So you have become quite the master of web design. Your pages look fabulous and you are pretty sure this is what you want to do for a living. If you are also looking for a way to make your skills stand out in the pile of resumes on the desk of a future employer, then you might want to consider a webmaster certification. There are quite a few web design certifications out there that will test your ability to design, code, and implement web pages and sites. Although many are oriented towards the beginner, there are also a few very advanced certifications that will elevate you to the level of Web Master.
Beginner web design certifications focus on page layout, use of graphics, HTML, use of browsers and style sheets. These will start you on the path to more advanced certifications.
CWD (Certified Web Designer): The CWD certification is offered by the Association of Web Professionals (AWP). You will need basic internet and design knowledge to pass the single exam. The exam is given online by Jupiter Systems, who are the current sponsors of the AWP. A Web Manager and Technician Certifications are also offered by the AWP. These are more intermediate certs and focus less on design.
CAW (Certified Associate Webmaster): The CAW certification is offered by WOW and covers most of the basics with a focus in markup and scripting. One exam is required, costs $125 and is available through VUE.
HTML Developer Certificate from W3C: The World Wide Web Consortium (WC3) is the group that sets the standards for the internet. They offer a basic, 70 question exam that results in a certificate and tests you on HTML, XHTML, and CSS. All the materials needed to study are free on the site so, considering the source and the cost, this is a great choice for a certification.
BCIP (Brainbench Certified Internet Professional): Brainbench offers several good certification preparation exams. In addition, you can apply several of the skills exams to get the BCIP certification. It requires 4 exams in total and a couple of them are free. Most run from $20 to $50, making this a very affordable certification and an excellent way to test your skills in preparation for more advanced certs.
Expect to have knowledge of coding and scripting along with some solid job experience to jump to the intermediate level of certification.
AWP (Associate Webmaster Professional): Sponsored by WebYoda, the AWP requires one exam. Exam topics cover Internet Fundamentals, basic and advanced HTML & XHTML knowledge, and expertise with CSS.
Coldfusion MX Developer Certification: If you have experience with programming languages and one year of working with Coldfusion, you are eligible for this exam. It consists of 66 questions. A score of 80 percent or above will earn you an Advanced Developer Certification.
DreamWeaver MX Certification: Proficiency in Dreamweaver plus experience with coding, graphics, and website management will help you with this exam. The exam is 65 questions and you must score 70 percent or better to pass.
Flash Certification: Macromedia offers two tracks for the Flash certification: Flash MX Designer and Flash MX Developer. Each requires one 65 question exam. The Designer exam requires knowledge of Flash motion design, optimization, and publishing. The Developer exam requires knowledge of relational database design along with one to two years of experience in software development & web design.
MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist): This certification was created for anyone developing on .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications. You must pass two exams, one focusing on the .NET Framework 2.0 foundational skills and another focusing on Web-based client development. From here you can take one additional exam to obtain the MCPD: Web Developer certification.
Advanced certifications will require that you expand your horizons well beyond proficiency in internet and design concepts. Depending on the cert you choose, you will now need to master e-business, marketing, security, management, and more advanced scripting skills.
CIW Master: There are several tracks for CIW Master candidates to choose from, including Administrator, Developer, Web Site Manager, and Security Analyst. Each track requires multiple exams on a variety of subjects.
CWP: The CWP certification requires that you hold the AWP certification and take one exam. Although training offered by WebYoda (the sponsor of the CWP) is recommended, it is not required. The exam covers web design & graphics, e-business concepts, intermediate Java skills, and e-marketing concepts.
Global Knowledge Webmaster: This certification is achieved through a serious of lecture and lab classes covering Java (or Perl), advanced web design, databases, and XML development.
Want a way to validate your awesome web design skills? Get Certified. So you have become quite the master of web design. Your pages look fabulous and you are pretty sure this is what you want to do for a living. If you are also looking for a way to make your skills stand out in the pile of resumes on the desk of a future employer, then you might want to consider a webmaster certification. There are quite a few web design certifications out there that will test your ability to design, code, and implement web pages and sites. Although many are oriented towards the beginner, there are also a few very advanced certifications that will elevate you to the level of Web Master.
So you have become quite the master of web design. Your pages look fabulous and you are pretty sure this is what you want to do for a living. If you are also looking for a way to make your skills sta
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