Empower Your Business Journey

Unlock Your Potential with Our ESB Certification Program

Join our Entrepreneurship & Small Business Certification Program to gain essential skills for your business success.

Launch and Grow Your Business with an Industry Recognized Credential

Entrepreneurship is no longer limited to business ownership. Today’s workforce requires individuals who can think critically, manage resources, communicate professionally, and adapt to change. The Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB) Certification is an industry-recognized credential that validates foundational business knowledge, entrepreneurial readiness, and essential workplace skills.

Through AES Literacy Institute’s ESB pathway, participants build practical skills in business fundamentals, professional communication, digital fluency, and problem-solving while preparing to sit for the ESB certification exam. This credential supports workforce entry, career advancement, and small business development across multiple industries through a nationally recognized, online exam aligned with employer expectations.

What is the ESB Certification

Industry-Recognized Credential

The Entrepreneurship & Small Business (ESB) certification validates essential entrepreneurial and business knowledge aligned with workforce and employer expectations.

Foundational Business Skills

Participants develop core competencies in business concepts, finance, marketing, operations, and professional decision-making.

Skills for Entrepreneurs

Build practical skills related to business planning, financial decision-making, legal considerations, and launching or managing a business.

Career & Economic Mobility

Supports self-employment, business ownership, or career advancement across multiple industries and workforce pathways.

Why Earn the ESB Certification

Stand Out in the Job Market

Gain a competitive edge with a credential recognized by employers, workforce agencies, and industry partners.

Validated Entrepreneurial Skills

Demonstrates readiness for entrepreneurship and small business through a nationally recognized certification exam.

Pathways to Economic Mobility

Positions participants for self-employment, business growth, career advancement, or continued credential pathways.

Transferable Across Industries

Applicable to business, healthcare, technology, service, and trade sectors.

Program Credibility & Trust

Signals verified skills through a nationally recognized credential aligned with employer expectations.

Enroll

Apply to the program and join a supported ESB cohort.

Learn

Build foundational business and entrepreneurial skills.

Prepare

Practice concepts and prepare for the ESB certification exam.

Cerify

Sit for the ESB exam and earn your industry credential.

Advance

Move into business launch, career growth, or next credentials.

The ESB Certification is ideal for individuals seeking practical business and entrepreneurial skills that support self-employment, career mobility, and business growth.

Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Ideal for those with an idea but limited formal business training.

Individuals who want to start a business, launch a side venture, or explore entrepreneurship as a viable career pathway.

Emerging Professionals

Ideal for individuals building workplace & business skills for career advancement

Perfect for individuals building foundational workplace and business skills to support career mobility, credential attainment, and long-term economic opportunity across industries.

Career Changers

Ideal for individuals transitioning into entrepreneurship or new career paths

Designed for individuals transitioning from traditional employment into entrepreneurship, self-employment, or small business ownership as a new career pathway.

Small Business Employees

Ideal for employees seeking stronger knowledge to support growth & operations

For employees seeking to strengthen business knowledge, improve operational skills, and support growth or advancement within a small business environment.

The Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB) Certification is a nationally recognized credential aligned with industry standards for workforce readiness and entrepreneurial competency.

The ESB credential validates foundational business knowledge, professional skills, and applied problem-solving abilities valued by employers, workforce agencies, and economic development partners.

The certification exam is delivered online and reflects real-world expectations for entrepreneurship, small business operations, and transferable workplace skills across multiple industries.

Virtual instruction

Virtual cohorts offer live, instructor-led sessions supported by digital curriculum and exam preparation resources. This format allows AES to serve participants across multiple locations while maintaining consistent instructional quality and credential outcomes.

In-person cohorts

AES Literacy Institute delivers ESB certification through structured, instructor-led cohorts hosted at community sites, partner locations, or AES facilities. In-person cohorts emphasize hands-on learning, peer collaboration, and direct instructor support while preparing participants for the ESB certification exam.

Hybrid learning models

Hybrid cohorts combine in-person instruction with virtual learning tools to provide flexibility while maintaining accountability and engagement. This model supports learners who benefit from face-to-face interaction while balancing work, school, or family responsibilities.

Partner-hosted cohorts

AES partners with schools, workforce agencies, nonprofits, and employers to deliver ESB certification within existing programs. Partner-hosted cohorts allow organizations to integrate entrepreneurship and business readiness training into their workforce or education pipelines.