ACP-Animate · ● Active · Associate · Adobe / Certiport
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | $150 USD (Certiport Authorized Testing Centers; may vary by region) |
| Duration | 50 minutes |
| Questions | Mixed format: selected-response + live in-app tasks (50/50 split) |
| Passing | Score and task completion threshold (exact passing score not publicly disclosed by Adobe) |
| Format | Multiple choice + performance-based tasks within Adobe Animate application |
| Delivery | Certiport Pearson VUE proctored testing centers (in-person) |
| Languages | English |
| Valid | Lifetime (no renewal required) |
| Renewal | N/A — no renewal or CE credits required |
| Prerequisites | ~150 hours of hands-on instruction and experience in Adobe Animate recommended |
| Released | Adobe Certified Professional program ongoing (Animate available as of 2024) |
| Retiring | N/A |
Vendor source — Adobe Certified Professional ↗ Animate exam page — Adobe Certified Professional – Animate ↗ Certiport testing — Adobe Certified Professional :: Certiport ↗ Exam objectives — Adobe Certified Professional exam objectives ↗
About
The Adobe Certified Professional – Adobe Animate certification validates expertise in vector animation, interactive media design, and publishing for web and digital platforms. Adobe Animate is the industry-standard tool for creating interactive vector animations and bitmap graphics for games, web applications, and interactive media. This Associate-level cert targets animators, motion graphics designers, and interactive media professionals with foundational-to-intermediate Animate skills. The exam combines practical in-app performance tasks (drawing, animating, exporting) with conceptual knowledge of animation principles, publishing workflows, and interactive design. Adobe's Certified Professional program has been active since the early 2020s, with Animate as a dedicated option for creative professionals.
Domain context — Animation/Web
Web-based animation and interactive media design — creating vector graphics, frame-by-frame and tween animations, ActionScript interactivity, and publishing optimized assets for HTML5 Canvas, WebGL, and video embed workflows. Related to, but distinct from, video motion graphics (After Effects domain) and 3D animation (Cinema 4D, Blender ecosystem).
Read full deep dive — Adobe Creative Cloud →
Topics covered
- Animation Principles (12 core principles: squash & stretch, anticipation, staging, pose-to-pose, follow-through, overlapping action, slow-in/slow-out, arc, secondary action, timing, exaggeration, appeal)
- Interactive Design & User Experience (UX/UI fundamentals, interactivity, user affordances, accessibility, discoverability in interactive media)
- Document Setup & Authoring (stage dimensions, frame rate, presets, document type selection)
- Timeline & Symbol Management (keyframe animation, tween animations, symbols, graphic vs. movie clip symbols, nested animation)
- Drawing & Shape Tools (vector drawing, brush and pencil tools, shape creation, color application)
- Interaction & ActionScript Basics (basic event listeners, button interactivity, movie clip control, simple scripting for web)
- Stage Management & Layers (layer organization, visibility control, depth stacking, layer effects)
- Publishing & Export Workflows (publish settings for SWF, HTML5 Canvas, WebGL, video formats, optimization, file size management)
- Testing & Platform Considerations (testing across devices, accessibility validation, performance optimization, proofreading and QA)
Source: Official exam page ↗
Common skills at Animation/Web · Associate
Shared content for the Animation/Web domain at Associate level — not specific to this cert.
- Core animation principles (timing, spacing, overlapping action, arcs)
- Vector graphics editing and manipulation
- Frame-by-frame and tween animation techniques
- Layer and timeline management
- Publish and optimization for web delivery
- Basic interactivity and user interaction concepts
- Design for interactive media (UI/UX basics)
- Asset organization and symbol management
Recommended courses at Animation/Web · Associate
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Tutorials | Adobe Animate Official Certification Guide | Free (with Creative Cloud subscription) | ↗ |
| LinkedIn Learning | Adobe Animate Essential Training | $39–$99/month (subscription) | ↗ |
| Udemy | Adobe Animate: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners to Pro | $15–$80 | ↗ |
| Udemy | Adobe Animate CC: 2D Animation Complete Course for Beginners | $15–$80 | ↗ |
| Udemy | Mastering 2D Animation in Adobe Animate (Basic to Advance) | $15–$80 | ↗ |
| Peachpit Press | Learn Adobe Animate CC for Interactive Media | Book (ISBN 978-0134397818) | ↗ |
Course-selection rule: Each course must be specifically for Animate (not general Adobe suite). The official Adobe tutorials are free with a Creative Cloud subscription; LinkedIn Learning and Udemy courses fill gaps for in-depth practice and project-based learning.
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certiport / GMetrix | Adobe Certified Professional CertPREP Practice Tests – Animate | $25–$35 | ↗ |
| Certiport | Official Certiport Practice Exams | Varies | ↗ |
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Learn Adobe Animate CC for Interactive Media: Adobe Certified Associate Exam Preparation | Joseph Labrecque, Rob Schwartz | Peachpit Press | 2019 | 978-0134397818 | ↗ |
Book note: This is the primary study guide for Adobe Animate certification. Published in 2019 and still current for 2026 exam delivery; covers all core Animate topics and aligns with certification objectives.
Typical job titles at Animation/Web · Associate
Animator · Motion Graphics Designer · Web Animator · Interactive Media Designer · 2D Animator · Animation Developer · Creative Developer (web animation focus)
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings that list Adobe Animate certification or expert Animate skills as required or preferred.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $60,160 – $103,701 (Animator/Motion Graphics), median ~$78,642 | Glassdoor ↗ · School of Motion Salary Guide 2026 ↗ |
| ZAR | R174,938 – R304,474 (Motion Graphics Designer, 1–9 years experience) | PayScale ZA ↗ |
| GBP | £28,191 – £43,233 (Motion Graphics Designer, UK-wide), £29,753 – £45,773 (London) | Glassdoor UK ↗ · Glassdoor London ↗ |
Salary note: Animator and Motion Graphics Designer roles often overlap in job postings, especially for web-focused positions. Experience, portfolio strength, and freelance vs. full-time engagement significantly impact earnings. Remote work is common in this field.
Skills validated
Cert-specific — what this exam actually tests, distinct from the shared "Common skills" above.
- Adobe Animate stage, timeline, and symbol authoring
- Vector drawing and shape manipulation in Animate
- Tween and frame-by-frame animation implementation
- Keyframe animation and timeline editing
- Symbol creation (graphic, movie clip, button)
- ActionScript 3 basics for interactive control
- Publish settings optimization for HTML5 Canvas, SWF, WebGL, and video formats
- Animation testing and device preview
- Layer management and animation organization
- Text animation and special effects in Animate
- Export and file size optimization for web delivery
Related certifications
- Stacks with: Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) – Animate (entry-level alternative); Adobe Certified Professional – After Effects (motion graphics video focus)
- Vendor overview: Adobe Creative Cloud Ecosystem ↗
- Adjacent domains: Video/Motion Graphics ↗ · Web Development ↗
Sources
- Adobe Certified Professional: https://certifiedprofessional.adobe.com/en/home
- Adobe Animate Certification Page: https://certifiedprofessional.adobe.com/animate
- Certiport Adobe ACP Testing: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Certifications/Adobe/ACP/Certify.aspx
- Adobe Certified Professional Exam Objectives: https://edex.adobe.com/adobe-certified-professional/exams
- Adobe Animate Official Documentation: https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/animate/get-started.html
- Glassdoor Animator Salary (USD): https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/animator-motion-graphic-designer-salary-SRCH_KO0,32.htm
- School of Motion 2026 Salary Guide: https://schoolofmotion.com/blog/motion-design-salaries-in-2026-your-complete-guide-to-what-you-can-earn-and-how-to-earn-more/
- PayScale Motion Graphics (ZAR): https://www.payscale.com/research/ZA/Job=Motion_Graphic_Designer/Salary
- Glassdoor Motion Graphics Designer (GBP, UK-wide): https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salaries/motion-graphics-designer-salary-SRCH_KO0,24.htm
- Glassdoor Motion Graphics Designer (GBP, London): https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salaries/london-motion-graphics-designer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,6_IM1035_KO7,30.htm
- Peachpit Learn Adobe Animate CC for Interactive Media: https://www.peachpit.com/store/learn-adobe-animate-cc-for-interactive-media-adobe-9780134395555
- Certiport Practice Exams: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Certifications/Adobe/ACP/Practice.aspx
- Certiport CertPREP Practice Tests: https://store.certiport.com/adobe-practice-single/p/12004349
Last verified: 2026-05-01 Parent ecosystem: Adobe Creative Cloud Ecosystem Domain: Animation/Web Vendor overview: Adobe