11 UX Certifications and Bootcamps for All Skill Levels

User experience (UX) designers are in demand across industries. The role typically falls under the larger category of web designers, which is expected to grow 23 percent (much faster than average) by 2030, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [1].

Transitioning into UX—or advancing in your UX career—often means honing your UX design skills, such as conducting user research and designing wireframes. Enrolling in a UX certification or bootcamp can be an excellent way to build a solid foundation—or strengthen your existing one. It's also a noted credential you can feature on your resume, to show potential employers the extra steps you took to learn or improve your craft.

In this article, we'll go over common UX certifications and bootcamps and discuss how to determine the best options for your needs.

10 UX certifications and bootcamp options

Let’s review ten popular UX design certifications, certificates, and bootcamps. After, we'll discuss how to evaluate a certification program to match your career goals.

1. Google UX Design Professional Certificate

By completing the Google UX Design Professional Certificate, available through Coursera, you can equip yourself with the job-ready skills you’ll need for an entry-level role in UX design. Learn at your own pace from professional UX designers at Google as you build a foundation in UX principles, best practices, research methods, and tools like Figma and Adobe XD. 

Over multiple courses, you’ll have the opportunity to build a UX designer portfolio that includes high-fidelity mockups, case study reports, and interactive prototypes for three different projects. Upon completion, you can share your information with top employers hiring UX professionals.

• Who it's for: Beginners with no prior UX design experience who want to learn from professionals at one of the world's leading tech companies

• Length: Approximately nine months (six hours per week)

2. NN/g UX Certification

Become UX Certified by taking any five courses and passing subsequent exams from the Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g), which was founded by Don Norman (who coined the term "user experience" while working at Apple) and Jakob Nielsen. What's more, you can design your own curriculum by choosing from over 50 courses, so you can select the courses that are most beneficial to your learning needs.

Advanced certification options include Specialty Recognition (pass at least five courses in a single specialty area) and UX Master Certification (complete 15 courses).

• Who it's for: Beginners interested in UX design fundamentals and professionals seeking advanced certification options

• Length: 30+ days

3. HFI Certified Usability or User Experience Analyst

You can achieve two levels of certification from Human Factors International (HFI): Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) for those new to the career, or Certified User Experience Analyst (CXA) for more advanced UX professionals who have already passed the CUA. Both require taking four courses held over the course of 10 days, with both in-person and online options.

Active UX consultants teach the courses, which include interactive individual and group exercises, exercise books, and study guides.

• Who it's for: Beginners seeking entry-level knowledge or professionals who want advanced training

• Length: 10 days for training, 2.5 hours for exam

4. General Assembly UX Design Immersive

General Assembly offers a beginner-friendly, full-time bootcamp online. There’s no exam, so you’ll get a signed certificate of completion for finishing the course.

Throughout the 12-week program, you’ll cover a broad range of interface and visual design topics through live lectures, one-on-one instructor check-ins, project toolkits, and interactive collaboration. At the end of the course, you’ll team up with other students to complete a capstone project over the course of a three-week sprint. You’ll also spend time preparing for a job search. The course includes resume reviews, interview prep, and whiteboarding practice.

• Who it's for: Career changers who want a concentrated, immersive training experience without the pressure of an exam

• Length: Full-time for 12 weeks

5. CareerFoundry Certified UX Designer

This fully online program from CareerFoundry is designed for beginners looking to make a career change. Students choose a specialty—voice design, advanced UI skills, or frontend development—and complete a project-based curriculum. Coursework is presented as pre-recorded videos and reading materials.

Tuition includes day-to-day guidance from a tutor and written, video, and phone feedback on portfolio pieces from an industry expert. The program also includes a job guarantee for students that meet specific requirements.

• Who it's for: Beginners looking for a flexible online-only program that allows them to focus on one specific area of UX design, and who want personalized mentor resources

• Length: Six months at 30-40 hours per week or 10 months at 15-20 hours per week

6. Interaction Design Foundation

The Interaction Design Foundation (IDF), one of the world’s biggest online design schools, offers a variety of online courses and bootcamps for those looking to transition to a UX career. Choose from six- to nine-week bootcamps in topics like UX Fundamentals, Introduction to Design Thinking, or Get a New Job in UX Design. Each includes one-on-one coaching, guided project work, and the chance to build a portfolio.

If you’re looking to develop specific skills, IDF also offers self-paced courses in topics like usability, data visualization, human-computer interaction, accessibility design, and designing for augmented and virtual reality. Each course comes with a certificate of completion.

• Who it's for: Beginners and professionals who want a number of course options when building their UX design training

• Length: Six to nine weeks for bootcamps (40 hours per week); 15 to 18 hours per course 

7. Bentley University UX Certificate Program

Several universities have started offering graduate certificates in UX, and Bentley University runs one of the most well-established programs. Earning a certificate means completing nine courses: three required courses (Human Factors and the User Experience, Usability Testing, Managing a User Experience Group) and six other courses of your choosing.

Each course is held online or in-person over the course of two days, followed by a portfolio assignment that you’ll have two weeks to complete. Courses take place from 9am to 5pm on Thursdays and Fridays—something to consider if you’re working or have other scheduling obligations. 

• Who it's for: Beginners and professionals who want the backing of a respected university certification program

• Length: Nine two-day sessions plus 45 to 63 hours to complete assignments (five to seven hours per course) completed in as little as one year

8. The School of UX

The London-based School of UX hosts a range of single day classes and five-day intensives that can be broken down into day-long modules and taken at your own pace. Modules in the intensive program include UX Design, UI Design, Wireframing, Prototyping, and Career Advice. Each day includes a live question-and-answer session with a professional designer.

While courses are typically held in-person in London, everything has been moved to Zoom during the pandemic. Learners based in North America should consider the time zone difference, as everything is conducted live.

• Who it's for: Beginners who want a crash course in UX design followed by personalized mentoring

• Length: Five days (flexibly spaced)

9. DesignLab UX Academy

The complete UX Academy Journey from DesignLab comprises three sections. The UX Academy Foundations segment is designed to introduce students to the world of UX. The Academy itself includes 480 hours of coursework and projects. Everything is online and on-demand, aside from mentoring sessions and group critiques that will need to be scheduled.

Students who complete the UX Academy will have four projects for their portfolios and have access to the Career Services module for six months. During this time, students are paired with a career coach to practice interview skills and polish their portfolios.

• Who it's for: Beginners who want to gain a firm footing in UX design with the option of additional trainings

• Length: Up to 36 weeks (plus six months of Career Services)

10. Springboard UX Design Bootcamp

With Springboard, you can choose between a UX or a UI/UX Design career track. Programs last six months with the flexibility to study when and where you want. Tuition includes weekly one-on-one mentorship calls, three portfolio projects, and the chance to collaborate with a real company for four weeks.

Completing the course unlocks career support and a six-month job guarantee for eligible students. You’ll also have lifetime access to the course materials (including updates) and the online community.

Springboard recently released a four-week Introduction to Design option geared toward those trying to decide whether a career in UX is a good fit.

• Who it's for: Beginners who want a job guarantee from their certification program

• Length: Six to nine months (15 to 20 hours a week)

11. Flatiron School

Learn about UX/UI from a holistic product design perspective. Flatiron School offers online classes as well as in-person classes in Denver and New York. You can opt to work through the program on a structured full-time schedule or a flexible part-time meant to accommodate your other responsibilities. Teachers include experts who have worked in UX/UI design.

• Who it's for: Beginners who want a broader introduction to UX by learning about UI, web design, and product design as well

• Length: 15 weeks full-time or 40 weeks part-time

Choosing the right UX certification: Things to consider

There's a wide range of options when it comes to UX certifications and bootcamps, including from universities, industry associations, and private companies. As you research and evaluate whether a UX certification or bootcamp is a worthwhile investment for your career, consider the following:

• Your goals: If you’re new to UX, you might choose a comprehensive certificate program or bootcamp to start learning the skills, tools, and techniques of the trade. If you’re already established in the industry, you may opt for an advanced certification to hone a particular skill or keep up with trends and technology. 

• Scope: UX is a broad term. If you have a more specific interest, you’ll find programs on UX design, user interface (UI) design, user research, UX management, and design thinking. Look for programs that align with the area of UX you’re most interested in.

• Cost: Prices for UX programs can vary from several hundred to more than ten thousand dollars. Remember, cost and quality don’t always correlate. It's a good idea to review the curriculum and make sure it aligns with your larger goals.

• Online vs. in-person: If you prefer the structure of a classroom setting, then learning in person may be a better choice for you. However, if you prefer to learn at your own pace and prefer the flexibility to learn around your other responsibilities, then learning online may be a better option.

• Full-time vs. part-time: In a full-time program, you’ll be able to move through material more quickly than in a part-time option, but taking a part-time program could make it easier to continue working and managing other life obligations. 

• Fixed schedule vs. self-paced: Self-paced certification courses allow for greater flexibility—a bonus if you’re working or have a busy schedule. For some learners, following a fixed schedule makes it easier to stay on track. 

• Projects or portfolio: Your portfolio shows potential employers what you’re capable of doing, and it’s often among the most important elements of your application. If you want to get certified as a way to build out your portfolio, choose a program that includes hands-on project work. 

• Teachers and mentors: Research who’s teaching the program and what their standing is in the UX industry. If you want professional feedback on your work as you progress, look for programs that include regular one-on-one mentorship calls.

• Job prep: Some certification programs and bootcamps come with additional job resources, like resume review or interview practice.

• Validation: Some courses will give you a certification for attending. Others require an exam or portfolio review to evaluate your skills. Think about what you want your training to communicate to hiring managers.

Benefits of getting UX certified

Unlike in nursing or law—industries with established licensing and certification requirements—you don’t necessarily need a certification to get a job in UX. By earning the right certification, however, you can:

• Build essential UX skills

• Develop your portfolio

• Gain experience in the industry

• Validate your skills to potential employers (in some cases)   

If you're looking for a structured way to build a foundation in UX design skills, develop some projects for your UX portfolio, and stand apart from other UX designers as a job applicant, then a certificate program or bootcamp could be a good fit for you. It's also an excellent way to start building your network within the industry.

Read more: 7 UX Designer Portfolio Examples: A Beginners Guide

Alternatives to UX certification

UX design certifications and bootcamps represent just one way to learn the skills to work as a UX designer. If you're comfortable learning on your own and managing the time it takes to develop new skills and complete UX passion projects, then you could save money by taking advantage of free resources, books, and blogs instead.

Whether you’re just getting started in UX/UI design or are a seasoned professional looking to develop new skills, familiarize yourself with some other learning options. 

Free resources

You don’t have to spend a dime to learn about UX. Do some searching, and you’ll find books, blogs, podcasts, webinars, and design communities, many of them available for free. These resources are a great option to supplement your studies or to build your own UX curriculum if you enjoy learning independently.

Portfolio projects

Your portfolio is a visual representation of your skills. Develop one, and you’ll uncover new skills and (hopefully) impress future employers with your work. A portfolio project could be a UX redesign you do for a friend or family member, or some volunteer work for a school or non-profit. 

Coursera also offers Guided Projects designed to be completed in less than two hours. Build an e-commerce dashboard in Figma, learn the basics of customer journey mapping in Miro, or work on prototyping in Adobe XD. Each project has a split-screen video so you can follow along as you work, as well as access to all necessary software.  

Individual courses

With an individual UX design course, you can evaluate whether UX design might be a good fit or focus on developing a particular skill. Many of the organizations we listed above offer individual courses. 

You’ll also find a wide selection of options from top universities on Coursera. Get an Introduction to User Experience Design from Georgia Tech, learn about UX Research at Scale from the University of Michigan, or dive into Web Design Strategy with the California Institute of the Arts.

Degrees

Many UX designers have at least a bachelor’s degree, though it may not be in their specific career area. While it might not always be required to have a degree in a UX-related field, you might find it helps when it comes time to apply for jobs.

Some universities have started to offer degree programs in interaction design or user experience design, but programs in computer science, graphic design, or information architecture often cover overlapping skills. The Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from the University of London, available online through Coursera, features UX as a possible focus area.