Popular Adobe Certifications

An Adobe certification helps you demonstrate and measure your skills with Adobe products. Getting an Adobe certification can help you differentiate yourself from competitors, advance your career, and improve customer satisfaction.

How to get an Adobe certification?

Adobe certification is a fast, affordable, and official way to demonstrate your skills using a range of industry-standard software packages, so it’s a worthwhile investment. To receive an Adobe certification, you must pass a certification exam that tests your familiarity with Adobe product features and capabilities.

ACA – Adobe Certified Associate

An Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) credential certifies individuals have the entry-level skills to plan, design, build, and maintain effective communications using different forms of digital media.

A person with an ACA certification consistently demonstrates his mastery of Adobe products and platforms, benefiting colleagues and administrators.

To become an Adobe Certified Associate, there are three Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) exams available choose one of the below ACA exams:

1. Dreamweaver (Web Communication)
2. Flash (Rich Media Communication)
3. Photoshop (Visual Communication)
4. Premiere (Video Communication)
5. Illustrator (Graphic Design)
6. InDesign (Print & Digital Media Publication)

Each of the following exams will validate entry-level skills in communication corresponding to the respective Adobe software.

ACE – Adobe Certified Expert

ACE certification was developed for designers, web publishers, desktop publishers, developers, and other business professionals who want to demonstrate proficiency with single or multiple Adobe products.

Adobe certification is a standard of excellence in the industry and is absolutely the best way to communicate their high skills in the direction of Adobe products.

How to become an Adobe Certified Expert?

To become an Adobe Certified Expert you must pass at least one of the specialization exams. To become certified as a Master, you must pass the exam for each of the products in the suite.

• The ACE can be achieved for Illustrator, Acrobat, FrameMaker, GoLive, After Effects, InDesign, LiveMotion, PageMaker, Photoshop, and Premiere.
• Exams are delivered via computer and consist of 60-90 multiple-choice questions (closed-book).
• Re-certification is required with each new version but Adobe offers a 25% discount on re-certification exams.

Adobe sets out three levels of proficiency level:

1. Single product certification. Recognizes your proficiency in a single Adobe product. To qualify as an ACE, you must pass one product-specific exam as Photoshop CS5
2. Specialist certification in a specific medium. Recognizes your proficiency in a specific medium: Print, Web, or Video.
3. Master certification recognizes certification for an entire product suite. Recognizes your skills in all Adobe product suites.

Costs: The exam costs approximately $150.

AATC – Adobe Authorized Training Center

An Adobe Authorized Training Center is a training facility that offers instructor-led courses and training on Adobe products. To become AATCs, training centers must employ Adobe Certified Instructors (ACIs) to teach their Adobe courses, and meet additional requirements.

Steps to become an Adobe Authorized Training Center (AATC)

• Review, complete, and submit an Adobe Authorized Training Center Application and agree to the AATC terms and conditions.
• Verify that all the Adobe classes you advertise will be taught by Adobe Certified Instructors (ACIs) who are certified in the products they will be teaching.
• Verify your Adobe courses will be held in a permanent company-managed training facility with proper company signage
• You will hold at least one public class per month on Adobe products
• You have Adobe product licensing for all student workstations

ACI – Adobe Certified Instructor

An Adobe Certified Instructor (ACI) is An Adobe Certified Instructor is an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) or an Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) who provides instruction on Adobe products.

ACIs must have an instructor qualification (a teaching credential, passed the CTT+, or equivalent), in addition to passing one or more ACE exams.

How to become an Adobe Certified Instructor (ACI)?

There are three levels of Adobe certification.

1. Single product certification: Recognizes your proficiency in a single Adobe product. To qualify as an ACI, you must pass at least one product-specific exam.
2. Specialist certification: Recognizes your proficiency in a specific medium: Print, Web, or Video
3. Master certification: Recognizes your skills in the Adobe product suites. To become certified as a Master, you must pass the exam for each of the products in the suite.

You must show you have an instructor qualification (a teaching credential, passed the CompTIA CTT+, or equivalent), and have passed one or more ACE exams. There is no fee to apply to be an ACI.

What is the difference between ACI and AATC?

Adobe Certified Instructors (ACIs) are individual instructors that provide training on Adobe products.

They are certified on the products they teach and may operate independently or as part of an organization.

Adobe Authorized Training Centers (AATCs) are training institutions or businesses that employ ACIs on their staff and are qualified to deliver professional instruction on Adobe tools.

What is the difference between ACI and ACE certifications?

The difference between ACI and ACE certifications is that ACI (Adobe Certified Instructor) is a person who can teach Adobe tools. An ACI is itself an ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) who has taken its skills and certification to the next level. To become an Adobe Certified instructor, in addition to passing one or more ACE exams, the person must hold an instructor or teaching credential (CTT+, or equivalent).