Frequently asked questions

Q. What is Certiport’s Adobe Certified Professional U.S. National Championship?

A. The 2023 Adobe Certified Professional U.S. National Championship presented by Certiport is a national competition that identifies and recognizes the next generation of design professionals using Adobe® design software. The U.S. National Championship Round, from June 26 – 28, 2023 in Orlando, FL, will bring together all the top U.S. student designers to compete in the final design challenge. Competitors will be given instructions, project requirements, and assets to complete a real-world design challenge. Students will use Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign (or their chosen combination of the three) to complete the design challenge.

Q. Who can participate in the Championship?

A. Candidates must be students who are enrolled in an approved, degree-seeking academic institution recognized by the state in which it operates to be eligible to participate in Certiport’s Adobe Certified Professional U.S. National Championship. Candidates must be 13 to 22 years of age (as of June 15 of the competition year). Designers participating in the U.S. National Championship must be able to provide proof of age and student status upon request. Employees of Adobe, Certiport, their affiliates, subsidiaries, parent and related companies and agencies, and those individuals living in the same household as employees are not eligible. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. By taking an eligible Exam and entering this Championship, participants agree to abide by all terms of these Official Rules.

Q. How do I participate in the Championship?

A. There are two steps to qualify. First, a designer must pass one of the following exams by the end of the qualifying period: Adobe Certified Professional Visual Communication using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Certified Professional in Print & Digital Media, Publication using Adobe InDesign, or Adobe Certified Professional in Graphic Design & Illustration using Adobe Illustrator. Second, a designer must also enter an original design project with accompanying source files (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and/or InDesign) to the submission form on the competition website. There are two qualification periods: the Fall and Spring. At the conclusion of each qualification period, competitors with the top design projects will be invited to compete at the Adobe Certified Professional U.S. National Championship.

Q. When are the qualification periods?

A. The Fall Qualifier begins on June 15th and runs through the third week in December. The Spring Qualifier begins the day after the Fall Qualifier concludes and is open until the second week in May. After each qualification period ends, competitors and their proctors will receive an official invitation notifying them of their qualification and how to register for the competition.

Q. How many times can I take an Adobe Certified Professional exam for the Championship?

A. There is no limit to the number of times a candidate may sit for any eligible exam if he/she is not in violation of the Adobe Certified Professional exam retake policy. Candidates who fail to abide by the Adobe Certified Professional exam retake policy will be immediately disqualified from the Championship. Certiport retains the right to disqualify candidates for appropriate cause.

Q. Where can I take an eligible exam?

A. Eligible exams can be taken at any Certiport Authorized Testing Center.

Q. What happens at the U.S. National Championship?

A. The competitors who qualified will get to compete with other candidates from around the U.S. to be named the U.S. National Championship. The competitors will be given 8 hours to design a project that meets the requirements of the prompt. Competitors will be given a computer, keyboard, mouse, and Wacom tablet to use during the competition. Each competitor will get to keep the Wacom tablet after they finish competing. In addition to the competition, there will be activities, a student lounge, and food for the competitors to enjoy while at the Championship.

Q. How much does it cost to attend the U.S. National Championship?

A. For each competitor and their one sponsored chaperone, there is no registration fee. If competitors choose to bring additional guests, there is an additional fee. Competitors are also required to cover their own hotel and airfare to arrive at the event.

Q. Is the exam at the Adobe Certified Professional U.S. National Championship the same as the certification exam?

A. No, the U.S. National Championship is quite different. Designers create a project for a non-profit client. This means that competitors will use the skills from the certification exam and apply them in a real-world design scenario.

Q. How are the Adobe Certified Professional U.S. National Champions selected?

A. United States champions will attend the U.S. National Championship round and participate in a design competition using Adobe® design software, where first, second, and third place Champions will be identified based on an evaluation of the contestant’s design work. All participants in the U.S. National Championship Round will be responsible for preparing themselves to compete in their respective exams. Certiport, Adobe, and/or Certiport’s partners may provide competitors with preparation materials to help facilitate each student’s training on the software.

Q. What are the prizes and scholarships awarded?

A. All competitors will receive a Wacom tablet during the competition. The top three students will win a medal, certificate of achievement, an all-expenses-paid invitation to the World Championship, and a scholarship of the following amounts:

  • 1st place – $3,000
  • 2nd place – $2,000
  • 3rd place – $1,000

Q. What happens after the Adobe Certified Professional National Championship?

A. The top three competitors are given an invitation to attend Certiport’s Adobe Certified Professional World Championship. The finalist and their chaperone (1) will receive an all-expenses paid trip to compete at the World Championship. The finalist will compete against national champions from around the world to win the title of World Champion, more scholarships, a trophy, and a medal.

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