ACP-Photoshop · ● Active · Associate · Adobe
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | $95–$150 USD (Authorized Testing Center pricing varies) |
| Duration | 50 minutes |
| Questions | 50+ (mix of scenario-based tasks in Photoshop + selected-response) |
| Passing | 700/1000 scaled |
| Format | Proctored; hands-on tasks within Photoshop + multiple-choice questions |
| Delivery | Certiport Authorized Testing Centers or OnVUE online proctoring |
| Languages | 12 languages (includes English) |
| Valid | 3 years |
| Renewal | N/A (renew by retaking exam) |
| Prerequisites | ~150 hours hands-on instruction and experience in Photoshop |
| Released | Ongoing (current version verified 2026) |
| Retiring | N/A |
Vendor source — Adobe Certified Professional ↗
Official exam guide — How to Get Adobe Certified ↗
Exam objectives — Adobe Certified Professional Exam Objectives ↗
Testing centers & registration — Certiport Authorized Testing ↗
About
The Adobe Certified Professional in Visual Design (Photoshop) is Adobe's official entry-to-associate-level certification for digital image editing, photo retouching, and visual composition. Candidates demonstrate hands-on proficiency with core Photoshop tools—layers, masks, selections, color management, smart objects, filters, typography, and compositing—within a 50-minute proctored exam. The exam is designed for creative professionals, photo editors, graphic designers, and career changers entering the visual design field. Launched as part of Adobe's unified certification framework, it is delivered globally through Certiport's network and OnVUE online delivery.
Domain context — Design/Creative
Professional visual communication spanning graphic design, photo editing, digital illustration, UI/UX design, and motion graphics. This domain encompasses both raster (pixel-based) and vector design disciplines, with Photoshop serving as the primary raster editor across advertising, publishing, photography, branding, and web/app design workflows.
Read full deep dive — Adobe Creative Cloud Ecosystem →
Topics covered
The exam blueprint is organized around core Photoshop competencies:
- Document Setup & Management — Create or modify documents with correct resolution, color mode, bit depth, dimensions, and artboards
- Layers & Document Structure — Organize, rename, group, and manage layers efficiently for complex workflows
- Selection & Masking Tools — Use marquee, lasso, magic wand, and mask features to isolate and modify image regions
- Color Management & Profiles — Work with color modes (RGB, CMYK, grayscale), color spaces, and non-destructive adjustment layers
- Smart Objects & Non-Destructive Editing — Apply non-destructive transformations, smart filters, and adjustment layers
- Filters & Effects — Apply and configure artistic, blur, distortion, and correction filters; use blend modes
- Type & Typography — Create, format, and position text; use character and paragraph styles; apply text effects
- Photo Retouching & Healing — Clone, heal, and restore image areas; remove blemishes and artifacts
- Compositing Techniques — Layer multiple images, control opacity, blending, and alignment for composite work
- Workflow & Efficiency — Navigate workspace, customize preferences, use rulers/guides/grids, configure tools
- Export & Output — Prepare images for web, print, and video; manage resolution, color space, file formats, and metadata
Source: Official exam guide ↗
Common skills at Design/Creative · Associate
Shared competencies for professional-level design work across raster and vector disciplines.
- Proficient use of a major raster editor (Photoshop) or vector editor (Illustrator) in professional workflows
- Color theory and color management for print, web, and screen media
- Image composition, rule of thirds, and visual hierarchy principles
- Non-destructive editing workflows and layer management discipline
- Typography fundamentals: font selection, kerning, leading, alignment, and hierarchy
- File format selection and export optimization (JPG, PNG, WebP, TIFF, PDF)
- Hardware awareness: monitor calibration, display profiles, and color-accurate workflows
- Asset organization and version control in collaborative projects
Recommended courses at Design/Creative · Associate
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe (official) | Photoshop 2025 Essential Training | $20–40/mo subscription | ↗ |
| LinkedIn Learning | Cert Prep: Adobe Certified Professional - Photoshop | Included in LinkedIn Learning | ↗ |
| Udemy | Photoshop CC Exam Prep 2025: Complete Practice Questions | $12–$50 | ↗ |
| Udemy | Photoshop - Adobe Certified Professional | $12–$50 | ↗ |
| YouTube | Adobe Photoshop Tutorials (free official channel) | Free | ↗ |
| Pluralsight | Photoshop: Core Concepts | $29–45/mo | ↗ |
Course-selection rule: Each course must target the ACP-Photoshop exam or Associate-level Photoshop workflows. Generic "Photoshop beginner" courses are insufficient; prioritize certification-focused and practice-exam materials.
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certiport (official) | Adobe Certified Professional Practice Test — Photoshop | $20–35 | ↗ |
| Udemy | Photoshop CC Exam Prep 2025: Complete Practice Questions | $12–$50 | ↗ |
| AGI Training | Adobe Photoshop Certification Test (online) | $99–149 | ↗ |
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book (2025 release) | Adobe | Adobe Press / Peachpit | 2024 | 978-0-13-688154-8 | ↗ |
| Photoshop CC: The Missing Manual | Lesa Snider | O'Reilly | 2024 | 978-1-4920-8546-3 | ↗ |
Book rule: Both titles cover current Photoshop 2024/2025 versions and exam-relevant material. Classroom in a Book is Adobe's official hands-on guide; The Missing Manual provides comprehensive reference. Older versions (pre-2023) are less suitable due to interface changes and new AI features.
Typical job titles at Design/Creative · Associate
Graphic Designer · Photo Editor · Visual Designer · Digital Designer · UI Designer · Design Coordinator · Creative Specialist · Photographer (post-processing specialist) · Brand Designer
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings that list Adobe Photoshop skills or ACP certification as preferred or required.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $50,239–$82,439 (Graphic Designer) | Glassdoor ↗ · PayScale ↗ |
| ZAR | R174,954–R317,148 (Graphic Designer, 1-4 yrs exp to Senior) | PayScale ZA ↗ · Glassdoor ZA ↗ |
| GBP | £45,000–£57,500 (Graphic Designer to Senior) | IT Jobs Watch ↗ · Hays UK ↗ |
Salary note: Data represents entry-to-mid-level graphic design roles that commonly require or prefer Photoshop certification or expert proficiency. USD figures reflect 25th–75th percentile for US-based graphic designers. ZAR and GBP reflect 2025–2026 job board data. Regional variation is significant; specialist roles (retouching, UX design) command premium compensation.
Skills validated
Concrete tools and techniques this exam verifies.
- Raster image editing — Non-destructive and destructive workflows in Photoshop
- Layer management & organization — Multi-layer document structure, layer groups, adjustment layers
- Selection & masking — Marquee, lasso, magic wand, refine edge, and layer masks
- Color correction & grading — Adjustment layers, curves, levels, hue/saturation, color balance, camera raw
- Smart Objects & smart filters — Non-destructive transformations and re-editable effects
- Type & typography — Text formatting, styles, and text-on-path techniques
- Photo retouching — Clone tool, healing brush, content-aware fill, blemish removal
- Compositing — Layer blending modes, opacity, masking, alignment for multi-element compositions
- Filter & effect application — Artistic, distortion, blur, and correction filters
- Export & optimization — Save for web/print, compression, color space conversion, file format selection
- Workspace customization — Tool palettes, panel organization, keyboard shortcuts, preferences
Related certifications
- Stacks with: Adobe Certified Professional - Graphic Design (Illustrator) ↗ (complementary vector design cert)
- Adjacent path: Adobe Certified Professional - UX Design (XD) ↗ (digital interaction design)
- Vendor overview: Adobe Vendor Overview ↗
Sources
- Adobe Certified Professional — Official certification hub ↗
- Adobe Certified Professional Exam Objectives ↗
- Certiport Authorized Testing Centers ↗
- Frequently Asked Questions — Adobe Certified Professional ↗
- Glassdoor — Graphic Designer Salaries (US) ↗
- PayScale — Graphic Designer Salary (US) ↗
- PayScale — Graphic Designer Salary (ZA) ↗
- IT Jobs Watch — Graphic Designer (UK) ↗
- LinkedIn Learning — Cert Prep: ACP Photoshop ↗
- Udemy — Photoshop CC Exam Prep 2025 ↗
Last verified: 2026-05-01
Parent ecosystem: Adobe Creative Cloud Ecosystem
Parent domain: Design/Creative
Vendor overview: Adobe Overview