Top Graphic Design Certificates & Certifications Online

Obtaining a certificate in graphic design is an effective method of receiving industry training and building proficiency in graphic design skills and concepts.

Pursuing a certification is a means to demonstrate such skills to potential employers, putting into your hand an official document that verifies your skill set has been tested by an official organization and deemed satisfactory, providing employers with tangible proof of your graphic design credentials. Both of these options are excellent ways to improve your career prospects, whether you’re looking to start a new career or looking for a boost to your current salary numbers. Data from the Bureau of Labor suggests that holding a certification factors into salary numbers in just about every field, with workers holding a certification commanding higher wages than their non-certified counterparts. While the differences in salary numbers are not as extreme in graphic design as they are in other fields, a certification program can offer a quick route to negotiating better pay.

Some certification programs also offer access to exclusive online resources. For example, Adobe, the software company responsible for the most commonly-used graphic design tools, offers a certification that comes with access to training materials, beta software releases, and support forums.

Noble Desktop: Graphic Design Certificate

Key Information:$2,995; 84 Hours (1-month full-time or 3 months part-time); free retake policy; six 1-on-1 mentoring sessions; conducted via Zoom; certificate program approved by New York State Department of Education

This crash course certificate program from Noble Desktop, a leading New York City design school specializing in graphic design, web design, and user experience design, offers an overview of fundamental graphic design concepts like typography, color, composition, and design theory, as well as the technical training in the core programs used by graphic designers to put these principles into practice, namely the Adobe Creative Cloud which includes Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. Learn how to edit and retouch photos with Photoshop, create vector graphics with Illustrator, and design page layouts with InDesign. Completion of the program results in the award of a New York State-licensed certificate.

Through a combination of live online classes with small classrooms of roughly 8-15 students and six 1-on-1 mentoring sessions, this class ensures that you’ll get personalized attention to best facilitate your own learning goals. You can even create a custom schedule and cover the subject material in any order you would like.

This certificate program culminates with the creation of a portfolio of projects including social media graphics, logos, and cover art. This portfolio is a valuable resource that greatly increases your hireability by creating a reference bank that demonstrates your skills to potential employers.

Noble Desktop: Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp

Key Information:$975; 18 Hours (3 days or 6 nights); free retake; basic computer skills required; conducted via Zoom

While the graphic design certificate from Noble Desktop offers a comprehensive approach to all of the tools necessary for a career in graphic design, participants also have the option to pursue training devoted to the individual components of the full program. While completion of the Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp will not result in a full graphic design certificate, participants will receive a signed certificate testifying to skills with Adobe Illustrator.

Illustrator is a design program used for editing vector graphics, which are made out of a set of coordinates rather than pixels. Vector graphics are scalable to any size with no loss, which makes them well-suited for things like brand logos that will be displayed in multiple contexts and at different sizes, from business cards to billboards and everything in between. In this class, unlock Illustrator’s capabilities for creating and manipulating vector graphics to complete design projects like brand logos, distinctive icons, graphics for packaging, and stylized typography.

Create complex shapes out of basic shapes that are easier to draw

In addition to the 18 hours of training in a small classroom of roughly 15 students, this course includes a bonus 1-on-1 private training session with the instructor where you can review any course concepts or skills or to get insight on applying the course content to your specific project.

Noble Desktop: Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp

Key Information:$975; 18 Hours (3 days or 6 nights); free retake; basic computer skills required; conducted via Zoom

Noble Desktop’s bootcamps offer a great way to customize your certificate training by focusing on the programs where you need the most guidance. Photoshop is the most commonly-used graphic design software, and the only non-negotiable component of the Adobe Certified Professional certificate in Visual Design. 

Improve photos and create graphics in Photoshop, with techniques for removing unwanted elements from photos, target-selecting specific areas and components, and preparing files for print and web applications. These techniques are honed through a range of projects that will ask participants to use Photoshop’s layers, masks, and filters to edit, correct, and combine images into a final product.

Participants are awarded with a signed certificate of completion testifying to their mastery of Photoshop. The truly ambitious may use this certificate program as a start in pursuing a certification somewhere down the line. For a quick refresher before certification, Noble’s 1-year free retake policy allows participants to access any part of the course for free to refresh the materials or to gain some additional practice. 

NYC Career Centers: Graphic Design Portfolio Bootcamp

Key Information:$1,295; 30 hours (5 weeks of 1-day or 2 nights); free retake; conducted via Zoom; requires strong prior working knowledge in Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator

The capstone of the full graphic design certification, this project-based course is an opportunity to get hands-on experience in real design projects. Because the course curriculum is designed around the completion of projects rather than on the delivery of course content, participants can expect to put in additional time outside of class hours to develop a strong portfolio.

Assuming knowledge of Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, this class focuses less on how to use the software and more on how to design, providing an opportunity to learn design concepts and put them into practice while creating a portfolio of digital and print design projects, including logos, social media graphics, event posters, album covers, and stationery. This portfolio is a way to tangibly demonstrate the quality of the work you can produce, and is absolutely essential to securing work in the field of graphic design. They also provide an opportunity to not just create work, but know how to talk about it effectively. Because the hiring process can involve not only showing projects but talking about them cogently, it is important to learn how to speak about your work and how to receive, evaluate, and incorporate critiques.

The portfolio is more than just an opportunity to build a reference of projects, however. It is through the process of creating that participants will have an opportunity to learn through practical experience. The projects are intended to teach elements of design, including graphic design concepts, processes, and principles. 

Digital Workshop Center: Design Fundamentals for Beginners

Key Information:$289; 7 hours; small class size; free retake (1 year); basic computer skills required; conducted via Zoom

This orientation to digital design from Digital Workshop Center is designed to provide novice designers with foundational knowledge in the basic principles of digital design. While many classes teach technical skills in a specific program like Photoshop or InDesign, this class focuses on fundamental design principles and design theory. Specific programs may be necessary for executing on a creative vision, but developing that vision in the first place must come from a strong understanding of principles of composition and design.

Participants will leave this 7-hour program with a strong vocabulary of industry vernacular and the ability to stay on top of design trends and apply them to projects. Moreover, Digital Workshop Center provides a signed certificate of completion attesting to completion and understanding of the material.

Lumenbrite Training: InDesign Bootcamp

Key Information:$1,595; 4 days; basic computer skills required; conducted via Zoom

This comprehensive training class builds a complete foundation that starts at a complete beginner level and works up to intermediate mastery of Adobe InDesign. As an Adobe Authorized Training, the course awards each participant who completes the course with an Adobe Nationally Recognized Course Certificate.

Course content covers a combination of both technical and practical workflow skills. Most of the curriculum is devoted to practicing with InDesign’s tools for working with text and graphics, using the program to create professional layouts in a variety of modes, from a business card to a book. These projects are focused on smaller components like properly creating flowing text and incorporating graphic frames to import images. Also considered are a battery of efficiency tools, including setting up quick keys and building a bank of master page, paragraph, and character styles to swiftly build a layout for a new project.

FAQ for Graphic Design Certificates

What is the Difference Between a Certificate and a Certification?

A certificate program is primarily focused on delivering instruction and training, while a certification program primarily aims to assess skill proficiencies, rather than just provide training. Certificate programs are designed to provide short-term training related to a specific skill, preparing participants for a particular career. The certificate is a formal recognition that this training has been administered and completed.

In contrast, a certification demonstrates mastery of the skills, knowledge, and ability to perform a specific job or work with specific software. Instead of simply training and building a skill set, a certification program is a means of testing that skill set and demonstrating mastery. While a certificate is generally awarded upon finishing a training course, a certification typically involves rigorous assessment criteria; earning a certification necessitates passing a standardized exam to validate and affirm mastery of the subject matter.

Should I Pursue a Certificate or a Certification?

Before enrolling in a program, it is important to assess personal motivations for pursuing a certificate or certification. Because a certificate program typically provides training whereas a certification is a means of verifying skills, they play different roles in career advancement.

As a method for training and for acquiring new skills, a certificate offers a cheap and effective method for building the fundamental skills necessary for meeting hiring requirements. This is especially true of individuals who are pursuing a career in graphic design without prior work experience in the field or without a related degree. From those just entering the workforce to those in the middle of a career change, employees who need a fast, short-term training program would benefit from a certificate.

Certification, on the other hand, would be a more appropriate path for established graphic designers. A certification, which gives a tangible credential to officially verify an employee’s skills, can open up opportunities to boost earning potential and to advance in a career path, especially when looking to apply for more specialized roles. 

Do I Need to Become Certified to Find a Job?

While a certificate can provide a boost when looking for a job, there are few graphic design positions where a certificate or certification is a formal requirement. The numbers from the Bureau of Labor show that certification numbers are lower in arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations compared to other professional fields.

So while a certificate may not be a requirement in most cases, there are still a couple of reasons that a certificate or certification can be helpful during a job search. A certificate can be especially helpful for those in the middle of a career change or who are pursuing a career in graphic design after earning a degree in an unrelated field. Without the prerequisite schooling or work experience as a graphic designer, a certificate can be a fast and efficient way to meet the hiring requirements of a position. Even for those more immediately qualified for a graphic design job, a certificate or a certification can be a good way to stand out from other employees by demonstrating a commitment to your career. Whether as a tool to make a resume pop or as a tool in negotiating salary numbers, the extra credential may make a difference.

What Certificate Program is Right for Me?

No matter which program you pursue, be sure to pay close attention to the course content and to the mode of instruction, and to the reputation of the organization providing the training.

Because graphic design careers demand proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud programs as essential tools of the trade, certificate programs are a great way to train in specific software. Because the programs are used for different purposes—Photoshop for image editing, InDesign for page layouts, and Illustrator for vector graphics—the most prominent software will vary depending on the job. However, at least basic knowledge of all of these programs is recommended, so identifying any weaknesses with Creative Cloud software can be a good place to start when considering certificate programs.

In addition to course content, the major deciding factor will be the mode of instruction. Certificate programs operate either as both in-person and online classes, with each modality offering access to a professional instructor who can help you develop essential skills in a short timeframe. To learn more about the affordances of each type of class, and to determine which is better suited to your needs, continue reading below.

Which is Better: In-Person or Online Classes

Certificate programs are a favored option for acquiring new skills because they are faster and more efficient than traditional schooling, but still provide most of the same benefits of the traditional education model. Regardless of the modality, in-person and online classes through a certificate program will provide quality instruction from a trained industry professional who can interact in real-time to answer any questions, troubleshoot specific issues as they arise, and provide directed interventions to match the specific needs of the classroom at that moment.

While any class will have this core benefit of training from an industry professional, the secondary factors often determine whether an in-person or an online class is a preferable option. The greatest strength, and paradoxically the greatest potential problem point, of an in-person class is the physical location of the class. For communities with strong local design scenes, in-person classes are an excellent way to leverage local resources and interface with the local industry, making connections with potential peers and employers. The major downside is that not every city has a vibrant design scene, and the in-person training options may not be as robust, or may involve a significant commute that adds additional time to the commitment.

Online classes are an excellent way of circumventing the geographic difficulties that can arise through in-person instruction. Online classes are favored primarily because of their flexibility, in terms of both the choice of organization and the schedule. By tapping into sources outside of your local options, you’re opening the possibility of interfacing with prestigious training organizations from around the world. If scheduling around a busy work and home life is an issue, online classes typically provide more flexible scheduling options while also obviating the need to waste time during a commute. 

Which is Better: Live Online or Asynchronous Classes?

Online classes offer flexibility not only with location and scheduling, but also even incorporate a degree of flexibility into the mode of instruction. The two main types of virtual classes are a live online class, whereby participants tune into a live feed and interact with their instructor in real-time, and an asynchronous class, whereby the content is provided for participants to review and work on at their own pace. Rather than a single, live classroom environment, students in an asynchronous class interact with content like recorded lectures, discussion forums, and working on guided assignments.

Live online classes would be the preferable option for those seeking consistent, real-time interaction with a trained professional. While this professional will still be in charge of designing the content and providing guidance and evaluation in an asynchronous class, it is only through a live online class that unconstrained, in-the-moment interactions with an instructor are possible. If, for instance, you’re having difficulties with a specific assignment, a live instructor can immediately help to troubleshoot and guide you through the process at the exact moment that trouble arises.

Asynchronous classes are a strong option for those with busy schedules and who need additional flexibility beyond the blocks of time scheduled for a live class. Since many who choose to pursue certificates are simultaneously working or studying full-time, finding the time to commit to a regular schedule can be challenging, even when accounting for scheduling options like night and weekend classes. An asynchronous class provides an opportunity to fully take control of your own schedule, which can be especially important for those working irregular hours, and to work at your own pace. This does require a degree of self-directed discipline, though many who elect to seek a certificate are self-directed enough to make this work.