Bridge Classroom Learning to Real-World Application Through Industry-Recognized Certification

SALT LAKE CITY -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Certiport, the leading provider of test delivery services for the global workforce and academic markets, announced the availability of the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) exams for the new Adobe® Creative Suite® 5 (CS5).

“These are foundational things for working in the real world”

Certification programs, when combined with industry-leading software like the recently released Adobe CS5, more effectively engage students in validating the technical and digital communication skills that are increasingly valued in today's marketplace.

Details about the ACA Exams: www.certiport.com/adobe

In education settings, Certiport’s ACA exams enable individuals to tap into the full features and functionality of the updated CS5 validating their use of digital media to plan, design, build, and maintain effective communications utilizing the following:

• Web Communication using Adobe Dreamweaver®,

• Rich Media Communication using Adobe Flash®, and

• Visual Communication using Adobe Photoshop®

For teachers, the updated certification program will help educators effectively teach relevant curriculum and validate these foundational skills that demonstrate real-world prowess to prospective employers.

“Today, it is more important than ever to stay ahead of the technology curve, and the latest ACA exams allow academic institutions to rapidly validate their student’s leading edge skills,” Quinn Sutton, Senior Vice President, Certiport. “The ACA certification program ensures test takers not only understand Adobe products, but that they are using best practices for building and designing rich media content. By certifying on the most up-to-date technologies, students prove they already have an excellent grasp of what is needed in the workforce.”

"Students who become Adobe Certified Associates demonstrate to prospective colleges and employers that they have the skills required to succeed in today's digital age," said Anuja Dharkar, Group Manager of Worldwide Certification and Professional Development, Adobe Education.

The ACA exams, delivered exclusively by Certiport, are available to customers through a K–12 Classroom License or a Campus License for higher education institutions. Both licenses allow schools to conduct unlimited online ACA testing for an affordable once-a-year-fee, streamlining testing budgets and allowing them to ensure certification for all students with capped costs.

Jonathan Huer, emerging technologies director at Ball State, utilizes ACA certification through the school's Digital Corps program. Huer said student interest in the Adobe application courses reflects the fundamental importance of digital communications skills today.

“These are foundational things for working in the real world,” said Huer. “Some people believe it’s a specialized skill, but if you can’t make a video and throw it online somewhere, you’re at a loss. The combination of an outstanding portfolio and ACA credential makes graduating students credible professionals in the workforce.”

Customers who have an existing ACA site license can upgrade to the new CS5 version of the exams at no additional cost. The exams are still available for CS3 and CS4 for customers who are not yet migrating to the upgraded Adobe product suite.

ABOUT CERTIPORT
Certiport is the leading provider of certification exam development, delivery and program management services which include practice tests via MeasureUp® delivered through an expansive network of over 10,000 testing centers worldwide. Certiport manages a sophisticated portfolio of leading certification programs including: the official Microsoft® Office certification program, the Adobe® Certified Associate certification program, the iCritical Thinking™ Certification powered by ETS, the CompTIA Strata™ IT Fundamentals and the Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³®). Certiport reliably delivers over two million tests each year throughout the secondary, post-secondary, workforce, corporate technology markets and to IT Professionals in more than 142 countries and 24 languages worldwide.

"Certiport," "IC³" and” MeasureUp” are registered trademarks of Certiport, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Adobe, the Adobe logo, Adobe Flash, Photoshop and Dreamweaver are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.