- [ ] Course materials for this domain read, and the pages you will need tabbed
- [ ] At least half the hours spent on practice questions (our suggestion)
- [ ] For every practice question, said why each wrong option is wrong before checking the answer
- [ ] Scenario sets done as sets of five, timed at 11 minutes 15 seconds a set

## Before day five

- [ ] Materials ready: a hard copy of ISO/IEC 42001, your training course materials and the personal notes you took during the course, in the PECB Exams app or printed (PECB rule)
- [ ] Notes written outside course hours? Ask your trainer or PECB whether they count before you rely on them (our suggestion)
- [ ] Valid ID ready: national ID card, driver's license or passport (PECB rule)
- [ ] Be there, or logged in, at least 30 minutes before the start (PECB rule)