Best UX Design Certification Programs

Best UX Design Certification Programs. Employers will increasingly discriminate between self-taught or uncertified designers and those who have finished a formal UX certificate as the demand for UX designers rises.

A free UX design micro-course can give you a basic introduction to the area if you don’t already know much about it and can help you decide whether you’d be a good match for a career in UX. But after that, you should look into certification programs! All the knowledge and abilities you’ll need to be successful in the field will be taught to you by a respected UX design certification program.

A UX design certification can codify your existing expertise if you are a self-taught designer and allow you to position yourself as a skilled UX practitioner.

What are your choices for earning a UX certification?

It’s critical to understand that there isn’t a single, globally recognized UX design certification, making it absolutely essential to select a respectable curriculum from a respected source. We’ve put up a list of the top UX design certification programs available right now to aid you in your search, as well as a guidance on what to look for in a UX design certification.

The top online programs are covered in the first section of our list, while the best in-person courses are covered in the second. If you are already aware of your favorite study method, go directly to that section.

Online UX design certification programs

1. Ironhack UX/UI Design Bootcamp

In essence, the Ironhack bootcamp is for anyone who wants to master the craft of UX design. The course is designed to give job changers, career boosters, entrepreneurs, and developers alike practical UX design skills in a short amount of time and has no prerequisites or criteria for prior expertise.

The degree can now be taken remotely thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it is still required that students attend in-person on a part-time or full-time basis at one of their numerous worldwide campuses. The course material is broken down into four modules, beginning with pre-work, which includes 40 hours of online study covering the fundamentals of design thinking and interaction design.

User experience design, user interface design, and implementation are the main topics of Modules 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Students gain from career guidance and assistance with developing a professional portfolio in addition to studying important design principles and methods.

Classes for the full-time Ironhack UX/UI program normally run from 9 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday, with a completion schedule of 9 weeks at a rate of 40 hours each week. At a pace of 10 hours per week, the part-time program is finished in 24 weeks.

With numerous scholarships and discounts available, the course can be taken for about $12,500 USD.

2. Flatiron School UX/UI Design Course

Regardless of prior experience or professional background, everyone who wants to start a career as a designer should enroll in the Flatiron School bootcamp.

This is a viable choice for people who are willing and able to make a sizeable investment in their career shift because it is one of the most expensive programs on this list and necessitates a full-time commitment for about six months.

Several cities in the United States, including New York, Austin, San Francisco, and Seattle, host the program. Also accessible in London. This bootcamp offers a five-phased immersion program over the course of 24 weeks. Part-time online instruction is provided for phase one, which focuses on design fundamentals.

Students decide by the end of phase one whether to concentrate on UX or UI design; you can read about the distinctions between UX and UI design in this guide. All of the following phases—Process, Studio, Client, and Portfolio—are taught full-time on campus (with the exception of the Process phase, which is taught online).

Students are required to do weekly homework and tests, attend meetings, present, get feedback, and build on their portfolios throughout each phase. It takes 24 weeks to finish the whole Flatiron School bootcamp while working full-time. Students must dedicate 40–50 hours per week to the course during the Studio Phase.

Cost of the entire bootcamp is $17,000 USD. Also, it is possible to borrow money to pay for the course or postpone paying your tuition until you have a job and a salary that exceeds a specified amount.

3. Human Factors International Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) and Certified User Experience Analyst (CXA)

If you’re new to the industry, either just starting out in your career or wanting to eventually transfer to a career in UX, the Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) credential is suitable for you. Those who already possess a strong foundation in UX design are eligible for the Certified User Experience Analyst (CXA) certification (and who have already passed the CUA course).

There are four courses in the Certified Usability Analyst track, followed by a test. The courses include practical usability testing, user-centered analysis and conceptual design, the science and art of successful online and app design, and UX foundations (2 days) (2 days). On particular occasions, the courses are held in-person at a variety of foreign locales. You are prepared to take the online exam once you have completed all the prerequisite courses. A comparable structure can be found in the Certified User Experience Analyst (CXA) curriculum.

The certification’s various courses each last two to three days, and the final exam is two and a half hours long. There is no set deadline because you can decide when and which courses you take. Unfortunately, only specific days throughout the year are offered for the exam. The overall price is about USD $6,000.00. On their website, you can see a list of the courses, locations, and costs, but the pricing for the courses vary based on where you are.

4. Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification

The Nielsen Norman Group’s UX certification is aimed at people who wish to add UX design to their existing skill set in order to establish credibility and stand out as a recognized authority in the industry. It is also perfect for businesses who wish to train their staff to take a user-first strategy throughout the organization.

Several UX conferences are held by The Nielsen Norman Group in various cities across the globe. You must take five of these courses in order to earn the UX design certification, and the number of courses offered at each conference varies. You’ll obtain your certificate after completing five courses and passing the respective online exams. You have the option of taking all five courses and tests at one UX conference or earning your credits at various conferences.

You must attend five full days (or courses) and pass an hour-long exam for each course in order to become certified in Nielsen Norman Group UX design. After each in-person course, you will have up to 35 days to access the examinations, allowing you to finish the program at a rather flexible pace.

Five Nielsen Norman Group courses and five tests are expected to cost $4,448 USD (not including VAT).

5. General Assembly UX Design Immersive (Online)

With no requirements, this program is perfect for those who are just entering the sector as well as those who have some experience but wish to formally establish their practice. Although this course is offered online, it does require full-time attendance from Monday through Friday, with classes held at set times.

For those who are okay with the higher price tag and want the classroom experience without the travel, this is a fantastic choice.

This immersive course delivers an intense learning experience similar to what you’d get in a classroom, as the name suggests. Courses are delivered in an engaging online classroom where you can engage virtually with knowledgeable teachers and other students.

You’ll also have the chance to communicate with teachers outside of class time through one-on-one check-ins. Key UX approaches like wireframing, prototyping, and user research will be covered in the course, along with popular subjects like service design and design leadership. As part of your last-minute job market preparation, you will also work with a career coach. With commencement dates typically every six weeks, the course has a full-time duration of 12 weeks.

One of the more expensive options on this list, the course has a price tag of $15,950 USD. By paying in full up front, you can save $450, or you can make the payment in three equal installments.

6. Designlab UX Academy

The UX Academy at Designlab is intended for designers of all skill levels who want to pursue careers in user experience.

The Designlab course focuses on making you job-ready, much like the programs provided by CareerFoundry and Springboard, making it one of the better choices for people wishing to completely change careers.

There are three phases to the UX Academy Journey. Design 101, the first stage, is a foundation course that takes 4 weeks to finish (at a pace of 10-15 hours per week) and gets you ready for the main curriculum. Students are connected with an experienced mentor at this point.

You will move on to the main UX Academy if the work you complete as part of Design 101 satisfies the admissions requirements. Throughout the course of 15 weeks of full-time study or 28 weeks of part-time study, you will collaborate with your mentor on a variety of projects and activities. The last part focuses on enhancing your portfolio and job hunting.

Depending on whether you want to study full- or part-time, the course can be finished in 4 to 12 months.

Depending on your payment schedule, the UX Academy will cost you anywhere from $7,249 to $9,677 in total. Also, Designlab offers a six-month job guarantee, so if you don’t land a job following the course, you might be eligible for a complete refund.

7. Springboard UX Career Track

The Springboard UX Career Track is designed for people looking to change careers and for those who can show that they have some relevant expertise or experience.

A degree in a related discipline, such as graphic or visual design, psychology, research, marketing, or web development, as well as at least one year of verified work experience (or aptitude for problem-solving, communication, and collaboration) are prerequisites for the course. The entire course is completed online, at your own pace, with the assistance of a personal mentor with whom you can speak on a weekly basis.

Twenty-five lessons make up the curriculum, which begins with a lesson on Design Thinking and ends with specialized material on psychology, strategy, and service design. You’ll work on three portfolio projects in addition to the mini-projects that supplement the theoretical material all along. On the Springboard website, you may find out more about the course’s operation.

The average student devotes 15-20 hours each week to the course over the course of six months.

Depending on your payment method, the Springboard UX Career Track costs between $7,900 and $14,500 USD. You’ll save 17% if you pay in advance. Also, Springboard has a job guarantee, so if you don’t land a job within six months of graduating, you might be qualified for a complete refund.

8. Google UX Design Certificate

The Google UX Design Certificate is designed for people who are brand-new to user experience (UX) design and wish to learn the basics. No special training or prior experience is required to enroll in the course, but you should be prepared to learn online and independently.

There is the ability to participate in peer-to-peer feedback and discussion forums, but the Google certificate does not include any one-on-one mentoring or personalized guidance. This is a versatile, cost-effective solution for those who are new to the industry.

Using Coursera, the full course is delivered online. By working through practical projects and quizzes along the way, you’ll progress through the principles of UX design, from ideation and wireframing to user research and high-fidelity prototypes.

After completing the course, you’ll gain access to career resources and add to your UX portfolio. On their website, you can find out more about the topics included in the Google UX Design Certificate.

At a pace of ten hours per week, the course should take about six months to complete.

Costing $39 a month, the Google UX Design Certificate is comparable to a Coursera membership.

9. CareerFoundry UX Design Program

Anyone who wants to become a fully-fledged, job-ready UX designer should enroll in the CareerFoundry UX Design Program. You don’t need any prior knowledge or expertise in the industry because the program has been designed for beginners.

Also, the course’s flexible pace and online-only delivery make it a practical choice if you need to arrange your studies around other obligations. This free introductory short course will help you decide if UX design is the right subject for you; it is strongly suggested for everyone who is in the decision-making process!

After enrolling, you’ll receive access to the online learning environment and be paired with a mentor and a personal tutor. With the online platform, you will have access to all of the course material. After reading it, you will complete practical activities. Your tutor receives these and marks them.

Also, you’ll work on bigger projects that are added to your UX portfolio. You and your mentor will frequently speak on video calls during the course. There is no assessment or final exam, but you must get each exercise approved in order to go on to the following chapter. On our dedicated page, you may read more about the course’s operation.

The course lasts for a total of 10 months and can be taken at your own speed. If you put in roughly 15 hours each week, you should be able to complete the course work in 10 months. You can also put in more hours each week to finish it sooner.

The total cost of the CareerFoundry UX Design Program starts at $7,900, but tuition varies by location and is reasonably affordable. Paying in full up advance or receiving a minor course discount are just two of the many payment choices available. To learn about pricing in your area and whether any partial scholarships are available, get in touch with CareerFoundry.

Keep in mind that the course is also backed by a job guarantee; if you don’t find employment within six months of finishing it, you may qualify for a full refund as long as you complete the clearly outlined requirements.

FAQs on Best UX Design Certification Programs

Recommended for you:

• 10 Free Capacity Planning Tools
• Best Boarding Schools in Iowa for Boys & Girls
• 10 Best Jesuit Colleges In The U.S
• Top 15 Military Schools For Kids In USA
• 13 Best PA Schools in Texas