thinQmaster Virtual testing partner Adaptive practice exams that find your weak spots and drill them. Every answer explained. From $69
Enroll

thinQmaster

Find your exam

Five questions free, before you decide.

Step 1 · choose a vendor

In one of our camps? Your practice exams come with the tuition — they are on your study page already.

Adobe · Business Platforms · Entry

Adobe Certified Professional (overview) exam guide

Exam Adobe Certified Professional (one exam per application)

Adobe Certified Professional is Adobe's entry-level certification family delivered through Certiport, with separate exams for Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Animate, Dreamweaver and others. Each exam proves practical, project-based skill in one Creative Cloud application, and is widely used in high schools, colleges and career programs.

QuestionsSee official page
Time limitSee official page
Passing scoreSee official page
Exam feeSee official page
Valid for3 years
DeliveryCertiport Authorized Testing Centers or Certiport online proctoring

Format: Performance-based tasks in a live or simulated app plus multiple choice. Fee note: Price varies by Certiport testing center and academic vouchers; check Certiport.

Who it's for

Students, early-career designers and video editors, and marketing staff who want to prove job-ready skills in a specific Adobe app.

What the exam covers

Working in the design or media industry—
Project setup and interface—
Organizing documents or projects—
Creating and modifying visual or media elements—
Publishing and exporting digital media—

A dash means the vendor does not publish a weight for that domain.

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None

Recommended: Adobe suggests about 150 hours of instruction and hands-on use of the application.

Keeping it active

Adobe Certified Professional credentials are valid about 3 years and tied to the application version; recertify by passing the current exam.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Project setup and file management
  • Layers, masks and non-destructive editing
  • Typography and layout
  • Color management and output settings
  • Timeline editing and export (video apps)
  • Copyright and client communication basics

Job roles

Graphic DesignerJunior DesignerVideo EditorProduction ArtistMarketing Content SpecialistMotion Graphics Assistant

Where it fits in your path

Take before

No prerequisite certification needed.

You are here

Adobe Certified Professional (overview)

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Weeks 1-2: Review the exam objectives for your chosen app on Certiport and Adobe's site.
  2. Weeks 3-4: Build two or three portfolio projects covering every objective.
  3. Week 5: Use GMetrix or Certiport practice tests in testing mode.
  4. Week 6: Sit the exam; then add a second app exam to build a specialist profile.

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • Performance tasks are graded on the end result; use the most direct method you know.
  • Read each task fully; missing one small setting fails the item.
  • Know export and file format settings; they are frequently tested.
  • Industry knowledge questions (copyright, client briefs) are easy points.
  • Practice in the same app version the exam uses.

Frequently asked questions

What is Adobe Certified Professional?

Adobe's entry-level certification for individual Creative Cloud apps, delivered by Certiport.

Does Adobe certification expire?

Credentials are tied to the app version and are generally valid about three years.

Is Adobe Certified Professional worth it?

It helps students and early-career creatives prove skills; a portfolio matters more for senior roles.

How many Adobe exams are there?

There is a separate exam for each supported app, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro and After Effects.

Adobe Certified Professional vs Adobe Certified Expert?

Professional is entry level via Certiport; Expert credentials target experienced users of Adobe Experience Cloud and advanced products.

Official page: certiport.pearsonvue.com. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.