Adobe Certification

[GingaKid]

Hello all!

I'm a Junior Graphic Design Major and took the summer off. I've been looking into how to better myself for the upcoming job search and I believe that getting a certificate for the adobe suit would help immensely. How can I get certified? I looked for it and the only things I found were for the 2015 edition. Thank you!

-Mike

[Test Screen Name]

You should start by learning that Creative Suite no longer exists (not for many years). It was licensed for a fixed price. Now we have Creative Cloud, available only by subscription. There is no one qualification that covers all the 23 apps in Creative Cloud; each app is certified separately. The certification is aimed at experienced users who have worked with it for several years and could explain all the menus and options. (A design house might call on an Adobe Certified Expert, because they are more expert than the ordinary designers they employ, to help set up new projects or solve workflow issues). They are not an entry level certification (and may even amount to being overqualified). Some info here https://www.creativebloq.com/features/the-designers-guide-to-becoming-adobe-certified 

Here is Adobe's page: https://learning.adobe.com/certification.html? I have to agree, it's aimed at version 2015 - four versions behind and no longer available. I am not sure what this says about Adobe's commitment to the program; maybe it was not profitable to keep updating it every year. Or perhaps their focus is on the many other product areas they sell, outside the 23 apps in Creative Cloud.

[Nancy OShea]

I'm almost certain Adobe certified testing centers are under lock-down until after Covid-19.  Until now, the ACA and ACE exams were administered in proctored settings only.  No online testing.

I'm not sure that passing a test in Photoshop 2015 is going to impress anyone.  It doesn't speak to your talents as a graphic designer.  It merely says you passed a software aptitude test for something that nobody uses anymore as pre-2019 versions are gone from Creative Cloud Desktop App.  Now if you need this to satisfy a graduation requirement, fine.  Go for it.  Otherwise, I think you could do better things with your time & money.

Prospective employers like to see great portfolios (work samples) and good recommendations from former clients, teachers, mentors and collaborators.  To that end, a little pro bono work can help bolster your portfolio and open doors to paying jobs later. 

Good luck!

[John Waller]

>>> I believe that getting a certificate for the adobe suit would help immensely. 

Not really. I agree with the comments from the forum regulars above.

Certifications are nice but not persuasive to employers. Adobe's are quite dated. Certifications indicate that you can use software, and know your way around the tools, but give no indication of your design style and strengths - which is what interests most employers. I'd hazard a guess that most good designers don't worry about software certifications which quickly become outdated.

Certifications are good credentials for software educators. Portfolios are great calling cards for designers.

Prospective employers want to see what you can do as an emerging designer so a great online portfolio is always a great introduction to show people your style, design sense and versatility.

[Barb Binder]

Hi @GingaKid :

There are two new multi-application Adobe Certified Expert exams available:

• Design and Layout: https://spark.adobe.com/page/8Ccmgtv8R0ebT/
• Video Editing: https://spark.adobe.com/page/RAqSSuwfK89Pn/

~Barb 

[LenaAxelsson]

I was searching for the same thing, though I've a good knowlege of all the stuff but you know a certification is also necessary. Thank you @Test Screen Name , @Nancy OShea and @John Waller for your thoughts on this.