Technical SEO Specialist
Awarded for mastery of crawlability, indexation, site performance, and structured markup.
Industry recognition · Audit-backed
SEO certification for professionals.
An audit-backed online SEO credential: submit a live website, our team evaluates technical SEO, on-page SEO, and conversion performance across 150+ parameters, and you earn recognition tied to real, shipped work.
$20 to submit. $70 only after approval.
SEO parameters
150+
Every submitted site is scored against six audit pillars covering the full search stack.
Total cost per cert
$90
$20 to submit for review, then $70 only if your certificate is awarded.
Specializations
3
Technical, on-page, and conversion — earn one or roll up all three.
— 01 / Certification tiers
Three paths to SEO Specialist.
Pick one — or select all three at checkout and unlock the roll-up credential.
Your selection
1 tier selected.
$20 to submit
$70 after approval
— 02 / Your certificate
Your credential, in hand.
Earn any of the three. Pursue all three and unlock the ultimate SEO Specialist credential — one seal that bundles the authority of every audit.
SEO Conversion Optimization Specialist
Awarded for turning search traffic into measurable conversions and revenue.
On-Page SEO Specialist
Awarded for mastery of content structure, metadata, internal linking, and topical relevance.
Earn all three
Become a Web Design Awards SEO Specialist.
Complete all three roll-up certifications and we automatically award the SEO Specialist credential — the seal of authority that signals full-stack SEO mastery to clients, employers, and collaborators.
— 03 / Built around live websites
SEO certification you can win.
We don’t just test your knowledge — we audit your execution across technical SEO, conversion performance, and on-page optimization. Recognition is tied to an actual website review, not exam questions.
Built for real SEO work
Targets professionals who want certification based on a live website audit, not theory-only exams.
Clear specialization coverage
Pursue technical SEO, on-page SEO, or conversion-focused recognition based on the strengths of the submitted site.
Useful for agencies & freelancers
Audit-backed certifications help consultants and in-house teams show clients what's actually been reviewed.
150+
SEO parameters audited
$90
Total cost per cert
3
Specializations
— 04 / Audit coverage
The 150+ checks behind every certificate.
Every submitted website is reviewed against the same six pillars — each mapped to signals search engines use to rank, surface, and reward content.
01
Crawlability & indexing
- robots.txt directives, sitemap completeness, canonical handling
- noindex / hreflang / pagination signals, parameter handling
- Render-path checks, JS rendering parity, soft 404 detection
02
Core Web Vitals & performance
- LCP, INP, and CLS at 75th percentile (field + lab)
- Resource hints, image formats, font loading, render-blocking assets
- Caching headers, CDN coverage, third-party script weight
03
On-page SEO & content structure
- Title, meta, H1-H4 hierarchy, alt text coverage, anchor text quality
- Topical relevance, intent alignment, content depth per template
- Internal linking architecture, orphan pages, link equity flow
04
Structured data & search features
- JSON-LD validity, required + recommended fields by type
- Coverage of Article, Breadcrumb, FAQ, Product, Organization, Service schemas
- Rich result eligibility and Search Console enhancements
05
Conversion alignment
- Above-the-fold value prop, primary CTA prominence, form friction
- Trust signals, social proof placement, pricing clarity
- Search intent → landing page match for key queries
06
Authority & off-page signals
- Referring domain quality, anchor distribution, brand mentions
- E-E-A-T markers, author bylines, About / Contact completeness
- Local SEO signals where relevant (NAP, GBP linkage)
— 05 / How this compares
Audit-backed vs. quiz-based.
Most SEO certifications validate what you remember. This one validates what you have shipped.
Feature
WDA SEO Cert
Google
HubSpot
Semrush
Format
Live website audit
Multiple-choice exam
Video lessons + quiz
Course modules + exam
Validates execution
Yes — real shipped work
No — knowledge only
No — knowledge only
No — knowledge only
Tied to a public proof URL
Yes
No
No
No
Cost
$90 (only if approved)
Free
Free
Free
Specializations
Technical, On-Page, Conversion
Search Ads (not SEO)
Inbound / Content
Toolkit-specific
Resubmission allowed
Yes — with feedback
Yes — retake exam
Yes — retake exam
Yes — retake exam
— 06 / How to submit
One website. Four steps.
Submit one site, pay $20 for the review, and complete the remaining $70 only if your certificate is awarded.
1
Submit one website
Send one website for certification review and start the process with a single submission.
Step 012
Pay $20 up front
Complete the $20 submission payment to unlock professional review for that website.
$20 · non-refundable3
Pass evaluation
Our experts assess your site across 150+ SEO parameters and decide whether it qualifies.
150+ checks4
Complete final payment
If your website is awarded the certificate, pay the remaining $70 to receive it. Total: $90.
$70 · only if approved— 07 / Why choose this
A more practical standard.
Authenticity01
Each certificate is unique and tied back to a real audit trail rather than a generic multiple-choice quiz.
Transparency02
The review process is visible, practical, and grounded in live website performance signals.
Recognition03
Use the credential to signal capability to clients, employers, and collaborators.
Trust04
Built by a platform that already curates and evaluates standout digital work every day.
— 08 / Common questions
Before you submit a site.
What is this SEO certification based on?
It is based on a live website review rather than a multiple-choice exam. Our team evaluates technical SEO, on-page SEO, conversion alignment, structured data, and search readiness on a real submitted website.
How much does the SEO certification cost?
Each SEO certification costs $90 total. You pay $20 when submitting your website for review, and the remaining $70 only if the certificate is awarded.
Which SEO certifications can I choose from?
You can choose Technical SEO Specialist, SEO Conversion Optimization Specialist, and On-Page SEO Specialist. You can also select multiple certifications during checkout.
Who should apply for an SEO certification?
This certification is intended for SEO specialists, growth marketers, consultants, freelancers, and agencies that want third-party validation tied to real website performance and execution quality.
How long does the review take?
Most reviews are completed within 7 to 14 business days from submission. Complex websites or sites with multiple subdomains may take slightly longer; we notify you when the audit is in progress.
Is the $20 submission fee refundable?
The $20 submission fee covers the cost of the audit and is non-refundable, regardless of outcome. The remaining $70 is only charged after a website is approved for certification.
What happens if my website is not approved?
You receive a written summary highlighting the gaps that prevented certification. You can resubmit the same website after fixes, or submit a different website, with a new $20 submission fee per attempt.
How does this compare to Google, HubSpot, or Semrush certifications?
Google, HubSpot, and Semrush certifications validate knowledge through quizzes about each respective product. This certification validates execution on a real, public-facing website. The two are complementary: course-based certs prove what you know, audit-backed certs prove what you have shipped.
Is the certification recognized by employers and clients?
The certificate includes a public verification page tied to the audited website, plus an embeddable badge. It is positioned as third-party validation of execution, useful as a portfolio asset for freelancers, agencies, and in-house specialists.
Can I use the badge on my website and LinkedIn?
Yes. Approved certifications come with a verification URL, an SVG/PNG badge, and a LinkedIn-ready credential block that links back to the public proof page.
— Ready when you are
Ready to certify your SEO?
Choose one certification or all three. Submit one website for review, and pay only after approval.
— Keep exploring