Level 1 · ADS-CDA
ADS Certified Design Associate
The entry credential of the ADS Certified ladder: proof that you command the foundations of UX, UI and design process — earned only by exam, never by attendance.
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ADS Certified UX/UI Practitioner (ADS-CUP)
The practitioner credential: you can research, structure, design and defend real product work to professional standard — verified by proctored exam and artifact review.
Credential at a glance
- Level: 2 of 4 in the ADS Certified ladder · Entry gate: Must hold a valid ADS-CDA
- The exam: 2.5-hour proctored exam (live human proctor) · advanced MCQ + written responses · PLUS a submitted portfolio artifact scored against a published rubric
- Preparation: 20-week live programme · ₹1,10,000 including two exam attempts within 12 months
- Retakes after two attempts: exam fee only — ₹22,000 per sitting · Exam-only path for experienced designers at the same fee
- Validity: 3 years · renewal exam at 50% of exam fee · Credly digital badge + public verifiable ID
A counsellor confirms eligibility, cohort and exam windows within one business day.
Why this exam is hard — on purpose
A credential is only worth what it refuses to hand out.
Most design certificates certify that you watched videos. ADS-CUP certifies that you can perform — under time pressure, under live human proctoring, with your real work scored against a public rubric. The blueprint below is published in full, Adobe-style: nothing is secret except the questions. Prepare completely, or don't sit.
Published exam blueprint
ADS-CUP objective domains & weights
Every question and rubric line maps to one of these domains. The weights below are exact.
| Domain & objectives | Weight |
|---|---|
| Research Operations & Advanced Methods Study design, moderated and unmoderated testing, sampling honesty, research repositories, mixed methods | 20% |
| Interaction Design & Flows at Depth Complex flows, edge and error states, forms that convert, cross-platform conventions, progressive disclosure | 20% |
| UI Systems & Accessibility Component thinking, tokens literacy, responsive systems, WCAG 2.2 AA applied — including assistive-technology scenarios | 20% |
| Prototyping & Evaluation Fidelity strategy, usability test execution, severity rating, iterating on evidence | 15% |
| Portfolio Artifact Review One submitted case study scored on problem framing, evidence, decision quality and outcome honesty | 15% |
| Stakeholder Communication Presenting decisions, handling pushback, writing that engineers and executives act on | 10% |
Blueprint version 1.0 · reviewed annually against industry practice · pass threshold published to registered candidates before the exam.
The 20-week preparation programme
How we prepare you to pass
Weeks 1–4 · Diagnostic & foundations
A full diagnostic mock on day one shows your real starting point; then domain-by-domain instruction begins, weighted to your gaps.
Weeks 5–12 · Domain mastery studios
Live studios through every blueprint domain — taught, drilled and critiqued weekly, with real projects and artifact building.
Weeks 13–16 · Exam-condition training
Proctored-style mocks and artifact rubric reviews — repeated until exam conditions feel routine.
Weeks 17–20 · Mock exams & clearance
Two full mock exams scored on the real rubric. You book your attempt when your mocks clear the bar — not before.
Attempts & retake policy — in plain words
- Your programme fee includes two exam attempts.
- Book either attempt any time within 12 months of completing the programme — you choose the slot.
- Didn't clear it in two? Every further sitting costs only the exam fee (₹22,000) — you never repay the programme.
- Exam-only candidates: each attempt is ₹22,000; no bundle, no course requirement, prerequisite credential required.
After you pass — where ADS-CUP takes you
- UX/UI Designer
- Product Designer
- Interaction Designer
- Associate UX Researcher
Your name enters the public ADS Certified directory (ADS-CUP #ID, verifiable by any employer) and your Credly badge goes live for LinkedIn and resumes.
Credential FAQ
Straight answers
Is the exam really that hard?
By design, yes. ADS-CUP uses proctoring, rubric-scored artifacts and written judgement sections. Completing the 20-week programme does not grant the credential — only passing the exam does. That separation is exactly what makes it worth holding.
What does the fee include?
The programme fee (₹1,10,000) covers the 20-week preparation programme plus TWO exam attempts, bookable any time within 12 months of finishing. EMI and international payment options are available; the Scholarship Entrance Test discount applies to programme fees.
What if I fail both included attempts?
You pay only the exam fee (₹22,000 per attempt) for further sittings — never the programme fee again. There is no limit on retakes, only on shortcuts.
Can experienced designers skip the programme?
Yes — the exam-only path lets you sit ADS-CUP directly for ₹22,000 per attempt, provided you hold the prerequisite credential. The credential certifies competence, not attendance; if you already have the competence, prove it.
How long is the credential valid?
Three years, like the industry-standard credentials it is modelled on. Renewal is a shorter recertification exam at 50% of the exam fee — so the letters after your name always mean current competence.
How do employers verify it?
Every credential carries a public ID (e.g., ADS-CUP #00214) checkable on our verification page, plus a digital badge issued via Credly that recruiters recognise instantly.
The ladder continues
Certificates are given. Credentials are earned.
Sit for ADS-CUP — through the 20-week programme or the exam-only path. A counsellor confirms your route within one business day.
Start My ADS-CUP JourneyA live 45-minute session · No pressure, no hard sell