Below are genuinely beginner-friendly, clinically relevant introductions to AI and generative AI in healthcare. No coding background needed. Most are free to access, but certificate and CME rules can change — always confirm on the provider page.
Free Short Online AI Training Courses for Clinicians
Generative AI for Healthcare (30–60 mins)
Provider: Google Cloud Skills Boost (co-developed with Digital Medicine Society / DiMe)
Best for: A quick, modern overview of generative AI/LLMs in healthcare and what’s realistic vs hype
Link (Google Cloud Skills Boost): https://www.cloudskillsboost.google/course_templates/1081
Link (DiMe course page): https://dimesociety.org/courses/generative-ai-for-healthcare
Note on recognition: Completion badge is typically a Skills Boost badge (shareable), not formal CME/regulated CPD.
Introduction to AI in Healthcare (~1 hour)
Provider: Health AI CPD
Best for: Clinician-first introduction to how AI is changing care, ethics, limitations, and safe starting points
Link: https://healthaicpd.com/courses/introduction-to-ai-in-healthcare-course
Note on recognition: Certificate/CPD options vary; some versions are free and some “verified” certificates may be paid depending on the provider’s current terms.
Free AI Training Courses for Clinicians
AI in Healthcare (~2–3 hours)
Provider: Great Learning
Best for: A broader overview of AI concepts and healthcare applications (including imaging and predictive models) without getting too technical
Link: https://www.mygreatlearning.com/academy/learn-for-free/courses/ai-in-healthcare
Note on recognition: Free learning access; certificate availability can vary by region and may be paid.
ChatGPT Essentials for Clinicians (1–2 hours)
Provider: Medmastery
Best for: Practical, clinician-oriented use of ChatGPT/LLMs (summaries, education, documentation workflows) with a focus on safe use
Link: https://www.medmastery.com/ai-prompting-course-for-doctors-nurses-paramedics
Note on access/recognition: Often requires an account; certificate availability can change with Medmastery’s terms.
Free Online AI Training Courses for Family Doctors
AI in Family Medicine: Transforming Your Practice (~1.5 hours)
Provider: American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Best for: Primary care clinicians who want an AI overview grounded in day-to-day family medicine realities
Link: https://www.aafp.org/cme/all/practice-management/ai-in-family-medicine-transforming-your-practice.html
Note on CME: CME is typically restricted to eligible participants (often US physicians / AAFP rules). Non-US clinicians may be able to view content but not claim CME.
AI in Family Medicine Curriculum (AiM-PC) (modular; a few hours total)
Provider: Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM)
Best for: A structured curriculum approach (good for clinicians, residents, students) on AI literacy and responsible use in primary care
Link: https://stfm.org/teachingresources/curriculum/aim-pc/aiml_curriculum
Note on CME: Some modules may offer CME; it’s not universal across the curriculum.
Which free online AI training course is right for me?
If you only have 45 minutes:
Start with Google/DiMe “Generative AI for Healthcare”
https://www.cloudskillsboost.google/course_templates/1081
If you want a UK/Ireland-leaning CPD-style intro:
Health AI CPD “Introduction to AI in Healthcare”
https://healthaicpd.com/courses/introduction-to-ai-in-healthcare-course
If you want a broader foundation (still beginner-level):
Great Learning “AI in Healthcare”
https://www.mygreatlearning.com/academy/learn-for-free/courses/ai-in-healthcare
If you want hands-on ChatGPT/LLM practice as a clinician:
Medmastery “AI prompting course…”
https://www.medmastery.com/ai-prompting-course-for-doctors-nurses-paramedics
Written by
Sean Key
Digital Health Senior Programme Manager · 29 years’ NHS & private sector experience
Sean has spent nearly three decades delivering complex digital programmes across the NHS and private healthcare — from LIMS and PACS deployments to primary care, urgent care, mental health, and national interoperability work. Not a clinician. His perspective is that of a practitioner who understands how digital health really gets built, procured, and adopted in the real world.