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Best senior graphic designer certifications

The best certifications for a senior graphic designer are Master Certified Web Professional - Designer (CWP), Certified Digital Designer (CDD), and Certified Graphics Communications Manager (CGCM).

Senior graphic designer certifications demonstrate your competency as a senior graphic designer to employers. However, not all senior graphic designer certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best senior graphic designer certifications. Obtaining a senior graphic designer certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

8 best senior graphic designer certifications

1. Master Certified Web Professional - Designer (CWP)

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

2. Certified Digital Designer (CDD)

Professional Certification is an on-line examination provided by ADDA to establish a credentialing system based on an individual's competency level. The examinations are based on years of experience or training level. Examinations are Professional Level but are available to students. Examinations may be taken at any approved testing site or through a proctor approved by ADDA. Professional Certification through ADDA is a 3 year lifespan, from date of certification and requires renewal.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

3. Certified Graphics Communications Manager (CGCM)

The In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association's (IPMA) Certified Graphic Communications Manager (CGCM) designation was created in 1976 to establish a professional standard of proficiency for the in-house graphic arts and printing management profession.

Certification details
  • 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 5 year(s)

4. 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.

Certification details
  • 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)
Certifying website
Certified Interior Designer
Certifying organization
Council for Interior Design...

5. Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)

Being a top marketer means continually enhancing your skills as well as highlighting your accomplishments. The American Marketing Association's Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) program gives you a tangible, convenient way to do both. You can earn the PCM designation by passing a comprehensive exam covering the key areas of marketing. Developed with input from hundreds of marketing experts, the PCM program meets strict national professional certification criteria and standards for excellence in marketing.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying organization
American Marketing Association

6. Web Graphics and Multimedia Certificate

Equips the student for work as a Web graphic artist, creating illustrations, pictures, buttons, and other images for use on the Web, as well as the ability to create interactive multimedia designs in Flash or other programs.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? No
  • Renewal required? No

7. Certified Agile Developer (CAD)

Agile approaches help teams respond to unpredictability through incremental, iterative work cadences, known as sprints. Agile methodologies are an alternative to waterfall, or traditional sequential development. Agile, a popular method of delivering top-quality software on schedule through a collaborative, iterative approach. Certification helps in understanding the key principles of Agile software development, which promote faster release cycles, better deliverable's and the ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. You’ll gain knowledge on policies and process improvements that can enhance interactions between developers and project and program managers. Agile software development, uses iterative, feature-driven, customer-focused Agile practices to develop applications that meet user requirements. In this certification, you also gain practical experience performing each role within an Agile team.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? No
  • Renewal required? No

8. HTML5 Application Development Fundamentals

Candidates for this exam are seeking to prove core HTML5 client application development skills that will run on today's touch-enabled devices (PCs, tablets, and phones). Although HTML is often thought of as a web technology that is rendered in a browser to produce a UI, this exam focuses on using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript to develop client applications.

Certification details
  • 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? No

What is the best certification for a senior graphic designer?

The best senior graphic designer certification is Master Certified Web Professional - Designer (CWP). The Master Certified Web Professional - Designer (CWP) is awarded by the International Webmasters Association. The advanced certification is for more experienced employees as it often requires some work experience to acquire.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this senior graphic designer certification:

  • To become a certified Master Certified Web Professional - Designer (CWP), you need to pass the exam.
  • This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every 3 year.
Best certifications

The most common combination of senior graphic designer certifications include: Master Certified Web Professional - Designer (CWP), Certified Digital Designer (CDD), and Certified Graphics Communications Manager (CGCM).

Online courses for senior graphic designers to earn certifications

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1. User Experience Design Immersive (Full-time)

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Launch a future-proof career designing digital experiences that power revenue, user loyalty, and product success. Distinguish yourself as a designer by compiling a portfolio to showcase solo, group, and client projects to employers based on UI design and Agile methodologies...

2. User Experience Design (Part Time)

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Translate user wants and needs into intuitive digital experiences that power revenue, loyalty, and product success. Build confidence and credibility to tackle complex design problems on the job. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...

3. UX Designer

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Design impactful user experiences for products in today’s digital world. Build a portfolio that showcases your ability to transform user research to high-fidelity interactive designs...

4. Product Design

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Learn the steps you need to turn an idea into reality. By the end of this course you’ll learn how to bring an idea from concept to hand off for development and onto creation of a prototype...

5. 47 Graphic Design Projects for Photoshop Beginners

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Photoshop graphic design for beginners!  Includes 47 Photoshop projects for your graphic design portfolio...

6. Graphic Design Mastery: The FULL Branding & Design Process

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Follows the FULL Graphic Design Process for A Company: Logo, Ad, Social Media, T-Shirt, Package, Website Design & More!...

7. Visual Design (Part Time)

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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...

8. Intro to UX Design

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Are you interested in UX Design, but have no prior experience or an idea of where to start? You’ve come to the right place! In this two-hour livestream, we’ll explore the decision-making process that separates a good user experience from a great one, and learn some tools that you can implement in your own UX process today. All in real time, taught by an industry professional. Come learn the basics and gain the skills you need to begin your UX Design journey!...

9. Graphic Design Mastery- AI, Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign

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Graphic Design for beginners including Graphic Design Theories, Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, AI & Creative Thinking...

10. Graphic Design Masterclass - Learn GREAT Design

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The Ultimate Graphic Design Course Which Covers Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design,Design Theory, Branding and Logo Design...

11. Master Graphic Design & Software with Practical Projects

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Conquer Popular Graphic Design Projects: Logo, Package, Magazine, Book Cover Design, Branding, Digital Graphics & More!...

12. Adobe Photoshop Graphic Design

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Design 4 Beautiful eye catching Graphic Design Projects from Scratch with Adobe Photoshop Graphic Design Basics...

13. Graphic Design Masterclass Intermediate: The NEXT Level

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Up Your Graphic Design Skills: Logo Design, Photo Manipulation, Package Design, Infographics, Portfolio Building, Grids!...

14. Graphic Design Bootcamp: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign

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Bestselling Beginner Course! Use Photoshop, Illustrator, & In Design for logo design, web design, poster design, and more...

15. Graphic Design Masterclass: Learn Graphic Design in Projects

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Graphic design principles, typography, & color mastery using Illustrator, In Design, and Photoshop. For beginners & more!...

16. Graphic Design Masterclass: Design 40+ Projects in Photoshop

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Use Photoshop to create YT thumbnails, banners, catalogues, Instagram & Facebook Graphics, Cards, CV, Newsletters & more...

17. Digital Design Masterclass For Graphic Designers

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Icon Set Design, E-book cover, Digitizing Sketches, Social Media Design, Wordpress Web Design, Adobe Xd, GIFS and more!...

18. Graphic Design Foundations in Canva: Theory and Projects

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Learn design theory and practice GREAT graphic design through practical real world projects in Canva...

19. Graphic Design Bootcamp: Advanced Training Using Adobe CC

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Project-Based Learning For Intermediate Designers: Use Photoshop, Lightroom, and Other Adobe Creative Cloud Programs...

20. Become a Professional Graphic Designer

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Learn what you need to know to break into the world of graphic design...

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