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Best lighting designer certifications
The best certifications for a lighting designer are Lighting Associate (LA), Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ), and LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED).
Lighting designer certifications demonstrate your competency as a lighting designer to employers. However, not all lighting designer certifications provide the same value.
Below is a list of the best lighting designer certifications. Obtaining a lighting designer certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.
3 best certifications for lighting designers
| Rank | Lighting designer certification | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting Associate (LA) | ALA |
| 2 | Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ) | CIDQ |
| 3 | LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED) | GBCI |
3 best lighting designer certifications
1. Lighting Associate (LA)
The Lighting Associate Program of courses covers the basics of lighting and lighting design.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
2. Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ)
The NCIDQ Examination consists of three separate exam sections, the Interior Design Fundamentals Exam (IDFX), the Interior Design Professional Exam (IDPX), and the Practicum Exam (PRAC), that measure a candidate's proficiency in interior design principles and application of knowledge to protect public health, safety and welfare. Two of the exams, IDFX and IDPX, are multiple choice exams.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
3. LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED)
For professionals with expertise in the design and construction phases of green buildings, serving the commercial, residential, education and healthcare sectors. The LEED BD+C exam is designed to measure your knowledge and skill in understanding the LEED Rating system and ability to facilitate the project certification process.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
What is the best certification for a lighting designer?
The best lighting designer certification is Lighting Associate (LA). The Lighting Associate (LA) is awarded by the American Lighting Association. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.
Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this lighting designer certification:
- To become a certified Lighting Associate (LA), you need to pass the exam.
- Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
- Renew certification every 2 year.
The most common combination of lighting designer certifications include: Lighting Associate (LA), Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ), and LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED).
Online courses for lighting designers to earn certifications
1. Visual Design (Part Time)
Gain the vocabulary and tools to tackle diverse design challenges on the job. Kickstart your portfolio and create beautiful, responsive designs for the web. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
2. How to Use Lighting Design to Transform your Home
Learn How to Use Lighting in your Interior Design Like a Pro...
3. Cinematic Lighting
The art of dramatic lighting, for cinematographers of independent films...
4. Facade Lighting Design Techniques
Mastering facade lighting design using Dialux evo and Photoshop software...
5. Unreal Engine 5- Beginner Lighting, Fog, and Post Processing
I'll teach you the basics of lighting scenes in UE5, in this beginner friendly game development course!...
6. Automate and Animate Your Holiday Lights Using RGB Pixels
Create your own animated light display using low-voltage, computer-controlled LED lights (RGB Pixels)...
7. LIGHTING for Film and Television
Learn to tell stories with light in a 6-hour, immersive, funny course with sketch comedy and two complete short films...
8. Bob Davis' Professional Photography Lighting Techniques
Digital photography expert Bob Davis shares his professional lighting techniques and the various types of light he uses...
9. Learn Arnold - Fundamentals of Shading and Lighting
Become an expert in Shading, Lighting and Rendering with Arnold for Maya, Katana, Cinema4d, Houdini and other 3D render...
10. The Art of Finding Light: Photography for the artist in you
Spotting great lighting is not a gift, it is Skill. Become a photographer who knows how to find great light...
11. Unreal Engine 4: Beginners Guide to Lighting
A practical guide to understanding lighting in Unreal Engine 4...
12. KATANA Mastering LookDev & Lighting for the VFX industry
Advanced Insights to Workflows and Techniques using Arnold...
13. Unity 5: Lighting Fundamentals
This course takes a look and new and existing lighting features in Unity 5 from the perspective of a novice student...
14. 47 Graphic Design Projects for Photoshop Beginners
Photoshop graphic design for beginners! Includes 47 Photoshop projects for your graphic design portfolio...
15. Digitally Painting Light and Color: Amateur to Master
Learn the fundamentals of light and color and take your art to the next level...
16. Graphic Design Masterclass - Learn GREAT Design
The Ultimate Graphic Design Course Which Covers Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design,Design Theory, Branding and Logo Design...
17. Adobe Photoshop Graphic Design
Design 4 Beautiful eye catching Graphic Design Projects from Scratch with Adobe Photoshop Graphic Design Basics...
18. Become a Professional Graphic Designer
Learn what you need to know to break into the world of graphic design...
19. Graphic Design Mastery: The FULL Branding & Design Process
Follows the FULL Graphic Design Process for A Company: Logo, Ad, Social Media, T-Shirt, Package, Website Design & More!...
20. Digital Design Masterclass For Graphic Designers
Icon Set Design, E-book cover, Digitizing Sketches, Social Media Design, Wordpress Web Design, Adobe Xd, GIFS and more!...