Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) is a family of services and applications that is used by subscribers for video editing, graphic design, photography, and web development. Some of the most popular apps available through Adobe are Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, InDesign, and After Effects. Those who know how to work with one or more Adobe apps can apply these skills to a range of creative projects such as designing book covers and page layouts, creating banner ads, editing photos, and creating websites and videos. Studying Adobe CC in a certificate program or pursuing certification is an excellent way to become familiar with this suite of creative tools and use it in a professional setting.
Noble Desktop: Adobe Creative Cloud Bootcamp
Key Information: Adobe Creative Cloud Bootcamp is a project-based course thatprepares students to pursue various career options in web design, video editing, graphic design, or motion graphics. It takes 102 hours to complete this program. Tuition is $4,195. Payment plans and financing options are available. This program is taught in the live online format. A free course retake for up to a full year is offered to all students; some or all of this bootcamp can be retaken during this time. There are no course prerequisites.
In Adobe Creative Cloud Bootcamp, students work with Adobe’s most popular applications. This intensive program comprises several bootcamp, each covering a specific Adobe skill. Instruction is provided on working with vector graphics to create icons and logos in the Photoshop Bootcamp. Students explore working with page layouts for web and print publications during the Illustrator Bootcamp. The After Effects and Premiere Pro Bootcamps cover skills like using moving graphics in animation and video editing. The final bootcamp, the Figma Bootcamp, teaches participants how to work with user interface and user experience design, as well as how to design clickable prototypes.
Tuition to this hands-on bootcamp includes more than live training. Students also have access to supplemental materials both during and after the course to help reinforce design concepts and ensure learning continues after class ends. All participants receive a verified digital certificate of completion upon graduation.Â
Lumenbrite Training: Premiere Pro Training: Bootcamp
Key Information: Premiere Pro Training: Bootcamp is a beginner-level course that prepares students to work with Adobe Premiere Pro. It takes five full days to complete this program. Tuition is $1,995. This class is taught on Zoom and provides learners with live online instruction. As a prerequisite, students should have basic Mac or Windows computer skills.
Premiere Pro Training: Bootcamp begins by providing students with a foundation in Premiere Pro before progressing into intermediate-level instruction. Students learn how to edit video with three-point editing techniques and incorporate audio, video effects, and transitions into video content. Instruction is provided on importing and exporting video to various media platforms such as broadcast and the web. Participants learn how to create credits and titles, work with animation, and process image formats like Photoshop and Illustrator files into videos. Coursework also covers editing audio tracks and adding background music to videos.Â
A range of time-saving techniques and workflows are explored during this bootcamp. Students use Dynamic Link with After Effects and Media Encounter with Audition. Advanced video editing skills are also taught, like performing slip-and-slide edits. By the end of this bootcamp, those enrolled will be familiar with using Lemetri Color for color correction, as well as techniques for audio sweetening and correction. Tuition includes more than Adobe-authorized training; students also earn an Adobe nationally recognized certificate, are invited to VIP Lumenbrite events and seminars, and receive discounts on Adobe MAX.
The Academy: Adobe Training Boot Camp Certification
Key Information: Adobe Training Boot Camp Certification is available from The Academy in a range of Adobe CC apps such as Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Lightroom, Illustrator, and InDesign. Each skills class can be completed separately. This training is available in-person in Dallas and live online. Tuition for The Academy classes run between $795 and $993, and learners can select one or more courses as they see fit for studies. These can be combined into a comprehensive program that prepares participants to work with various design-related tools and apps. This program offers a money-back guarantee; if students aren’t completely satisfied with the program after their first day of training, they can receive a full refund. Course duration depends on the specific Adobe courses the student selects. Prerequisites for each course also vary; see the provider for additional information.
Adobe Training Boot Camp Certification courses teach participants to use Adobe CC to approach real-world creative challenges and complete task-based exercises. The Photoshop course provides two days of instruction on working with the Photoshop interface, retouching photos, cropping images, and adjusting tone and color. Instruction is also offered on creating and manipulating text in Photoshop. The Beginner-Level InDesign class takes just over five hours to complete and offers students instruction on creating newsletters, brochures, books, and magazines. Students also customize the InDesign workspace and learn how to export and print their work.Â
The Adobe Lightroom course requires approximately 3.5 hours to complete and teaches students how to organize, edit, and export photographs, as well as a range of techniques to more effectively use this app. In the Dreamweaver skills class, participants spend about two hours. Those enrolled learn how to embed audio and video content without relying on a plug-in. They also explore input field types, structural tags, and canvas elements.
FAQ for Adobe Certificates
What is the Difference Between a Certificate and a Certification?
Adobe CC training is available in a variety of formats. Certificates and certifications are two types of training you may consider if you want to learn to work with one or more Adobe apps. Certificates are generally in-depth programs that teach students how to work with Adobe. Some certificates are available live online, and others require in-person study. You can enroll in a certificate program focusing entirely on After Effects or opt for one covering several popular Adobe apps such as InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. The length of a certificate program can vary; some take a full week to complete, whereas others are broader in scope and offer several months of hands-on training. Depending on the course scope and educational provider, cost can range from under $1,000 to more than $10,000. Certificate study can also include additional learning incentives such as one-on-one mentoring or professional development help with resume workshops, job interview prep, and portfolio assistance. If you successfully complete coursework, you’re given a certificate.
Certification, on the other hand, requires that you sign up for an exam, pay a fee, and pass the test. These exams aren’t affiliated with any one educator or school; instead, they’re offered by a third party, which makes them an industry-recognized measure of your Adobe skills with a specific application rather than a subjective measure.
The Adobe Certified Professional test prepares you to work with Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Dreamweaver, or another Adobe app. While no formal studying requirements are required for these exams, it is suggested that those wishing to sit for the exam have 150 hours of hands-on experience using the app they are tested on to prepare. Although some learners opt to enroll in a formal course to study, others rely on their prior educational and work training instead and prepare independently. To pass the 50-minute exam, you must demonstrate that you can effectively apply Adobe skills in a professional setting. If you pass the exam, you’re awarded a certification in that app.
Should I Pursue a Certificate or a Certification?
Deciding whether to pursue Adobe certification or certificate study is an important choice you may need to make if you’re looking to take your Adobe skills to the next level. Figuring out which option is better for you is likely to depend on several factors. If you use Adobe in a professional setting such as at your current job, or are looking to acquire advanced Illustrator training to pursue a new career path, certificates can provide you with the necessary training to do so. If you didn’t attend college, or if your college major was not design-focused, certification can offer a relatively short and intensive study regimen that teaches you an Adobe app in just weeks or months. Whereas college can take four or more years and can cost more than $36,000 per year, certificates cost just a fraction and can be completed around work schedules. Additionally, the career support and professional development services some certificate programs offer can incentivize professionals to choose this learning path.
If you have a strong background working with one or more Adobe apps or studied them in college, you may not need to enroll in a formal course. Instead, certification may be a better way to show you’re InDesign or Premiere Pro skills. Whether or not an employer requires applicants to have Adobe certification, the time spent preparing for the exam goes toward making you a more competitive job applicant and well-rounded designer. The skills and knowledge you acquire through study are transferable and can be applied to a range of professional roles. Since Adobe certification isn’t affiliated with any school, it’s a universally recognized credential showing you have mastered an Adobe app and can use it in a professional setting.
Do I Need to Become Certified to Find a Job?
Because all employers have different expectations, it’s important to research the job you’re applying for to see if they require candidates to have Adobe certification. If this is expected of candidates, then it’s essential that you earn this credential to apply for that job. While most employers don’t specifically ask for Adobe certification, they commonly expect applicants to demonstrate their Adobe training through their professional portfolio, resume, or cover letter.Â
If you didn’t have the chance to learn Adobe apps like Premiere Pro or Photoshop in college and need them for a job, completing a certificate program or studying for certification is an excellent way to acquire this training. Certificates require that you complete weeks or months of hands-on training in one or more Adobe apps, which is time invested into becoming a more competitive job applicant. Similarly, the preparation involved to pass an Adobe certification exam is inherently valuable because it helps you learn this tool and use it for various tasks. Employers will likely appreciate the time you invested studying because it shows you are dedicated to learning Adobe and are motivated to acquire the necessary training. If you are competing against other applicants for a job, having a certificate or certification in Adobe can help set you apart and make you a more competitive candidate.
What Certificate Program is Right for Me?
Once you’ve decided you want to pursue a certificate in Adobe, the next step is choosing the class and learning environment that’s best for you. Since a range of learning options are available in-person and online, selecting the best match for your learning needs can depend on what type of learner you are, your current schedule, and what you hope to do with your Adobe training.
Which is Better: In-Person or Online Classes?
If you consider yourself an extroverted learner who thrives in the traditional classroom learning environment, in-person Adobe coursework is a great way to study. Participants receive hands-on instruction from a teacher with real-world Adobe experience. This interactive training allows you to ask any questions you have the moment they arise and receive immediate clarification. In addition to the support of an instructor, you also have the benefit of learning alongside a cohort of students, which can provide a sense of community. One important consideration with in-person coursework is that it often occurs in or near a major city like Dallas. If you don’t have reliable transportation or live far from a training facility, this type of study may not be possible. Also, in-person study can require a greater financial investment than remote coursework due to travel-related expenses such as gas, tolls, or parking.
Live online certificates are a good alternative if you still want to study Adobe in real-time but don’t want to leave the comfort of your home or office. These courses provide the same quality of hands-on training as in-person study. You have access to a live instructor who’s available to provide individualized support and even share your screen if you give them permission. Because all coursework is completed remotely using Zoom or a similar teleconferencing platform, you will never have to waste time sitting in rush-hour traffic in Dallas or searching for a parking spot. Since live online Adobe classes still require you to attend regularly scheduled meetings, you may have to take time off work or rearrange your schedule to accommodate your studies. For this reason, live online training can be challenging for those with full-time jobs or busy travel schedules.
Which is Better: Live Online or Asynchronous Classes?
Two types of Adobe training are available within the online learning environment: live online and asynchronous. Live online classes take place synchronously. They provide participants with real-time access to an instructor. You have the opportunity to ask questions when presented with complicated material and receive an answer on the spot. Live online coursework can be completed from any location with an internet connection, which makes it a great training format for those who want to learn Adobe in real-time without having to commute to class. Although this type of coursework is often more expensive than self-paced material, it provides a supportive, interactive learning environment where you can connect with a teacher and other learners.Â
Studying Adobe asynchronously is the most flexible way to learn to work with these applications. Coursework is pre-recorded and can be accessed online from any location. You can opt to study a specific Adobe app like After Effects for an entire weekend or spend just fifteen minutes a night after work learning it. Some asynchronous material is short such as five-minute YouTube clips that teach you how to create PDFs from InDesign documents, whereas other content is longer and more involved and may take hours or days to complete. Various on-demand content is available such as online tutorials, quizzes, learning modules, and videos. Unlike live Adobe training, where the instructor sets the class pace, you are in charge of your learning speed with asynchronous material. Since the content was recorded earlier, you can pause, rewind, or even rewatch an entire lesson to maximize retention.
When deciding whether on-demand content is a good option for you, it’s important to remember that you won’t have access to an instructor. This means that you will need to find answers to any questions you have on your own. This is why asynchronous Adobe content is most suited for self-motivated learners who thrive learning independently. It can also be challenging to fully grasp advanced Adobe skills through on-demand coursework since you don’t have a teacher’s or other students’ support. This is why some learners begin their Adobe studies with self-paced material and then migrate to more structured, live coursework for advanced Adobe training. When selecting asynchronous Adobe material, it’s essential to make sure that which you choose was recorded recently. Since some of Adobe’s most popular applications, like Photoshop and Illustrator, have been around for years, some online content is dated and may reflect earlier versions of the app or dated best practices. This is why it’s essential to research the provider and read student reviews before selecting asynchronous training material.