Free Lynda.com Video: Adobe Certified Associate Prep: Photoshop

Getting certified in Adobe applications like Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator is a great way to prove your skills, and it can increase your chances of landing a great job, internship, or promotion. The Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) program exists so folks with elite skills and experience can distinguish themselves. But what if you’re just starting out and trying to get your foot in the door with some solid, entry-level skills? For people in that situation, the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) program is a better fit.

The ACA program is for people (often high school and college students) seeking internships, jobs, or credit for college-level programs in graphic design, web, or rich media. To pass an ACA exam, you need to demonstrate fundamental knowledge and entry-level skills in a particular Adobe application. Currently, there are ACA exams for six Adobe applications: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Premiere, and Flash Professional.

If you’re curious about the ACA process—or if you’re interested in taking the Photoshop exam—definitely check out my new Lynda.com course, Adobe Certified Associate Prep: Photoshop.

The course is designed to help you understand, prepare for, and (most importantly!) pass the exam to get your Photoshop ACA certification. The course starts with a look at the benefits of ACA certification. Then we go over the exam objectives, which are all the things you need to study. Interestingly, a good chunk of the exam is about graphic design concepts and issues important for creative professionals (like copyright, project management, and communication). Then, we dive into the details of each objective with hands-on examples and practice. I also walk you through the whole process of registering for the exam, what to expect at the testing center, and how to maximize your score with test-taking strategies. The course wraps up with a look at how to promote your achievement with certificates, digital badges, and Adobe ACA logos.

In the free movie below, I review the Photoshop ACA exam objectives, which are the specific topics you need to know to pass the test.