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ADS Certified™ — The Four-Level Design Credential Ladder
Certificates are given for attendance. ADS Certified™ is earned by examination — four levels of increasing rigor, from a timed foundations exam to a jury-defended master's capstone, each with a published blueprint, verifiable IDs and Credly badges.
The system in five lines
- Four levels: CDA → CUP → CDS → CDM, each gated by the one below — no level-skipping, no shortcuts.
- Exam-earned only: the 20-week programmes prepare you; only the exam certifies you. Two attempts included, 12 months to use them, then retakes at exam fee only.
- Exam-only path: experienced designers can sit any exam directly — competence is the credential, not attendance.
- Built to be trusted: published blueprints (Adobe-style), public verifiable directory, Credly badges, 3-year validity with renewal.
- Built to be hard: negative marking, human proctoring, live in-tool practicals and external juries. These are designed to be the most demanding design exams you can sit for.
The ladder
Four levels. One standard: perform.
Level 1 · ADS Certified Design Associate (ADS-CDA)
Gate: Open entry — no prerequisite · Exam: 90-minute timed online exam · Prep: 20 weeks · ₹75,000 incl. 2 attempts
Level 2 · ADS Certified UX/UI Practitioner (ADS-CUP)
Gate: Must hold a valid ADS-CDA · Exam: 2.5-hour proctored exam (live human proctor) · Prep: 20 weeks · ₹1,10,000 incl. 2 attempts
Level 3 · ADS Certified Design Specialist (ADS-CDS)
Gate: Must hold a valid ADS-CUP · Exam: Live in-tool practical exam — 3 hours in Figma under observation, building to spec against the clock · Prep: 20 weeks · ₹1,50,000 incl. 2 attempts
Level 4 · ADS Certified Design Master (ADS-CDM)
Gate: Must hold a valid ADS-CDS + 1–3 years of documented practice · Exam: Jury-defended capstone — a substantial real-world engagement developed over the programme, defended for 60 minutes before an external panel of senior design leaders from industry · Prep: 20 weeks · ₹2,00,000 incl. 2 attempts
Trust infrastructure
Why recruiters can rely on it
- Public verification directory — every credential has an ID any employer can look up in seconds. Verify a credential →
- Credly digital badges — the same badging platform used by leading certification bodies; one click from LinkedIn to the verified record.
- Published exam blueprints — objective domains and exact weights, public on every level's page. Standards-based, never arbitrary.
- 3-year validity + renewal exam — the letters mean current competence, always.
- Independent of teaching — examiners don't pass their own students by default; the rubric does the deciding.
- A public body of knowledge — the complete rubric behind every level is open, HFI-style, so employers know precisely what a holder can do. See what verification returns →
- Employer fast-track programme — companies can formally commit to fast-tracked interviews for ADS Certified™ holders. Become a Fast-Track Partner →
Which level are you?
Start where you can perform
| You are… | Sit for |
|---|---|
| Learning design or early in your first role | ADS-CDA |
| Working designer with real shipped projects | ADS-CUP |
| Senior craftsperson ready to prove it live | ADS-CDS |
| Leader with 1–3+ years past CDS-level work | ADS-CDM |
Unsure? The free counselling call includes an honest level placement.
Certification FAQ
Straight answers
What is ADS Certified?
How is this different from a course certificate?
Do I have to take the courses to get certified?
How do attempts and retakes work?
How long does certification last?
How do employers verify a credential?
Anyone can print a certificate. Almost no one can fake an exam.
Choose your level — programme or exam-only — and a counsellor confirms your route within one business day.
Find My LevelA live 45-minute session · No pressure, no hard sell