While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a higher-than-average growth rate for Film and Video Editors alone, Motion Graphics Artists, Animators, Marketers, and Content Developers are just a few other jobs where knowledge of video editing is an asset.
A video editing certificate is just one path to a career in the field, but it’s a popular one for good reasons. A certificate functions much like a college degree on an entry-level resume, demonstrating that an applicant has completed training in the skills and software necessary to perform the job well. However, a certificate program is attainable for a fraction of the investment of time and money compared to a four-year degree. On the other hand, video editing certifications can be great additions to the resumes of those who already have some experience or an internship, showcasing that the Video Editor is a verified expert in a particular editing software.
Noble Desktop: Video Editing Certificate
Key Information: The Video Editing Certificate offered by NY State-licensed technology training center Noble Desktop is available online or in-person in NYC for $2,995. Students may pay tuition via a 0% interest 12-month financing plan. The fee covers all curricula and supplementary materials, hands-on instruction by experienced industry experts, and one-on-one mentoring that students can use as assistance in career and job hunt preparation. You will need your own computer with a copy of Adobe Creative Cloud installed. If you need help, the team at Noble Desktop can assist in securing a free trial of the software required for the course.
You will learn all you need to know to thrive as an entry-level Video Editor in Noble’s comprehensive video editing program. The certificate of completion you earn in the program will tell hiring managers you’re highly trained and dedicated to success in the field. All of the projects you complete throughout the program will together form a demo reel that you can use to demonstrate your skills to prospective clients and future employers.
Through 78 hours of live online instruction, you will gain a thorough understanding of the workflows and applications necessary in video editing today. These include Adobe Premiere Pro, Audition, and After Effects. You will also learn the foundations of animation and motion graphics, including how to add animation to Photoshop or Illustrator files. By the time you complete this certificate program, you will know how to use Premiere Pro to manage and manipulate video and audio, clean up and mix audio in Audition, and create basic motion graphics and animations with After Effects.
Noble Desktop’s Video Editing Certificate features a customizable schedule, allowing you to complete the course in two months as a full-time student or four months as a part-time student. Both weekday and weekend classes are available, and if you miss one, you can make it up by watching a recording or taking advantage of Noble’s free option to retake the program or any part of it for up to a year. The class includes five units, which may be taken in the suggested order or as they fit into your schedule. This certificate program welcomes students at any level, with the only prerequisite being basic computer skills.
Noble Desktop: Motion Graphics Certificate
Key Information: Noble Desktop’s Motion Graphics Certificate provides the foundational education you need in video editing, motion graphics, and animation to help you get the entry-level job of your dreams. Tuition for the certificate program is $3,495 and may be paid via an installment plan or a 0% interest 12-month financing plan. In addition to 102 hours of live online instruction (also available in-person in NYC), Noble’s proven curricula, supplementary materials, and one-on-one mentoring that you can use as career coaching are all included in the price of the course. A prerequisite for this program is a working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. Basic design skills and some understanding of video timeline editing are recommended but not required.
The Motion Graphics Certificate program includes five modules which can be taken according to Noble’s recommended schedule or in the order of your preference. In the Premiere Pro Bootcamp unit, you will learn how to use the application to edit professional-quality video and manipulate audio, including music, voiceover, and dialogue. The Cinema 4D in After Effects unit will help you learn how to create 3D models, and you will become a pro in creating animations in the After Effects Bootcamp and After Effects Advanced modules.
Throughout this hands-on program, you will immediately put into practice the skills you learn from your live expert instructors by creating projects with the professional software you are mastering. The recommended final module is a portfolio-development bootcamp, where you will develop even more projects. By the time you finish the program, not only will you have a certificate of completion and a new skill set to list on your resume, but you will also have an impressive demo reel to show off your skills to your clients and employers.
Noble’s certificate program is uniquely flexible as a live online program, allowing students to take modules in their preferred order in either weekday or weeknight sessions. You can also choose your own pace, completing the program in four months as a part-time student or two months as a full-time student. And if you must miss a live class, you have options. You can either watch a recording to catch up or use Noble’s free retake option to attend another session of the same course. Or, if you need a refresher on a single topic or the whole program, the retake option allows you to redo the entire course or a single module within one year of your program start date.
NYC Career Centers: Video Editing and Motion Graphics Certificate
Key Information: NYC Career Centers offers this Video Editing and Motion Graphics Certificate program through its affiliate school, Noble Desktop. Both tech education and professional development schools are educational leaders in NYC, where they offer this certificate program in-person. Luckily for Dallas residents, the Video Editing and Motion Graphics Certificate is also available online for $4,995. The course features 126 hours of live, hands-on instruction in a uniquely flexible format. You may attend full-time weekday classes, completing the program in two months, or you can attend evening classes as a part-time student and finish in four months. This video editing and motion graphics program is beginner-friendly, with basic computer skills being the only prerequisite to enter the program.
The Video Editing and Motion Graphics Certificate features eight unique modules, all taught by industry experts passionate about supporting your learning journey. You may take these modules in their recommended order or approach them however they best fit within your schedule. Two of the modules focus on editing video with Premiere Pro, and two are on working with visual effects and motion graphics in After Effects. One unit covers Cinema 4D in After Effects, and another deep dives into audio editing in Audition.Â
The final two modules are portfolio bootcamps, one in video editing and the other in motion graphics. In these units, you will build demo reel portfolios showcasing the skills you learn throughout the program. Along with the many polished projects you’ll create throughout this hands-on program, these portfolios will showcase your creativity, hard work, and strong knowledge of the software you’ll need to thrive as a Video Editor or Motion Graphics Designer.
Tuition for the Video Editing and Motion Graphics Certificate covers Noble’s proven proprietary curricula and all supplementary materials. The program also includes one-on-one mentoring you can use as career preparation through coaching or resume assistance. A free retake option is another perk of this certificate program, allowing you to retake the entire course, a single module, or any individual class for one year. You must provide your own computer and install Adobe Creative Cloud before your first class date. Assistance is available to help you secure a free trial of the software if needed.
Dallas College: Audio Visual Specialist Certificate
Key Information: Dallas College, a network of seven independently accredited colleges in Dallas County, hosts the Audio Visual Specialist Certificate at their North Lake campus. The two-semester 28-credit program prepares graduates for a video editing and production career. Tuition for the program is $2,212 for Dallas County residents, and standard college financial aid is available. The credits earned in the certificate program may apply to future four-year degrees, but Dallas College advises students to seek counseling to confirm the transferability to their preferred school.
Dallas College’s Audio Visual Specialist Certificate is part of North Lake’s Video Technology department, which also offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in video technology. The certificate program is two fourteen-hour semesters. The first semester features foundational courses in television technology, audio and radio production, film and video editing, and television lighting. In the hands-on Film and Video Editing class, students will complete several projects they can use in a demo reel when looking for their first entry-level positions.
The second semester of the Audio Visual Specialist Certificate includes classes in TV and video field production, TV studio production, and business aspects of video technology, plus one elective. Students may choose Scriptwriting, Broadcast Engineering, or Video Graphics as their elective. Video Graphics is ideal for those seeking a career in video editing, as it is a deep dive into the hardware and software required to create visual effects and motion graphics.
Lumenbrite: Premiere Pro Training: Bootcamp
Key Information: Training school and consultation company Lumenbrite offers in-person Adobe courses in Austin and Phoenix and online to students throughout the U.S. Tuition for their remote Premiere Pro Training: Bootcamp is $1,995. The course includes five consecutive days of seven-hour live online classes, curricula, and class recordings. Basic computer skills are a prerequisite for this class. This Premiere Pro Bootcamp is a unique course that provides both an Adobe Premiere Pro Course Certificate and prepares students to ace the Adobe Certified Professional exam.
Aspiring Video Editors who complete this course will gain an intermediate level of Premiere Pro mastery. Students will learn how to use the application’s editing tools, animate graphics and titles, manipulate soundtracks and foley, and proficiently use the editing tools. In addition to Premiere Pro, instructors will lead classes on After Effects, Audition, and Media Encoder, all Adobe applications essential to the professional video editing workflow.
By the program's end, students will be proficient in Premiere Pro’s video and audio effects, working efficiently in HD, three-point editing, and other skills needed to excel as a Video Editor. Throughout this hands-on bootcamp, students will create several projects, allowing them to build a demo reel that will showcase all they’ve learned by the end of the program.
Key Code Education: DaVinci Resolve Essentials (Online)
Key Information: Post-production training school Key Code Education offers both online and in-person classes in their Burbank, California home. Key Code’s remote DaVinci Resolve Essentials course provides students in Dallas the rare opportunity to take a certification-preparation course for the Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve Essentials Certified user exam. Students do not need any prior experience with the program. The only prerequisite for this course is a working knowledge of Macintosh operating systems. The price for this DaVinci Resolve class is $1,195.
Participants of this program will learn how to color grade and correct, create visual effects, and manage and manipulate audio over the course of four-hour sessions. The instructor will share the workflows, skills, and tools needed to create professional films with DaVinci Resolve. The software’s color tools, Fusion VFX, and Fairlight audio tools are all explored extensively in the class. Key Code’s course also covers the new cut page and the traditional edit page to ensure students can utilize both on the job.
This DaVinci Resolve Essentials program welcomes professionals who need to add the software to their proficiencies as well as aspiring Video Editors building their resumes for their first entry-level positions. Completing the course unlocks the official DaVinci Resolves Essentials certification exam, which students will be prepared to ace with by the end of the class.
FAQ for Video Editing Certificates
What is the Difference Between a Certificate and a Certification?
Certificates are awarded by colleges and training schools following a student’s successful completion of their educational program, much like a diploma. Certificate programs can vary in length, ranging from a week to as long as a year. Technology training schools offer streamlined not-for-credit certificate course options, while universities may feature a certificate option as a way for students on a budget to benefit from one or two semesters of focused for-credit courses.
Meanwhile, certifications verify not that a Video Editor has completed an educational program but that they have successfully passed an exam demonstrating proficiency in a specific software. Classes are not necessary to take most certification exams, but they are usually recommended by the source of the verification, which is typically the maker of the software. Popular video editing certifications include Adobe Certified Professional in Premiere Pro, Apple Certified Pro in Final Cut Pro X, and Avid Certified Professional in Media Composer. Note that certifications expire and need to be renewed as applications are updated.
Should I Pursue a Certificate or a Certification?
Video editing certificates and video editing certifications both have a place in the educational path of professionals in the field. However, while they can both demonstrate a video editing professional’s skills, proficiency, and dedication when listed on their resume, they are very different things. For aspiring Video Editors, a certificate program is an alternative to a four-year degree as a comprehensive education in everything necessary for career success. Graduates can add the certificate and skills learned in the course to their resume, and many certificate programs also assist the student in creating a portfolio of professional-caliber work that showcases their talent to future clients and employers.
Certifications, meanwhile, communicate to clients and employers that the Video Editor is an expert in a specific software, verified by the maker of that software. As an exam is all that is needed to secure a certification, those experienced with the application in question can pay as little as the test fee to earn certification. That said, many opt to take preparation classes for the exams, but these tend to be significantly shorter and cheaper than certificate programs. Aspiring Video Editors will typically find certificates to be the most helpful in jumpstarting a new career, while certifications can be more beneficial to those who already have experience in the field.
Do I Need to Become Certified to Find a Job?
Certification is not necessary for finding a job, but earning a certificate or certification can be very helpful for entry-level job candidates who have little or no experience. While a few jobs in video editing require degrees, most look primarily for experience and skills. A demo reel that showcases professional-quality work is vital to securing a job as a Video Editor, and most certificate programs assist students in building this.Â
Certification in an individual software is less universally helpful in securing a job when compared to a video editing certificate. Still, it can be a very positive addition to a resume that already includes some experience or an internship. The occasional job that requires expertise in a single application may also require an updated certification.
What Certificate Program is Right for Me?
Which is Better: In-Person or Online Classes
In-person and live online classes offer students the chance to benefit from live instruction, a set schedule, and a community of fellow students. The similarities end there, however, and whether a student prefers one over the other is up to their individual preferences.
The most significant difference between in-person and live online video editing classes is that most in-person classes will provide a lab environment including all the equipment and software necessary for students to learn and practice their new skills. On the other hand, online classes will necessitate the student providing their own computer and typically their own software, as well. However, most aspiring video editors will want to have the setup to do the work at home. Some benefits to online classes include zero commute time, attending class from home, and significantly more class choices, as in-person tech courses can be challenging to find post-quarantine. Some students will find online classes the obvious choice, while others will prefer the immediacy of interaction with an instructor who is only possible when they are in the same room.
Which is Better: Live Online or Asynchronous Classes?
Live online classes and asynchronous classes are different experiences, but one is not objectively better. However, one option may meet one student’s schedule better, while the other may be more suitable for another student’s needs.Â
Live online classes are more similar to traditional in-person courses, including a set schedule to hold one accountable and the opportunity to listen and speak to an instructor in real-time. Meanwhile, asynchronous classes—sometimes referred to as on-demand or self-paced—allow for maximum flexibility for busy students, as they can watch recorded lectures whenever it suits their schedule. The trade-off is little or no time to interact live with an instructor, but students typically can ask questions via a messaging system in an asynchronous course. Whether a student prefers one experience over the other depends mainly on their personality, lifestyle, and budget, as asynchronous classes can be more affordable than live ones.