ACP-AfterEffects
The Adobe Certified Professional After Effects exam, coded ACP-AfterEffects, is administered by Adobe through Certiport or Pearson VUE. It tests five domains of motion graphics and visual effects practice, from setting project requirements through rendering and exporting. Candidates complete 40 questions in a linear, computer-based format. The exam validates professional competency in industry-standard workflows.
Motion designers, video editors, and graphic designers who already use After Effects for compositing, animation, and effects work should consider this exam. It suits practitioners seeking a credential that confirms working knowledge of the application.
Build a study plan that mirrors the five exam domains, spending time in After Effects on each in turn. Practice performance-based tasks in a real project file rather than only reading. Review Adobe's official study documentation and the After Effects User Guide for current feature references before sitting the exam.
This domain covers the planning stage of a motion graphics project, including interpreting briefs, identifying deliverables, and organizing assets before opening After Effects. It frames the technical work that follows in later domains.
This domain covers the After Effects environment itself, including workspaces, compositions, projects, and importing footage. It establishes the working context in which all later animation, effects, and rendering tasks take place.
This domain covers layers, keyframes, motion tracking, and animation techniques inside After Effects. It includes selecting and arranging layers, working with 3D layers, and animating shape paths and masks.
This domain covers applying effects, animation presets, and color adjustments to compositions. It includes color management, color correction effects, and the broad effect categories listed in the After Effects User Guide.
This domain covers rendering and exporting finished work from After Effects, including H.264 encoding, multi-frame rendering, and exporting still-image sequences. It also covers automated and network rendering workflows.
Arrive rested for a 50-minute linear exam with 40 questions. Read each performance-based task carefully before acting, and pace yourself so the final questions receive full attention.
The exam contains 40 questions delivered in a linear, computer-based format. Question types include multiple choice and performance-based tasks, the latter being unique to Adobe Certified Professional exams.
Candidates need a score of 66 to pass. The exam is scored on a fixed scale, and the passing threshold is set by Adobe for the ACP-AfterEffects certification.
The exam runs for 50 minutes from start to finish. Candidates should plan their pacing across all 40 questions within that single sitting to ensure completion before time expires.
The standard price is $180 when scheduled through Certiport or Pearson VUE. Pricing is set by Adobe and the test delivery partners, and may vary by region.
Yes, renewal is required to keep the Adobe Certified Professional credential active. For the long-term renewal path, check with Adobe for the current certification cycle.
The exam covers five domains: Setting Project Requirements, Understanding After Effects, Working with Layers and Animation, Working with Effects and Color, and Rendering and Exporting. Each domain groups related objectives tested in the question pool.
Verified 2026-09-02
This page was built from Adobe's official exam guides and the After Effects User Guide, cross-checked against verified exam facts. Domain summaries were written to match each domain's stated scope.