- Declaration of Candidacy
- Certification Exam
- Image Submission Review
The Certification Exam and Image Submission Review may be completed in any order — one may submit images for review before taking the written exam. If you do not complete all requirements during the three year period, your candidacy will end. You must re-apply, pay the appropriate fee, and re-start the process.
All Certified Professional Photographers must adhere to the Standards of Conduct for Certification, as outlined below.
Standards of Conduct for Certification
As a Certified Professional Photographer, one agrees to:- Maintain exemplary standards of professional conduct
- Actively model and encourage others to intergrate professionalism and ethics in the practice of business and to encourage all people qualified to pursue the goal of Certification
- Strive to continually advance my knowledge and achieve higher levels of excellence
- Maintain the confidentiality of all privileged information, except when so doing becomes an ethical or legal breach of contract.
- Maintain the integrity and proprietary nature of the Certification Examination and agree not to divulge the individual questions that are used on the Examination.
What is Certification?
The certification of specialized skill-sets affirms a knowledge and experience base for practitioners in a particular field, their employers, and the public at large. Certification represents a declaration of a particular individual’s professional competence. In some professions certification is a requirement for employment or practice. Doctors, mechanics, accountants, professional secretaries, surveyors and many others are all required to go through a certification process of some kind.For more information on certification, please visit The Institute for Credentialing Excellence.
Why Be A Certified Photographer?
Studies show that certification is the most widely recognized consumer credential. Consumers may not know a lot about professional photography, but they know that certification should ensure professional-quality goods and services. Clients in every industry seek out credentialed professionals, as the public recognizes certification as a sign that one is an authority in the field. A Certified Photographer designation offers potential clients an assurance, not just of quality, but of technical skill and artistic expertise.As the leading certifying agency for imaging professionals, the Professional Photographic Certification program is recognized throughout the industry.Those who have earned the Professional Photographic Certification have passed a comprehensive written exam measuring their technical expertise, and have successfully submitted their work to a panel of judges for review and approval.
How can Certification Help You?
Advertising Edge: Before you can show a consumer your portfolio or sell them on your services, you have to get them into your studio. With hundreds, sometimes thousands of photographers advertising in a market, this is not always an easy task. Advertising as a Certified Professional Photographer is one way to distinguish yourself from the masses. Certification gives clients a concrete business reason to put you on their short list.Pricing Justification: The digital era has made it much easier for inexperienced part-time and fly-by-night photographers to throw their hat into the ring, undercutting professionals with rock bottom prices. Certification is an easy way to help consumers understand and appreciate your level of experience and talent.
Validation: Certification is granted by the Professional Photographic Certification Commission, an objective third party who validates your expertise, and that speaks volumes to potential clients about your skill. When potential clients become aware that Certified Photographers must re-certify every five years, they understand that education, training, and the latest industry techniques and skills are important to you - and your images.
Credibility and respect in the workplace and the industry: Nearly 71 % of certified professionals say that credentials give them more prestige among their colleagues. Salary Survey: Monitoring Your Net Worth, CertMag, 2005
