I get tons of email from readers/viewers each and every week, and I also participate in various Photoshop/Adobe forums around the web. One of the questions that is constantly popping up is whether or not taking an Adobe ACE Exam is worth it. Well, personally I feel that it is.
Adobe offers many levels of certification. You can obtain an ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) credential in a single application, become a Specialist in a specific field (web, print, or video), and even obtain a Master certification for all Creative Suite applications. There's no doubt that the Master certification is the "Holy Grail" of certifications, but most people tend to focus on their main area of expertise (i.e. Web, Print, Video).
Currently I am certified in both Photoshop and Photoshop Lightroom, but I plan to certify in many more applications this year. I believe that by certifying my skills in these various applications, I give my customers (and viewers) a sense of confidence that I know what I'm talking about when I'm giving them instruction or advice. I also believe that being an ACE can help you tremendously in the job market. Now I'm not saying that obtaining an ACE would be the ...