Top 10 Desktop Publisher Certifications

Desktop publishing certifications are important for a desktop publisher in the job market because they demonstrate knowledge and competency in the field. Certifications show that the individual has taken the initiative to become certified as a desktop publisher, which is seen as a sign of commitment and dedication to their profession. Having a certification also demonstrates an understanding of the latest industry standards and trends, which may be required by certain employers. Additionally, having certifications can give a desktop publisher an edge over other applicants when applying for jobs, as certifications are often seen as evidence of technical proficiency.

The purpose of this article is to inform desktop publishers on the top certifications available and how they can help advance their career.

What are Desktop Publisher Certifications?

Desktop publisher certification is a type of qualification or credential that recognizes an individual’s expertise in creating and managing digital documents and publications. It can be obtained through formal training, or by passing certification exams offered by professional organizations such as the Association of Desktop Publishers (ADP).

Having desktop publisher certification is beneficial to employers who are looking for professionals with the ability to create eye-catching documents and publications. A certified desktop publisher will have proven skills in graphic design, layout, typography, color theory, and other elements that are important when creating engaging documents. Additionally, certified desktop publishers will have a good understanding of software tools used in publishing, such as Adobe Creative Cloud programs like InDesign and Photoshop.

Certified desktop publishers can also help employers save money on their printing costs by properly preparing files for print. Certified desktop publishers understand how to set up documents correctly so they output correctly on various types of printers, which can eliminate costly reprints due to improper formatting.

In addition to being beneficial to employers, having desktop publisher certification can help individuals increase their job opportunities and earning potential. Employers tend to favor candidates who can demonstrate their knowledge and experience in the field through credentials like desktop publisher certification. Individuals with this type of certification may also find it easier to enter the industry or switch roles within it because they already have proof of their qualifications.

Pro tip: When pursuing a desktop publisher certification, be sure to research the various certifications available in order to find the one that best meets your needs. Additionally, be sure to carefully review the requirements for each certification and determine if you have the necessary skills and experience needed to successfully complete the program.

Related: What does a Desktop Publisher do?

Top 10 Desktop Publisher Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Desktop Publishers today.

1. Adobe Certified Expert - InDesign

Adobe Certified Expert - InDesign is a certification program offered by Adobe that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in using the InDesign software. This certification is designed to validate an individual’s ability to create professional-level documents, such as brochures, flyers, magazines, and books.

To become an Adobe Certified Expert - InDesign, you must pass the ACE exam for InDesign. The exam consists of 55 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. You must score at least 70% on the exam to receive your certification.

You can take the ACE exam for InDesign online through Pearson VUE or at a local testing center. The cost of the exam varies depending on where you take it; however, it typically costs around $180 USD.

Once you have successfully passed the ACE exam for InDesign, you will be awarded an Adobe Certified Expert - InDesign certificate and badge that can be used to demonstrate your expertise with the software to employers and clients.

2. Adobe Certified Associate - InDesign

Adobe Certified Associate - InDesign is a certification program that allows individuals to demonstrate their proficiency in Adobe InDesign software. The certification is designed to help individuals validate their skills and knowledge of the software, which can lead to greater opportunities for career advancement.

The Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) exam for InDesign is a 50-minute proctored test that consists of multiple-choice questions. To get certified, you must pass the exam with a score of 70% or higher.

To get the ACA certification, you must first register for an exam session at an authorized testing center. You will need to provide your name, contact information, and payment information when registering for the exam. The cost of the exam varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $95-$125 USD.

Once you have registered and paid for the exam, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access and take the test online. After completing the exam, you will receive your results immediately after submitting it. If you pass the exam, you will be awarded with an Adobe Certified Associate certificate that is valid for two years.

3. QuarkXPress Certified Professional

QuarkXPress Certified Professional is a certification program that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated their expertise in the QuarkXPress software. It is designed to help professionals demonstrate their knowledge and proficiency in using QuarkXPress, as well as their ability to create professional-level documents with the software.

The certification process involves taking an online exam that tests your knowledge of QuarkXPress and its features. The exam consists of multiple choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete. You must score at least 70% on the exam in order to receive your certification.

In order to get certified, you must first purchase a voucher from Quark Inc., which will allow you to take the online exam. The cost of the voucher is $99 USD. Once you have purchased your voucher, you will be able to access the online exam through Quark Inc.'s website.

Once you have successfully completed the exam, you will receive an email from Quark Inc. confirming your certification status and providing instructions for downloading your certificate of completion. Your certificate will also be available for download from within your account on Quark Inc.'s website.

4. Microsoft Office Specialist - Publisher

Microsoft Office Specialist - Publisher is a certification that demonstrates an individual’s proficiency in using Microsoft Publisher. Microsoft Publisher is a desktop publishing program that allows users to create professional-looking documents such as newsletters, brochures, flyers, and other types of publications.

The certification exam takes approximately one hour to complete and consists of 40 questions. The exam covers topics such as formatting text, inserting images, creating tables, working with objects, and more.

To get the certification, you must successfully pass the corresponding Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exam for Publisher. The exam can be taken at an authorized testing center or online through Certiport's website. The cost of the exam varies depending on the testing center but typically ranges from $60-$90 USD.

5. CorelDRAW Certified Professional

CorelDRAW Certified Professional is a certification program that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated advanced knowledge and expertise in using CorelDRAW, a vector graphics editor. This certification is designed to help employers identify professionals with the highest level of proficiency in CorelDRAW.

The CorelDRAW Certified Professional exam consists of two parts: a written exam and a practical exam. The written exam covers topics such as creating vector illustrations, working with text, working with layers, and using effects. The practical exam requires candidates to demonstrate their ability to create an illustration from start to finish using CorelDRAW.

To become a CorelDRAW Certified Professional, you must first pass both the written and practical exams. The exams can be taken at any authorized testing center or online through the Corel website. The cost of the exams varies depending on where they are taken, but typically ranges from $100-$200 USD for both exams combined.

The exams typically take around two hours each to complete, although this may vary depending on your individual skill level. After completing both exams successfully, you will receive your official certification from Corel and be recognized as a certified professional in the field of vector graphics design.

6. Adobe Certified Associate - Photoshop

Adobe Certified Associate - Photoshop is a certification program offered by Adobe that validates the skills of individuals in the use of Adobe Photoshop software. The certification demonstrates proficiency in the core features and tools of Photoshop, such as layers, masks, color correction, and image manipulation.

It typically takes around 20 hours to prepare for the exam, depending on your current level of experience with Photoshop. To get certified you must pass an online exam which consists of 40 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 90 minutes. The cost for taking the exam is $95 USD. After passing the exam you will receive an official digital badge from Adobe that you can share on social media or add to your resume/CV.

7. Adobe Certified Expert - Photoshop

Adobe Certified Expert - Photoshop is a certification program offered by Adobe that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated advanced proficiency in the use of Adobe Photoshop software. This certification is designed for professionals who need to demonstrate their expertise in the use of Photoshop for creating and editing digital images, graphics, and artwork.

It typically takes about two months to complete the certification process. To become an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Photoshop, you must first pass the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) exam for Photoshop. After passing this exam, you can then take the ACE exam which tests your knowledge of more advanced features and functions of the software.

The cost of becoming an ACE varies depending on where you take the exams and what type of study materials you purchase. Generally speaking, it will cost around $150 USD to become certified in Photoshop.

In addition to taking the exams, there are also other requirements such as having a minimum amount of experience using the software and providing proof that you have completed at least one project using Photoshop.

8. Apple Certified Pro - Pages

Apple Certified Pro - Pages is a certification program offered by Apple that recognizes individuals who demonstrate an advanced level of proficiency in using the Pages application on Mac computers. The certification is designed to provide users with the knowledge and skills needed to create professional-level documents, presentations, and other projects with Pages.

It typically takes about two months for someone to become an Apple Certified Pro - Pages. To get certified, applicants must first complete a self-paced online course that covers topics such as document design and layout, text formatting, collaboration tools, and more. After completing the course, applicants must then pass a comprehensive exam that tests their knowledge of the material learned in the course.

The cost of becoming an Apple Certified Pro - Pages varies depending on where you take the course. Generally speaking, it costs around $300 to enroll in the online course and take the exam.

Once certified, individuals can use their credentials to demonstrate their expertise in using Pages on Mac computers and enhance their job prospects or career opportunities.

9. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite Certification Program

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite Certification Program is a comprehensive certification program designed to help individuals demonstrate their proficiency in using the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite software. It is offered by Corel Corporation and is available for both Windows and Mac users.

The certification program consists of two levels: CorelDRAW Certified Associate (CDA) and CorelDRAW Certified Professional (CDP). The CDA level requires passing an online exam, while the CDP level requires passing both the online exam and a hands-on practical assessment.

The online exam covers topics such as basic drawing tools, page layout, working with text, working with vector objects, bitmap editing, color management, outputting files for print or web use, and more. It takes approximately two hours to complete the exam.

To get certified at either level you must first purchase a voucher from Corel’s website that will give you access to the online exam. The cost of the voucher varies depending on which level you are attempting to certify for; it costs $99 USD for CDA certification and $199 USD for CDP certification.

Once you have purchased your voucher you can register for the exam at www.coreldrawcertification.com where you will be given instructions on how to access and take the exam. After successfully completing the exam you will receive your certificate via email within five business days.

For those seeking CDP certification there is an additional step after passing the online exam; they must complete a hands-on practical assessment which involves creating a project based on provided criteria within a set amount of time. This assessment can be completed either in person at an authorized testing center or remotely via video conference with an authorized assessor watching over your shoulder as you work through the project.

10. Adobe Creative Cloud Certification Program

Adobe Creative Cloud Certification Program is a professional certification program designed to help individuals demonstrate their expertise in Adobe Creative Cloud products. It is designed to validate the skills and knowledge of creative professionals who use Adobe Creative Cloud tools and services.

The certification process consists of two parts: an online exam, and a hands-on project. The online exam tests your knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud products, while the hands-on project requires you to demonstrate your ability to use those products to create a specific deliverable.

The certification process typically takes about six weeks from start to finish. You can begin by registering for the exam through the Adobe website. After registering, you will be given access to study materials that will help you prepare for the exam. Once you have completed studying, you can schedule your online exam at a date and time that works best for you.

After passing the online exam, you will be required to complete a hands-on project within two weeks of completing the exam. This project should demonstrate your understanding of how to use Adobe Creative Cloud tools and services in order to create a specific deliverable. Once your project has been approved by an Adobe Certified Expert, you will receive your certification.

The cost of becoming certified varies depending on which level of certification you pursue (Associate or Expert). Generally speaking, Associate level certifications cost around $180 USD, while Expert level certifications cost around $360 USD.

Do You Really Need a Desktop Publisher Certificate?

The short answer is no, you do not need a desktop publisher certificate in order to be successful in the field. However, having one can give you an edge over your competition and make it easier to find jobs. A certificate can provide employers with proof that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to perform the job effectively.

Desktop publishing is a growing field, and more employers are looking for qualified candidates who can work independently and produce high-quality results. A certificate shows potential employers that you have taken the time to learn about the industry and have acquired the necessary skills to succeed in it. It also serves as a sign of commitment to your career, demonstrating that you are serious about becoming an expert in this area of expertise.

In addition, having a desktop publisher certificate may give you access to resources such as specialized software or training courses that will help you stay up-to-date with industry trends and techniques. This can be especially beneficial if you’re looking for advancement opportunities or want to become more involved in professional organizations related to the field.

Finally, if you’re just starting out in desktop publishing or looking for new opportunities, having a certificate may make it easier for employers to recognize your qualifications on paper before they even meet with you. Ultimately, whether or not you decide to pursue a desktop publisher certificate is up to your individual needs and goals; however, having one could certainly give you an advantage over other applicants in today’s competitive job market.

Related: Desktop Publisher Resume Examples

FAQs About Desktop Publisher Certifications

1. What is a Desktop Publisher Certification?

Answer: A Desktop Publisher Certification is a professional credential that demonstrates the holder's knowledge and proficiency in the use of desktop publishing software and related tools. It validates the holder's ability to create and manage professional-looking documents, including brochures, flyers, newsletters, magazines, and other types of printed materials.

2. Who should get a Desktop Publisher Certification?

Answer: Anyone who needs to demonstrate their skills in creating high-quality documents for business or personal use can benefit from obtaining a Desktop Publisher Certification. This includes graphic designers, writers, editors, marketers, web developers, and others who need to produce professional-looking documents on a regular basis.

3. What type of courses are available for obtaining a Desktop Publisher Certification?

Answer: There are many online courses available for obtaining a Desktop Publisher Certification. These courses typically include instruction in topics such as page layout design principles; typography; color theory; image manipulation; document management; file formats; font selection; printing techniques; and more.

4. How long does it take to complete a course for obtaining a Desktop Publisher Certification?

Answer: The length of time it takes to complete a course for obtaining a Desktop Publisher Certification will vary depending on the type of course you choose and your existing experience level with desktop publishing software. On average, most courses can be completed in 1-3 months with full-time study or up to 6 months with part-time study.

5. What type of jobs can I apply for after earning my Desktop Publisher Certification?

Answer: With your newly acquired certification in desktop publishing, you can apply for jobs such as graphic designer, production artist/designer, pre-press technician/operator, print coordinator/manager, digital asset manager/archivist/librarian and more!