The 2026 qualification period is now open! If you missed the Fall Qualifier, there is still time to submit a project! The 2026 Spring Qualifier is open from December 20th, 2025 - May 1st, 2026!

To qualify for the Adobe Certified Professional U.S. National Championship a student must pass one of the following exams by the end of the qualification period:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe Illustrator

After the student passes an exam, they must submit an original design project with accompanying source files (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and/or InDesign).

Designers who are chosen to compete, typically submit projects that could be used in a business setting. When submitting a project, students should consider:

• Both text and graphical design
• A call-to-action, where applicable
• Preparing the file for digital OR print distribution, where applicable
• Original artwork
• A variety of design elements, such as shape, color, space, form, line, value, and texture

Students can submit an original design project even if it does not include all the items listed.

At Certiport’s Adobe Certified Professional U.S. National Championship, student competitors are asked to create assets for a real business. In 2025, designers created posters and social media assets for QB United and the Cook Center for Human Connection. Designers who are selected to compete in 2026 may be asked to design a similar project.

Swipe through the 2025 projects below.