The Best Web Design Certifications

The Best Web Design Certifications

Being in the web design industry, you have probably heard a lot of buzz pertaining to certifications. A certification is essentially a validation of your proficiency in a certain area or job field. It’s important to note that a certification is not a degree, rather a validation of skill.

In some instances, a certification can help you stand out from your peers, and provide you with an employment advantage. In other instances, certifications can be overlooked by employers. This article will help you understand when a certification in web design could be highly valuable, and when it could just be added flare to your resume.

Are All Web Design Certifications Equal?

One of the most important things to keep in mind when deciding if you should get a web design certificate is that not all certifications are created equal. Some certifications will require you to study long hours and pass an exam, while others will require you to have years of industry experience to even be eligible.

The web design certifications that hold the most value are ones that you have to work hard to get. A certification that anybody can get is not a certification that will make you stand out from your peers, or provide any type of career advantage.

6 Web Certifications Worth Looking Into

 

1. Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)

Adobe is the software of choice for many web developers and designers, so a valuable certification you can obtain to advance your career is the Adobe Certified Expert, (ACE) certification. With an ACE certification, you will prove proficiency in a range of interactive and online content areas such as web design, video, rich Internet applications, technical communications, or eLearning.

Adobe certification exams are very affordable at just $180 per certification. Best of all, Adobe even offers several prep courses to help you prepare for your exams. Given the high-demand for Adobe-savvy professionals, the ACE certification is one that could make you a high-value commodity to any organization.

 

2. Certified Web Development Professional

In general, the majority of certifications that require you to take a course are not worth your time or money, but Mark Lassof’s program is an exception to this rule. This certification covers HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. This is a great program for a web designer who is looking to obtain a general background on web design and development at a very affordable price.

 

3. Zend Certified PHP Engineer

PHP is a powerful scripting language that can help you design dynamic, industry-level websites. In order to obtain this certification, you will be required to pass a single but very difficult exam that covers PHP, syntax, data types, input/output, programming techniques, security, and object-oriented programming. You can purchase your exam voucher for just $195.

 

4. Microsoft Developer Certifications (MTA & MCSD)

It’s no secret that Microsoft certifications are some of the most respected in the industry. The Microsoft (MCSD) can give you certifications for Windows Store Apps, web applications, SharePoint Applications, along with website application lifecycle management. To get your MCSD certification you must pass a number of exams priced at $150 each.

The Microsoft MTA Certification is a great option for a high school or college student who is new to website design and development. You can get certified in topics such as software development, Windows development, mobile development, and game development. Each multiple-choice exam will cost you $115.

 

5. Amazon Web Services (AWS Certified Developer)

If you design or develop applications on the AWS platform, highly consider getting the AWS Certified Developer Certification. This certification will help you to prove your proficiency in developing and maintaining applications on the AWS platform.

In order to qualify for the exam, you must have one or more years of experience designing and maintaining AWS-based applications, and you must be knowledgeable in at least one high-level programming language. In addition, you must be proficient in designing and developing cloud-based solutions in AWS, and have some professional experience with developing and maintaining apps written for various Amazon solutions.

In order to get this certification, you will have to pass a multiple-choice exam that will take up to 80 minutes to complete. It will cost you $150 to take this exam, and there is a practice exam available for an addition $20.

 

6. PMP Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

All organizations are in need of employees with strong project management skills. The PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) Certification will prove your proficiency in agile principles. The PMI-ACP has many approaches including Scrum, Kanban, Lean extreme programming (XP), and test-drive development (TDD). If project management is your dream career, this is a certification you will not want to pass up.

 

Final Thoughts

Before you pay for any professional certification in web design or development, make sure it will in some way advance your career either now or in the future. There are many certifications offered on the Internet that are a waste of money, so it’s imperative to speak with others in your field to avoid investing your time and money into a certification that holds little value.