Industries like aviation, manufacturing, defense, and healthcare rely on the AICC compliance legacy standard. If you need an AICC-compliant LMS, you are dealing with regulatory requirements, system integrations requiring backward compatibility, and existing course libraries.
This extensive buyer’s guide includes everything you need to know about LMS platforms that support AICC. We'll explore why AICC is still relevant in 2025, what features to look for in an LMS with AICC support, the benefits and trade-offs, and what you need to consider before committing to a platform. Whether upgrading an existing system or seeking better compliance in a regulated environment, this guide will help you make an informed purchase decision.
Organizations operating in regulated industries continue to rely on AICC courses today, as they are highly invested in content development that adheres to AICC standards. Removing and remaking all of the existing content would prove to be too time-consuming and resource-intensive. Therefore, companies rely on LMS platforms to provide an easier solution and bridge the gap between old and new content, offering better tools and greater interactivity.
Some government contracts or regulatory bodies still require training content in the AICC format for auditing and compliance purposes. Even in newer organizations, AICC compatibility is useful when working with partners or clients who share course content based on the old format.
Having an AICC-compliant LMS allows organizations to deliver, track, and report on these courses without the need to rebuild them. These platforms ensure long-term access to valuable legacy materials while transitioning to newer formats, such as SCORM or xAPI.
Let's look at some of the best features with an LMS that offers AICC compliance.
Feature | Explanation |
AICC Compatibility | AICC compliance is the main feature of these LMSs. This support lets you import and launch any AICC content on your platform. |
Multi-Standard Content Support | Besides supporting AICC content, your LMS also supports SCORM, xAPI, or cmi5 content. |
Secure External Hosting | This feature allows you to host all of your data at an external location and communicate with the LMS through secure channels. |
Integration with Legacy Systems | AICC compliance is all about supporting old content and tools. These LMSs support seamless communication with older training databases or HRIS systems, ensuring that all your existing user data remains synced and secure. |
Detailed Reporting | Allows mods to easily track completion, pass/fail status, time spent, and scores for AICC courses. |
Course Version Control | Your LMS can help you control the version of each course you offer and work with multiple versions of old AICC content. |
Offline Learning Options | Supports offline and mobile access for AICC-based courses. |
Audit-Ready Reporting | An AICC-compliant LMS ensures that data formats meet compliance audits in regulated sectors. |
Vendor Support | The vendor can also assist with data migration or consultation on managing AICC legacy content alongside newer content. |
Now, let's discuss additional benefits of using an AICC-compliant Learning Management System (LMS) software.
You Can Utilize Existing Training Assets
You don't have to rebuild hundreds of hours of content because AICC-compliant LMSs help you maintain and reuse all legacy materials, saving time and money. This is ideal for creating a hybrid learning or training approach that combines traditional content with newer formats.
Ensures Better Regulatory Compliance
Aviation, pharma, and defense industries still require AICC standards in their training compliance. An LMS with AICC support helps you pass audits, meet legal benchmarks, and avoid compliance and safety-related fines.
Operability Across Systems
AICC content can be hosted externally, allowing for seamless integration between different departments or business units without requiring everything to be moved into the LMS. This level of flexibility is great for large organizations.
Flexibility for Transition
Organizations planning to shift to newer content standards can still use their AICC content alongside the new SCORM or xAPI-based content, ensuring learning doesn’t get disrupted during the transition phase.
Better Content Lifecycle Management
Managing AICC-based training separately but reporting it within the same LMS keeps training data unified and accessible. The ultimate goal of any LMS is to provide a central space for managing all of your data, training programs, and assessment reports in the most efficient way possible.
Here’s a look at some very important factors that every decision maker should consider while trying to select an AICC-compliant LMS software for their organization:
You Need Compatibility with Multiple Standards
A good LMS will not only support AICC but also SCORM, xAPI, and cmi5 to help future-proof your content strategy. This will enable content managers to seamlessly integrate old and new content, providing users with the most comprehensive and engaging courses.
What Kind of Reporting and Compliance Features Are Offered?
Make sure the LMS you are considering can generate detailed reports from AICC content and newer formats for audits, learner assessments, and compliance documentation.
Migration and Vendor Support
Ensure that the LMS vendor offers hands-on assistance or professional services if you need help importing old AICC content or maintaining external hosting to support your needs.
Does the LMS Meet Your Hosting Requirements?
You should host some AICC content externally. Verify whether your Learning Management System (LMS) can support the secure launch of external content and data retrieval.
Customization Options
Organizations in regulated industries often require tailored dashboards, compliance certificates, or approval workflows; therefore, choose an LMS that supports this level of customization. White-label support can also be a significant advantage for certain companies that want to give their platform a professional look.
Consider the Value of the Pricing Model
AICC support is often part of an enterprise-tier offering of some LMS platforms. Evaluate whether the pricing reflects the value you’re getting regarding compatibility, support, and scalability. You’ll get a better idea of what you are paying for after going through the cost section, which we’ve covered below:
The costs for an AICC-compliant LMS can vary depending on the size of your organization, the number of users, and the complexity of your existing training infrastructure. Here's what you should expect:
Smaller organizations or departments can expect to pay $8–$15 per user per month, especially if they only require basic AICC support with minimal customization. Mid-sized businesses may be charged $25–$50 per user per month or flat monthly rates between $1,000 and $5,000, especially if your business requires better integrations, advanced reporting, or hybrid content support.
Custom LMS deployments with AICC support can cost $50,000 to $150,000 annually for large organizations or enterprises operating in aviation, pharmaceuticals, or government. These packages typically include advanced security, vendor support, and compliance-ready architecture and automations for handling redundant tasks as well.
While these platforms might initially seem costly, the alternative option of rebuilding years of AICC-compliant content is often more expensive and time-consuming. You’ll start seeing the value of your investment once you notice the synergy between old and new content and how your team benefits from it.
Making sure that all of your AICC format content is compatible with newer formats will present some challenges. Maintaining compatibility with AICC often means holding onto older technical standards that lack modern protocols' rich interactivity and tracking features. This can limit learner engagement or the depth of reporting.
Additionally, LMSs with AICC support may charge extra or offer limited support, since AICC is no longer actively developed. This can create a knowledge gap when troubleshooting content errors.
Another challenge lies in migrating all of the existing content. AICC content often utilizes external hosting and legacy paths that may not function on newer cloud platforms, necessitating manual updates or vendor assistance. Ensure your vendor provides proper support in such cases to avoid additional hassle.
Organizations with heavy legacy content investments still use AICC-compliant LMSs to support their workforce. AICC training materials are widely used in aviation, manufacturing, and defense sectors. Vendors like Adobe Learning Manager, SAP SuccessFactors, and Saba continue to offer AICC support in their enterprise plans.
We also see a hybrid approach, where organizations work with legacy AICC content while authoring new training in SCORM or xAPI. This ensures that current content remains compliant while the LMS is ready to support richer and more dynamic learning experiences moving forward.
Some companies also use their LMS as a temporary bridge to transition legacy training libraries into more modern, engaging formats.