🐈
» Support » Product Release Notes » New Upwork Skill Certifications
Page options

New Upwork Skill Certifications

lenaellis
Community Member

We have launched a new initiative to help freelancers showcase their expertise by earning an Upwork Skill Certification. These skill certifications highlight talent that has demonstrated competency in their field by passing a rigorous skill assessment or sample work review, evaluated by domain experts in their field.

 

Currently, Upwork Skill Certifications are available for certain skills in the Web & Mobile Software Development (WMSD) and Design & Creative fields. For WMSD, certification is a two-step process that takes 2 to 3 hours. Participants must achieve a passing score on two timed and proctored coding tests. Design & Creative talent must achieve a passing score on their Upwork portfolio, which is evaluated by a panel of third-party domain experts. You can learn more about Upwork Skill Certifications here. Given the intricacy of having skills assessed, these certifications are exclusively invite-only at this time.  

 

Upwork Skill Certifications will display on your Upwork profile in the certifications area.

 

Here is an example of a Microsoft certification on a profile. Upwork Skills Certifications will appear in a similar format but with an Upwork badge for the specialized certification. 

Sample existing certification

MS Certifications.png

Sample Upwork Skills Certification Badge

Skill Certification.png

Upwork Skill Certifications are currently available in 10 software development languages and 16 design and creative skills. 

 

Upwork Skill Certifications in Web & Mobile Software Development test for individual proficiency in a particular language or technology. Assessment methodology varies by skill, using a combination of timed, proctored tests and in some cases, technical interviews. 

 

  • Android, Java
  • Android, Kotlin
  • iOS, Objective-C
  • iOS, Swift
  • C#, Desktop Software Development
  • C++, Desktop Software Development
  • Java Back-end Development
  • JavaScript Back-end Development
  • JavaScript Front-end Development
  • PHP Back-end Development
  • Python Back-end Development
  • Ruby on Rails Back-end Development

 

Upwork Skill Certifications in Design & Creative test for an individual’s or agency’s demonstrated competency in current design best practices. A panel of 2 or more domain experts evaluates a freelancer or agency Upwork portfolio based upon several dimensions depending upon the skill. 

 

  • 2D Animation
  • 3D Animation
  • 3D Modeling *NEW*
  • Art Direction
  • Brand Identity
  • Cartooning
  • Creative Direction
  • Editorial Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Illustration
  • Image Editing
  • Motion Graphics
  • Presentation Design
  • User Experience Design
  • User Interface Design
  • Video Editing
  • Videography

 

We plan to grow the program and offer the skill assessments to more talent and in additional skill areas. You do not need to have earned a talent tier such as Top Rated or Expert-Vetted to receive an invitation. These are signals of having expertise in your field and do increase your chances of being invited, though. For the best chance of being invited, achieve and maintain a solid reputation, complete identity verification, maintain a complete and up-to-date profile that is not set to private, and have an active Upwork account in good standing. 

348 Comments
salomonart
Community Member

Hello, I just discovered the Upwork skill Certifications, I have been top Rated like 4 years in a row, I have an updated profile and portfolio and have 40k in earning but Upwork has never offered me a skill Certification in Image Editing. Many of my peers already have a badge with an Upwork Certifications. Can I know why I have been not offered one? and what should I do to get it. Thanks!

JoanneP
Moderator

Hi Salomon Andres,

 

At this time you cannot request to be invited. For the best chance of being invited in the future,  we suggest freelancers achieve a solid reputation, keep a complete and up-to-date profile that is not set to private, and maintain an active Upwork account in good standing.  

astepanov83
Community Member

I've got an invitation, but there was nothing close to my skills in the list  :_(

VladimirG
Community Manager

Hi Aleksandr,

 

Thanks for your interest. We currently have 10 skill certifications in the Web  & Mobile Software Development and 16 in Design & Creative categories. We hope to expand skill certifications to other categories in the future. Stay tuned!

arsalanodesk
Community Member

HI, Please let me know what are the assessments need to do ? I need to get skill certificate.
I will be glad if you can help me to get the skill certificate on upwork.
Thanks

AleksandarD
Community Manager

Hi Arsalan,

 

Thanks for your question. At this time you cannot request to be invited. For the best chance of being invited in the future, we suggest freelancers achieve a solid reputation, keep a complete and up-to-date profile that is not set to private, and maintain an active Upwork account in good standing.

 

We currently have 10 skill certifications in Web & Mobile Software Development and 16 in Design & Creative categories. We hope to expand skill certifications to other categories in the future. 

 

Thank you.

soiko
Community Member

Hey Lena, thank you for the information! I see that I have an Upwork skill certificate in "Image Editing." I am happy that I have it. But 100% of my working tasks here are illustrations. Is it possible to receive the relevant certificate? I don't edit images. I draw new original arts every day from the very beginning of my work here. It seems to me that the wrong certificate can affect less number of commissions. 

BojanS
Community Manager

Hi Nataliia,

 

You're right, let me have somebody from our team reach out to you about Illustration certificate.

 

Thank you for your patience. 

soiko
Community Member

Thank you for such a quick response! You have a great team here 🙂 

salomonart
Community Member

I understand I can't require to be invited, but I have a solid reputation ( 100% client satisfaction, great reviews, and Top Rated). I have a complete profile that is public and my account has always been active. ( been working like 5 years here).

 

It just seems kind of unfair I can't have the option to have a certification from Upwork with " Image Editing" when I have worked very hard to reach my Top-Rated Status, 100% client satisfaction, good reviews, portfolio, and lots of contracts that are proof that I'm really good at my work with "Image Editing"

I think there many cases similar to mine, with freelancers with many years and great reviews, top-rated that have been not offered the option to have a certification. Any person would think Upwork rewards the freelancers that have been loyal and delivered great work but it seems is the other way around.