10 days · 80 hours
Usability Engineering (ADS-UE)
Human factors, user research, evidence-based interface design and usability testing.
₹1,35,700 incl. GST · 2 exam attempts included · no prerequisite
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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.
Complete guide: UI/UX design certification guide — levels, exam formats, costs and verification
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
Intensive certification tracks
Certified in 5 to 10 days — for people already working
Alongside the four-level ladder, three focused tracks for professionals who need a specific, verifiable competence fast. Each is taught live, ends in a proctored exam, and awards an ADS Certified credential with the same 3-year validity, Credly badge and public verification as the ladder.
10 days · 80 hours
Experience Strategy (ADS-XS)
Behavioural design, experience strategy, innovation and scaling UX across an organisation.
₹2,02,960 incl. GST · 2 exam attempts included · ADS-UE or 3+ years’ experience
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5 days · 40 hours
Behavioural Design (ADS-BD)
Behavioural science and ethical persuasion — design, test and measure interventions.
₹1,03,840 incl. GST · 2 exam attempts included · no prerequisite
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Every module can also be booked on its own. Exam-only paths are available for experienced practitioners on each track.
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, 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
How are the intensive tracks different from the ladder?
The ladder is a career-long progression — four levels, each with a 20-week preparation programme. The intensive tracks are for working professionals who need one specific competence certified quickly: 5 or 10 days of live teaching and a proctored exam. Both award ADS Certified credentials with the same 3-year validity, Credly badge and public verification.
What is ADS Certified?
A four-level, exam-based design credential ladder — Associate (CDA), Practitioner (CUP), Specialist (CDS) and Master (CDM) — built to the rigour conventions of established professional certifications. Each level is earned by examination only; courses prepare you, but only the exam certifies you.
How is this different from a course certificate?
A course certificate says you attended. ADS Certified says you performed — under timed, proctored, live-practical or jury conditions, scored against a published blueprint. That separation between learning and certification is what gives the letters their weight.
Do I have to take the courses to get certified?
No. Every level offers an exam-only path at the exam fee — experienced designers can sit directly (higher levels require the previous credential). If you can pass, you deserve the letters, whoever taught you.
How do attempts and retakes work?
Each 20-week programme includes two exam attempts, bookable within 12 months of completion. Beyond those, you pay only the per-attempt exam fee — the programme is never repurchased.
How long does certification last?
Three years, with a shorter renewal exam at 50% of the exam fee — so the credential always signals current competence, not ancient history.
How do employers verify a credential?
Two ways: the public ADS Certified directory (search any ID, e.g., ADS-CDA #00214) and Credly digital badges that link back to the verified record.
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