Adobe Certificates Philadelphia, PA

With a name synonymous with creativity in offices and homes around the world, Adobe is a multimedia software company known for its nonstop innovation in creating solutions for the modern world. Adobe Creative Cloud is their most popular service and, more often than not, what people are referring to when they speak of Adobe.

Also known as Adobe CC, Creative Cloud is a subscription service that includes more than two dozen creative applications, including essential tools of the design trade such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Creative Cloud is also packed full of apps for Video Editors, Motion Graphics Designers, publishing and communications professionals, and other creatives who work with images, video, and text.

Why Become Certified in Adobe?

Becoming certified in Adobe is a way to gain a highly desirable qualification that can expand your career horizons across various creative and corporate industries. When you are looking for a job in graphic design, motion graphics, video editing, or another field that relies heavily on at least one Adobe application, hiring managers will expect their job candidates to show a high level of proficiency in the applications used in the position. Attending an Adobe certificate program is an excellent way to quickly become a knowledgeable and adept user of the ubiquitous applications with the help of an expert instructor and a curriculum you can trust.

An Adobe certificate earned by attending a certificate program is also a valuable qualification to list on a resume or include on your LinkedIn profile. Alternatively, you can earn an Adobe certification by taking an exam that verifies your knowledge of an application, whether you learned it on your own, on the job, or in a training program. Both communicate to future employers or clients who you are a proficient user of an Adobe application—or several, in the case of many Adobe certificate programs. However, a certificate also has the added bonus of showcasing the dedication to professional development and hard work required to complete an Adobe certificate program.

What You’ll Learn While Becoming Adobe Certified

Adobe certificate programs can follow several different structures. Some focus on a single Creative Cloud application, while others provide instruction on two, three, or even all of the most well-known apps. Some certificate programs prepare students for specific career paths such as graphic design or motion graphics. These typically feature the Adobe applications you would expect to use on the job in these fields such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for a Graphic Design Certificate or Premiere Pro for a Video Editing and Motion Graphics Certificate. Below is a list of some of the most popular Adobe CC applications covered in Adobe certificate programs.

Adobe Photoshop

Thanks to its extensive list of tools and features, Adobe Photoshop stands unrivaled as the standard image editing software across industries today. From extensive photo retouching to assembling complex graphics, including text, Photoshop is a powerful application that employers expect design professionals to know from day one. A certificate or certification in Photoshop—whether through a course focused exclusively on the software or a comprehensive Adobe CC certificate program—is an essential resume feature for anyone looking for a job in graphic, web, or visual design.

Adobe Illustrator

Aspiring design professionals and others interested in creating scalable graphics will benefit from certification in Illustrator or a broader certificate program, including Illustrator. Virtually any graphic design certificate program will include Illustrator in its curriculum, as will comprehensive Adobe certificate programs. Illustrator’s vector graphic format allows users to create and edit images without the limits of Photoshop’s dependency on pixels, making it an essential tool for working with illustrations, fonts, logos, cartoons, and other graphics.

Adobe InDesign

Adobe InDesign is the go-to desktop publishing and layout application across industries, including publishing, marketing, corporate communications, and graphic design. Proficiency in the application is a desired skill for graphic design professionals, so you’ll also see InDesign featured alongside Illustrator and Photoshop in the curricula of graphic design certificate programs. You can also learn the program in bootcamps focused exclusively on the application or in comprehensive Adobe certificate programs.

Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is an essential tool for anyone with film-editing needs, from filmmaking to marketing professionals. The editing application is full of tools that make workflows a breeze once you’ve learned to harness their power through an Adobe certificate program. You can attend Premiere Pro certificate or certification-prep programs or learn about the application in a video editing and motion graphics certificate program or other Adobe courses.

Adobe After Effects

Adobe certificate programs often focus on specific career tracks, including video editing and motion graphics. These will typically cover Adobe Creative Cloud applications that are industry standards in the field specific to the program. You will usually see After Effects, Adobe’s motion design software, bundled with Premiere Pro in motion graphics and video editing certificate programs. Learning After Effects’ extensive array of capabilities to create effects and animations will empower you to create professional-quality videos, animations, and motion graphics in your future career.

Adobe Industries in Philadelphia

Many who enjoy working with Adobe Creative Cloud applications already have a dream job in mind, and it’s likely in a creative industry such as design or animation. While many of these positions fall in the broader industries of media and entertainment or advertising and marketing, graphic design professionals and Adobe experts work in various industries that employ large numbers in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia’s education sector is larger than most cities, with many of its jobs centered in its famed University City. The field saw an 11% increase in employees between 2016 and 2021, a trend that can be expected to continue through the 2020s. Adobe InDesign and Photoshop are helpful apps for educators, support staff, and curriculum writers and publishers, who can use the tools to create aesthetically pleasing teaching materials and internal communications. Universities also rely on Graphic Designers, Web Designers, and marketing professionals with Adobe knowledge to create visually compelling webpages, social media posts, marketing videos, and other materials to communicate their offerings with prospective students.

Another key industry in Philadelphia for employment of Adobe experts is the city’s growing tech sector. Numbered among the top 30 Global Startup Ecosystems in 2024, Philadelphia’s innovation-focused technology industry is steadily growing and always looking for new talent. Designers of various stripes use Adobe software to create visually compelling websites, application interfaces, logos and branding, marketing materials, social media content, and a variety of other creative projects as part of a healthy startup ecosystem like that of Philadelphia.

Adobe Careers in Philadelphia

Adobe experts hold a wide range of job titles, though Graphic Designer is among the most common. Graphic Designers may work in-house for organizations or on design teams at marketing firms and creative agencies. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an average growth rate of 3% for graphic design professionals through 2032 across the country. Salaries for Graphic Designers in Philadelphia can vary greatly, with entry-level positions as low as $38,000 and senior positions as high as $95,000.

Another position held by many who enjoy working with Adobe Creative cloud applications is that of Motion Graphics Designer. Motion Graphic Designers sometimes work alongside Graphic Designers in design agencies and marketing firms, using visual effects and animation to create advertisements and content for clients. However, you’ll also find them using the same tools in-house at businesses or in other industries, providing special effects and animation for film, television, or even video games. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups the occupation with Special Effects Artists and Animators, projecting a faster-than-average growth rate of 8% through 2032 for those positions likely to be certified in Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro. Philadelphia Motion Graphics Designer salaries range from $58,000 to $107,000.

Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification

Certificate and certification may sound interchangeable, but they are surprisingly different. You earn an Adobe certification issued by the Adobe company by taking an exam, while you receive an Adobe certificate from a school or training center by completing an educational certificate program. Certification exams verify that you have a certain level of proficiency with an individual Adobe application, no matter whether you learned to work with the program in a school, on the job, or are self-trained. On the other hand, certificates verify that you completed a specific educational program, functioning much like a college degree.

Adobe certificate programs are ideal for beginners or anyone requiring an education to prepare for a career working with Creative Cloud applications. Note that certificate programs may focus on several or individual Adobe applications. Beginners can use their certificate program training to pass certification exams if desired. Mid-career professionals may prefer to earn a certification over a certificate, as taking the exam while skipping an unnecessary training program is an easy way to turn expertise into a qualification to expand on-the-job horizons.

Top Adobe Certificate Programs in Philadelphia

As the go-to subscription suite of software for designers and digital artists across industries, Adobe Creative Cloud is an essential skill for anyone aspiring to work in graphic, visual, or web design, motion graphics, animation, or a related field. An Adobe certificate program can arm you with the skills you need to land your first entry-level job as a digital creative or impress your first client as a freelancer. The certificate earned in these programs—or the certification a person receives following a certification-prep course—verifies to future employers and clients who you are dedicated to your professional development and capable of doing the creative digital work required by your profession.

Adobe Creative Cloud Bootcamp

Noble Desktop is a NY State-licensed design and coding school that offers high-quality training programs in-person in NYC and live online to students worldwide. You can enjoy their Adobe Creative Cloud Bootcamp from the comfort of your home or office in Philadelphia for $4,195. Tuition is payable via a flexible installment plan and covers 102 hours of hands-on instruction, a verified certificate of completion that you can link to your LinkedIn, and the option to retake the bootcamp for free within a year of your start day. Students should be comfortable using a computer before attending this program.

Over two months of courses, Noble’s Adobe Creative Cloud Bootcamp will lead you to mastery of six of the most popular Adobe applications. In the Adobe InDesign Bootcamp, you’ll learn how to use the program to create layouts for online and print publications. The Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp and Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp will guide you through both application’s tools that allow you to create and edit images and photos. You’ll learn video editing and motion graphics design in the Premiere Pro and After Effects Bootcamps. In the Figma Bootcamp, you’ll discover how to use Figma for UI (user interface) and UX (user experience) design and to make clickable prototypes.

Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate

Noble Desktop’s Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate is another Adobe certificate program option provided by the top NYC design and coding school. In this program, Aspiring Video Editors and Motion Graphics Designers will master all the essential Adobe Creative Cloud applications used to create and edit videos, motion graphics, and animations. You can attend this certificate program in-person in Manhattan or live online in Philadelphia. Flexible payment plans are available to assist you in paying the tuition of $4,995. For this fee, you’ll enjoy 126 hours of hands-on learning led by expert instructors, Noble’s proprietary workbooks, eight one-on-one mentoring sessions to assist with career support, and a free retake option allowing you to take the program again for one year if desired.

In this Adobe certificate program, you’ll attend eight modules—six focused on motion graphics and video editing Adobe CC applications, one leading you through building your professional demo reel, and a bonus Photoshop Bootcamp included for no additional charge. Some customization of your class scheduling is available, allowing you to complete the program in four months as a part-time student or two months as a full-time student. In the two Premiere Pro modules, you’ll learn how to edit and produce video content. Two After Effects units and one on Cinema 4D in After Effects will leave you confident using these tools to create professional-quality motion graphics and animations, while the Adobe Audition unit will enable you to take care of all your audio needs. Finally, in the Motion Graphics & Video Portfolio Development module, you will use your new Adobe CC skills to build a professional-quality demo reel to showcase your talents to your future clients and employers.

Adobe CC Graphic Design Bootcamp

Adobe CC Graphic Design Bootcamp is a certification-prep program offered live online and in-person in Philadelphia by ONLC Training Centers. Students will pay tuition of $1,995 to attend the five-day bootcamp to prepare for exams to certify in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. No experience with Adobe CC is required, though students are expected to have basic computer skills.

ONLC’s Adobe CC bootcamp focuses primarily on Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, the most used Creative Cloud apps in Graphic Design. Students will learn the essential tools and workflows of these three programs and how to use Adobe Bridge to manage their digital assets. The bootcamp also introduces students to the CC panel and provides an overview of the additional services and apps included in the subscription.

Adobe Design Suite Online Certification Course

The Community College of Philadelphia’s Corporate Solutions department provides an Adobe Design Suite Online Certification Course completable in four to six months. By the end of the program, students will earn a certificate of completion and also be ready to pass the exams to earn Adobe Certified Professional status in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Tuition is $1,699 and may be paid through a monthly plan. All textbooks and supporting materials are included in this fee, and laptops are available for students if needed. A high school diploma or the equivalent is a prerequisite to attend this entry-level course.

Through hands-on labs and activities, students will learn to use Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to a high proficiency level. Students will be able to use the applications to perform essential tasks for working in graphic design or visual media. You have the option of working with the Community College of Philadelphia Externship Coordinator to set up a volunteer externship with a local organization for additional experience if desired.

Graphic Design Software Essentials Certificate

An alternative option from the Community College of Philadelphia is their Graphic Design Software Essentials Certificate. This noncredit certificate program is available through the college’s Continuing Professional Education and Career Training department for a fee of $545. The asynchronous online certificate program runs two to three months, depending on the start date, and features three 16-hour courses for a total of 48 hours. Students must provide their own copies of InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop to participate in the program.

In the Adobe InDesign Essentials class, students will learn how to navigate the InDesign environment to create layouts for multi-page documents, from flyers and brochures to magazines and books. The Adobe Illustrator Essentials course will enable students to use the application to create vector graphics and print-ready PDFs. Participants in the Adobe Photoshop Essentials class will discover how to use the application’s powerful tools to edit existing images and create composite artwork.

Adobe Certified Professional in Video Design

The Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center, Inc. offers an Adobe Certified Professional in Video Design program in partnership with Ed2go. The online self-paced course is 105 hours to be completed within six months. The tuition of $1,495 includes vouchers for Adobe Certified Professional exams in Photoshop and Premiere Pro. Passing these exams will earn students an Adobe Certified Professional in Video Design certification. No prerequisites are required, but students will need personal computer skills in a Windows or Mac environment.

As an Adobe certification-prep program focusing on video content creation and editing, the Adobe Certified Professional in Video Design provides students with the instruction in Premiere Pro and Photoshop they need to prepare for an entry-level job in the field. Alternatively, they can use their new skills to create their own content or freelance. By the end of the program, students will be able to use Photoshop to create photos and graphics to incorporate into their film work and Premiere Pro to create and edit videos at a professional level.