Top 10 Technical Designer Certifications

Certifications are important for technical designers in the job market because they demonstrate a certain level of expertise and training. Certifications provide employers with a way to verify that a candidate has the necessary skills and knowledge to perform the job requirements. They also provide evidence that the designer is up-to-date on industry standards and best practices. Furthermore, certifications can give employers assurance that the designer is committed to their profession, as well as demonstrate their ability to remain current in an ever-changing field. Finally, certifications can be used as a way to differentiate one candidate from another when competing for a position.

This article reviews some of the most beneficial certifications for Technical Designers and explains how they can help to advance a Technical Designer's career.

What are Technical Designer Certifications?

Technical designer certification is a type of professional credential that demonstrates an individual's knowledge and proficiency in the field of technical design. Technical designers are responsible for creating and developing products, processes, systems, and services that meet customer requirements. These professionals apply principles of engineering, manufacturing, and problem-solving to ensure the successful completion of projects. Technical designer certification validates an individual's ability to analyze complex technical problems and develop effective solutions.

By obtaining a technical designer certification, individuals can demonstrate their expertise in the field and distinguish themselves from other job seekers. It also provides employers with assurance that candidates have the necessary knowledge and skills to be successful in their roles. Additionally, it can open up more opportunities for career advancement as certified professionals tend to be more likely to receive promotions or salary increases than non-certified ones. Finally, some employers may offer tuition reimbursement or other incentives for employees who obtain technical designer certifications.

Pro Tip: Consider taking a technical designer certification course to help you stay up-to-date on the latest design trends and technologies. Having a certification can also demonstrate your expertise in the field and make you more attractive to potential employers.

Related: What does a Technical Designer do?

Top 10 Technical Designer Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Technical Designers today.

1. Certified Technical Designer (CTD)

Certified Technical Designer (CTD) is a professional certification program designed to recognize and validate the skills of experienced technical designers. This certification is offered by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).

The CTD program requires applicants to have at least three years of professional experience in interior design, as well as a minimum of two years of experience working with technical drawings. Applicants must also demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of building codes, materials, construction methods, and project management principles.

The CTD program consists of three parts: an online assessment, a written exam, and a portfolio review. The online assessment is taken first and consists of multiple-choice questions about interior design concepts. The written exam covers topics such as building codes, materials selection, space planning, lighting design, and more. Lastly, the portfolio review requires applicants to submit drawings that demonstrate their ability to create accurate technical drawings for interior spaces.

The entire process takes approximately six months from start to finish. The cost for the CTD program is $1,000 USD plus any applicable taxes or fees.

2. Certified User Experience Designer (CUXD)

Certified User Experience Designer (CUXD) is a professional certification that validates the skills and knowledge of user experience designers. The certification is offered by the Interaction Design Foundation, an international non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the practice of interaction design.

The CUXD certification requires a comprehensive understanding of user experience design principles, methods, and tools. It also requires a deep understanding of how to create effective user experiences across different platforms, from websites to mobile apps. To earn the certification, candidates must pass an online exam that tests their knowledge and skills in user experience design.

The exam takes about two hours to complete and consists of multiple-choice questions. The cost for taking the exam is $199 USD. Once you have passed the exam, you will receive your CUXD certificate and become a certified user experience designer.

3. Certified Design Thinking Professional (CDTP)

Certified Design Thinking Professional (CDTP) is a certification program offered by the Design Thinking Institute. It is designed to help professionals understand and apply design thinking principles and practices in their work. The program consists of a comprehensive online course, an in-person workshop, and a final exam.

The online course covers the fundamentals of design thinking, including the history and philosophy of design thinking, key concepts such as empathy and prototyping, and practical tools for applying design thinking to problem solving. The in-person workshop provides hands-on experience with the methods and tools covered in the online course. Participants will have the opportunity to practice their skills through group activities and discussions.

The CDTP certification requires approximately 40 hours of study time over four weeks. To get certified, participants must complete both the online course and in-person workshop, as well as pass a final exam with a score of 80% or higher.

The cost for the CDTP certification program is $1,295 USD. This includes access to all materials for both the online course and in-person workshop, as well as an official certificate upon successful completion of the program.

4. Certified Product Design Professional (CPDP)

Certified Product Design Professional (CPDP) is a certification program offered by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). It is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of professional excellence in product design. The CPDP certification demonstrates that an individual has the knowledge and skills necessary to develop successful products from concept to production.

The CPDP certification process takes approximately six months. To become certified, applicants must pass a written exam and submit a portfolio of their work for review by an ASME committee. The exam covers topics such as product design principles, materials selection, manufacturing processes, and quality control. The portfolio should include examples of the applicant’s work in product design, engineering drawings, manufacturing processes, and project management.

The cost of the CPDP certification program varies depending on the applicant’s experience level. For experienced professionals with more than five years of experience in product design, the cost is $750 USD. For those with less than five years of experience, the cost is $500 USD.

In addition to passing the written exam and submitting a portfolio for review, applicants must also complete 10 hours of continuing education each year to maintain their CPDP certification status.

5. Certified Interaction Designer (CID)

Certified Interaction Designer (CID) is a professional certification program designed to recognize the skills and knowledge of experienced interaction designers. Interaction Designers are responsible for creating user experiences that are intuitive, engaging, and delightful. The CID program is administered by the Interaction Design Foundation (IDF), an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the field of interaction design.

To become a Certified Interaction Designer, applicants must pass a rigorous exam that covers topics such as user research, usability testing, information architecture, visual design, prototyping, and more. The exam includes both multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions requiring written responses. The exam takes approximately three hours to complete and can be taken online or in person at IDF’s headquarters in Copenhagen.

The cost of taking the CID exam is $395 USD for members of the IDF and $495 USD for non-members. After passing the exam, applicants will receive their official CID certificate from the IDF.

6. Certified Visual Designer (CVD)

Certified Visual Designer (CVD) is a professional certification program offered by the International Association of Visual Designers (IAVD). It is designed to recognize the knowledge, skills and abilities of experienced visual designers. The CVD certification validates an individual’s expertise in visual design principles, techniques, tools and technologies.

To become certified, an individual must pass a comprehensive exam that covers topics such as typography, color theory, composition, layout, user experience design and more. The exam takes approximately three hours to complete and consists of multiple-choice questions and short answer questions.

To be eligible for the CVD exam, applicants must have at least two years of professional experience in visual design or related fields. In addition to this experience requirement, applicants must also submit a portfolio of their work that demonstrates their mastery of visual design principles.

The cost for taking the CVD exam varies depending on the country where it is taken. Generally speaking, it costs around $400 USD to take the exam in North America and Europe.

7. Certified Web Design Professional (CWDP)

Certified Web Design Professional (CWDP) is an industry-recognized certification program which provides web designers with the skills and knowledge to create professional, user-friendly websites. The certification is offered by the International Association of Web Professionals (IAWP) and is designed to demonstrate a web designer’s expertise in website design, development, and management.

To become certified, applicants must pass a comprehensive exam that covers topics such as HTML5/CSS3/Javascript, User Experience Design, Responsive Design, Accessibility & Usability Testing, Content Management Systems (CMS), Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and Project Management. The exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete.

To get started on the path to becoming CWDP certified, applicants must first register for an IAWP account. After registering for an account they can then purchase the CWDP study guide and take the online practice exam. Once they have completed both steps they can then schedule their official CWDP exam at a testing center near them.

The cost of becoming CWDP certified varies depending on how you choose to pursue your certification. The cost of purchasing the study guide and taking the online practice exam is $99 USD. The cost of taking the official CWDP exam is $250 USD plus any applicable taxes or fees associated with scheduling your test at a testing center near you.

8. Certified Mobile App Design Professional (CMADP)

Certified Mobile App Design Professional (CMADP) is a certification program offered by the International Association of Mobile Application Developers (IAMAD). The certification is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated proficiency in mobile app design and development.

The CMADP certification requires a minimum of two years of experience in mobile app design and development, as well as completion of an approved course. The course covers topics such as user experience design, interface design, usability testing, mobile platform development, and more.

The certification process takes approximately six to eight weeks to complete. During this time, applicants must submit their application materials and pass an online assessment. Once approved, applicants must complete the required coursework and pass a final exam. Upon successful completion of the exam, applicants will receive their CMADP certification.

The cost for the CMADP certification varies depending on the provider offering it. Generally speaking, it can range from $500 to $2,000 or more.

9. Certified Accessibility Specialist (CAS)

A Certified Accessibility Specialist (CAS) is a professional who has been trained and certified in the field of accessibility. This certification recognizes that the individual has achieved a certain level of knowledge and understanding of accessibility principles, regulations, and standards.

The CAS certification is offered through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). To become certified, individuals must complete an online course and pass an exam. The online course consists of modules covering topics such as web accessibility, assistive technology, universal design, and more. The exam tests the individual’s knowledge on these topics.

It typically takes between 10-20 hours to complete the online course and pass the exam. The cost for taking the exam is $295 USD for IAAP members or $395 USD for non-members.

10. Certified Usability Analyst (CUA)

A Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) is a professional who has been certified by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) as having demonstrated proficiency in usability engineering. The CUA certification is designed to recognize individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to effectively analyze user needs, design usable systems, and evaluate the usability of products and services.

It typically takes about 18 months to complete the requirements for becoming a CUA. To become a CUA, applicants must first demonstrate an understanding of basic ergonomics principles by passing an online exam administered by HFES. After passing this exam, applicants must demonstrate their ability to apply these principles in practice by completing at least three projects that involve usability engineering activities such as user interface design or usability testing. Applicants must also submit a portfolio detailing their experience with usability engineering activities.

The cost of becoming a CUA depends on several factors including the number of projects completed and how much time it takes to complete them. Generally speaking, the cost can range from $1,500-$3,000 USD depending on individual circumstances.

Do You Really Need a Technical Designer Certificate?

Whether or not you need a technical designer certificate depends on the type of work you are pursuing. If you are looking to enter the field of technical design, then having some sort of certification is likely a good idea. A certificate may demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job well. It also can give potential employers a sense of your commitment to the profession and show that you take your career seriously.

However, if you already have experience in the field, or if you simply want to pursue technical design as a hobby, then a certificate may not be necessary. In this case, it is important to recognize that many employers may still require some form of certification in order for you to land a job in technical design. Therefore, it would be wise to research what type of certifications are available and which ones employers value most highly before deciding whether or not it is worth investing time and money into obtaining one.

In conclusion, whether or not you need a technical designer certificate depends on your individual situation and goals. Take some time to weigh your options carefully before making any decisions about pursuing certification.

Related: Technical Designer Resume Examples

FAQs About Technical Designer Certifications

1. What is a Technical Designer Certification?

Answer: A Technical Designer Certification is a professional credential that demonstrates expertise in the design, development, and implementation of technical solutions. It validates a person’s knowledge and skills in the field of technical design.

2. How do I obtain a Technical Designer Certification?

Answer: To obtain a Technical Designer Certification, you must pass an exam administered by an accredited certification body such as CompTIA or Microsoft. The exam typically covers topics such as principles of design, user experience design, software engineering, system architecture, and project management.

3. What are the benefits of having a Technical Designer Certification?

Answer: Having a Technical Designer Certification can provide many benefits including increased job opportunities, higher salaries, better recognition from employers and peers, and enhanced credibility in the industry.

4. What is the cost of obtaining a Technical Designer Certification?

Answer: The cost of obtaining a Technical Designer Certification varies depending on the certification body and type of exam taken. Generally speaking, the cost for an exam ranges from $150 to $300 USD depending on which certification body you choose to take your exam through.

5. Are there any prerequisites for taking the Technical Designer Certification Exam?

Answer: Yes, some certifications may have prerequisites such as prior work experience or other certifications that must be completed before taking the exam. It is important to check with your chosen certification body to determine their specific requirements before taking any exams.