Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) certification has become an industry-standard way to validate one’s skills and proficiency with Adobe’s creative tools. But is going through the ACE certification process worth the time and effort required? Let’s explore the key benefits.
Why Get Adobe ACE Certified
Obtaining ACE certification in a specific Adobe app like Photoshop, Illustrator or Premiere Pro signals to employers that you have real-world skills and are serious about your craft. The certification exams test your functional knowledge and technical proficiency through real-world scenarios and projects.
Certification can boost your resume and help you stand out from other applicants when applying for creative roles focused on areas like graphic design, web design, video production and animation. Having the official ACE credential next to your name demonstrates a commitment to skill-building.
The Certification Process
To become ACE certified, you first need to pass the related certification exam. Adobe partners with Certiport for delivery of the exams. They are performance-based and you complete projects live within the Adobe app to showcase your abilities.
Exam content is developed in collaboration with industry experts to cover the most in-demand skills. You can schedule exams at designated testing centers or take them online when available.
The ACE certification is valid for three years, after which you’ll need to recertify to stay current.
Is Adobe ACE Certification Worth It?
While obtaining certification requires an investment of time and money, most creative professionals find it very worthwhile:
- Validation of in-demand skills
- Improved job prospects and earning potential
- Recognition as an expert in your chosen app
- Confidence using Adobe apps in real-world scenarios
- Fulfillment from skill mastery and meeting industry standards
If you’re serious about a career using Adobe creative tools, becoming ACE certified can significantly advance your professional goals.
Preparing for the ACE Exam
The ACE exams require you to work through real-world creative challenges using your chosen Adobe app. Here are some tips on preparing:
- Take practice tests to experience the performance-based format
- Work through ACE exam preparation books and online courses
- Build your skills with tutorials from Adobe and expert users
- Practice conceptual tasks like photo manipulation in Photoshop not just tools
- Recreate projects similar to what you’ll encounter on the exam
Hands-on practice with app features and creative workflows is key for ACE exam success.
Recertification Requirements
To maintain your ACE certification status after passing the exam, you’ll need to recertify every three years. Options to meet the requirements include:
- Retaking and passing the current ACE exam for your app
- Completing new Adobe professional level courses
- Gaining additional industry certifications in related areas
Recertification shows you are staying current as the technology evolves.
Career Benefits for ACE Certified Pros
Here are some of the top benefits creative professionals can gain from maintaining ACE certification:
- Increased salary potential
- New job opportunities
- Ability to take on client work independently
- Confidence to teach and train others
- Ability to qualify for Adobe instructor roles
The career advantages make the recertification process worthwhile for most certified pros.
Choosing Your ACE Certification Path
Adobe offers ACE credentials for a wide variety of their apps and software. You should choose your certification path based on your career goals and interests:
Photography & Design Apps: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom
Video & Animation Apps: Premiere Pro, After Effects, Character Animator
Web Apps: Dreamweaver, Animate
Think about which tools you want to use on a daily basis in your work and focus your ACE certification efforts accordingly.
Study Resources to Utilize
Here are some recommended resources to leverage when preparing for your ACE exam:
- Adobe’s official exam guide and sample questions
- ACE exam practice simulations
- Online courses focused specifically on certification
- Tutorials and training from experienced ACE instructors
- User forums to connect with the ACE community
Combining Adobe’s official resources with those developed by the ACE community is an effective strategy.
ACE Certification Levels
Adobe offers both entry-level and expert-level ACE credentials:
ACE: Focuses on core app functionality ACE Expert: Covers advanced features and techniques
The expert-level certification can help you stand out even more when applying for senior creative roles.
The Exam-Taking Experience
While you can prepare for the content, here are some things to expect regarding the overall exam process:
- Arrive early at the testing center to get settled
- Prepare4test administers the exams at secured stations
- Real-world style projects to complete using the software
- Time limits ranging from 45-90 minutes depending on exam
- Results provided instantly after completion
- Score of 700 or more (out of 800) is required to pass
Being familiar with the environment ahead of time will help you feel more comfortable and confident.
Maintaining Your Skills
To get the most career benefit from ACE certification after passing the exam:
- Continue learning through Adobe workshops and training
- Participate in online courses to expand your skills
- Experiment with new app features during Creative Cloud updates
- Build a portfolio highlighting your ACE expertise
- Follow design publications and trends to stay inspired
Lifelong learning will ensure your ACE certification credentials translate to real-world value.
Conclusion
The Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) credential is the highest level of certification offered by Adobe. It validates deep knowledge and skills using Adobe Creative Cloud apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and more.
Obtaining ACE certification requires passing a challenging performance-based exam administered at Certiport testing centers. The exams feature real-world projects to solve within the Adobe apps under time constraints.
The certification exams and requirements are developed in partnership with industry experts to accurately evaluate in-demand job skills. ACE certification can enhance one’s career prospects and earning potential in creative professional roles.
However, some industry professionals question how well the exams assess true talent and real-world proficiency compared to practical design experience. The problem-solving approach makes them better suited to more experienced users.
Maintaining ACE credential requires recertifying every two years by either retaking the exam or completing continuing education. This ensures certified individuals stay updated as the technology progresses.
Overall, Adobe ACE certification requires a major commitment of time and effort but offers significant credibility and career advancement opportunities for those focused on expert-level skills with Adobe’s creative tools.