oSIST prEN 18274:2025
(Main)Competence requirements for professional AI ethicists
Competence requirements for professional AI ethicists
This document provides a systematized framework for the competencies of AI ethicists, categorizing them into knowledge, skills and attitudes related to the specific activities and tasks of the role. It identifies requirements and recommendations necessary for individuals to effectively perform as AI ethicists. These competencies encompass a strong understanding of European values and fundamental rights, further enhancing the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for this profession.
The document aims to foster a shared understanding of the essential concepts and principles inherent to the AI ethicist role. It illustrates a clear, uniform approach to the integral components of this profession.
Moreover, the document outlines how the role of AI ethicists can be seamlessly integrated into a wide variety of organizations. These include, but are not limited to, commercial enterprises, governmental agencies and non-profit organizations.
Kompetenzanforderungen für KI-Ethiker
Exigences en matière de compétences pour les spécialistes en éthique de l'IA
Zahteve glede usposobljenosti za poklicne strokovnjake za etiko umetne inteligence
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2025
Zahteve glede usposobljenosti za poklicne strokovnjake za etiko umetne
inteligence
Competence requirements for professional AI ethicists
Kompetenzanforderungen für KI-Ethiker
Exigences en matière de compétences pour les spécialistes en éthique de l'IA
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 18274
ICS:
03.100.02 Upravljanje in etika Governance and ethics
03.100.30 Vodenje ljudi Management of human
resources
35.240.01 Uporabniške rešitve Application of information
informacijske tehnike in technology in general
tehnologije na splošno
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EUROPEAN STANDARD DRAFT
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
September 2025
ICS 03.100.02; 03.100.30; 35.240.01
English version
Competence requirements for professional AI ethicists
Exigences en matière de compétences pour les Kompetenzanforderungen für KI-Ethiker
spécialistes en éthique de l'IA
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/CLC/JTC 21.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN and CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal
Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any
alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN and CENELEC in three official versions (English, French, German). A
version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN and CENELEC member into its own language
and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN and CENELEC members are the national standards bodies and national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification
of any relevant patent rights of which they are aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN/CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means
Ref. No. prEN 18274:2025 E
reserved worldwide for CEN national Members and for
CENELEC Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
0.1 General . 4
0.2 Use of this standard . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Overview . 6
4.1 The role of AI ethicists . 7
4.2 Tasks of AI ethicists . 7
4.3 Approach . 8
4.4 Demonstration of competence . 9
4.5 Structure of this document . 9
5 AI ethics related governance competence . 10
5.1 Competence: AI ethics awareness, education and training . 10
5.2 Competence: Stakeholder management . 10
5.3 Competence: Distinguishing ethical and legal concerns . 11
5.4 Competence: Communication . 12
5.5 Competence: Resource management . 13
6 AI system life cycle related competence . 14
6.1 Competence: AI ethics implementation . 14
6.2 Competence: Ethical and societal impact assessment . 15
6.3 Competence: Ethics-based auditing . 16
6.4 Competence: Documentation and process quality . 16
6.5 Competence: Ethical reasoning . 17
6.6 Competence: Ethical mediation . 18
7 Attitudes . 19
Annex A (informative) Relationship with other standards . 21
A.1 Introduction . 21
A.2 CEN/TS 17834:2022 [7] European Professional Ethics Framework for the ICT
Profession . 21
A.3 CEN/TR 16234-2:2021 [8] - e-Competence Framework (e-CF) . 21
A.4 ISO/IEC TR 24368:2022 [9] - Information technology — Artificial intelligence —
Overview of ethical and societal concerns . 22
A.5 ISO/IEC/IEEE 24748-7000:2022 [6] - Systems and software engineering — Life
cycle management — Part 7000: Standard model process for addressing ethical
concerns during system design . 22
A.6 ISO/IEC 42005:2025 [10] Information technology — Artificial intelligence — AI
system impact assessment . 23
A.7 ISO 37002:2021 [5] Whistleblowing management systems — Guidelines . 23
Annex B (informative) Integration of AI ethicists into organizations . 24
B.1 Introduction . 24
B.2 Internal integration . 24
B.3 External integration . 24
B.4 Integration across organizational types . 24
B.5 Key considerations for integration . 25
Bibliography . 26
European foreword
This document (prEN 18274:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN-CENELEC/JTC
21"Artificial Intelligence", the secretariat of which is held by DS.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
Introduction
0.1 General
The design, deployment and governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies need to be
underpinned by a thorough consideration of ethical and societal issues. Prior to the integration of AI
systems into various domains, addressing potential ethical challenges and societal concerns is essential.
The pressing need to address these concerns has led to a growing demand for the integration of AI ethics
into AI projects. Among other things, this can be achieved by integrating a spècific professional role,
here named AI ethicist, to contribute to the organization's AI governance and throughout the entire AI
system life cycle. This role would provide critical expertise in navigating the complex ethical and societal
issues surrounding AI.
As the demand for the integration of AI ethics continues to grow, it becomes increasingly important to
establish a common understanding of the competencies required to fulfil this role. Without a
standardized set of criteria, organizations risk inconsistent and inadequate attention to AI ethics, which
can lead to unintended consequences and harm to individuals and society.
This document provides requirements and recommendations for the competencies of AI ethicists, which
influèncès the responsible design, development and governance of AI and creates value that helps to
achieve the organization’s objectives and promote a positive impact on society. This document is
intended to serve as a basis for the development of a cèrtification scheme.
0.2 Use of this standard
Clause 4 provides an overview of the standard, including its objectives, the methodology used in its
development and a review of the main tasks associated with the role of AI ethicists.
Clause 5 provides AI ethics related governance competence for AI ethicists, outlining relevant
knowledge and skills for each competence.
Clause 6 provides AI system related life cycle competence for AI ethicists, outlining relevant knowledge
and skills for each competence.
Annex A discusses the relationship between this document and other relevant standards in the fièld of
ethics and AI.
1 Scope
This document provides a systematized framework for the competencies of AI ethicists, categorizing
them into knowledge, skills and attitudes related to the spècific activities and tasks of the role. It
idèntifiès requirements and recommendations necessary for individuals to effectively perform as AI
ethicists. These competencies encompass a strong understanding of European values and fundamental
rights, further enhancing the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for this profession.
The document aims to foster a shared understanding of the essential concepts and principles inherent
to the AI ethicist role. It illustrates a clear, uniform approach to the integral components of this
profession.
Moreover, the document outlines how the role of AI ethicists can be seamlessly integrated into a wide
variety of organizations. These include, but are not limited to, commercial enterprises, governmental
agencies and non-profit organizations.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and dèfinitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
competence
demonstrated ability to apply knowledge (3.2), skills (3.3) and attitudes for achieving observable results
[SOURCE: EN 16234-1:2019 [1], 3.4]
3.2
knowledge
outcome of the assimilation of information through learning
Note 1 to entry: Knowledge is the body of facts, principles, theories and practices that is related to a fièld of work
or study.
Note 2 to entry: In the context of the European Qualification Framework, knowledge is described as theoretical
and/or factual.
Note 3 to entry: In addition to learning, knowledge can be acquired through any other reliable process (e.g.
testimony, perception, inference).
[SOURCE: European Qualification Framework, Annex I, f]
3.3
skill
ability to apply knowledge and use know-how to complete tasks and solve problems
Note 1 to entry: In the context of the European Qualification Framework, skills are described as cognitive (involving
the use of logical, intuitive and creative thinking) or practical (involving manual dexterity and the use of methods,
materials, tools and instruments).
[SOURCE: European Qualification Framework, Annex I, g]
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