Core Web Vitals & Performance Specialist
Awarded for excellence in Core Web Vitals, loading stability, and front-end performance execution.
Industry recognition · Audit-backed
Web design certification for professionals.
An audit-backed online credential: submit a live website, our team evaluates Core Web Vitals, conversion-focused UX, and SEO-ready design across 150+ parameters, and you earn recognition tied to real, shipped work.
$20 to submit. $70 only after approval.
Design parameters
150+
Every submitted site is scored against six audit pillars covering the full front-end.
Total cost per cert
$90
$20 to submit for review, then $70 only if your certificate is awarded.
Specializations
3
Performance, conversion, and SEO-ready design — earn one or roll up all three.
— 01 / Certification tiers
Three paths to Web Design 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 Web Performance Expert credential — one seal that bundles the authority of every audit.
Conversion-focused Web Designer
Awarded for turning user intent into clear journeys, stronger calls to action, and measurable conversion paths.
SEO-ready Web Designer
Awarded for crafting search-friendly UX with strong content structure, metadata, and crawlability built-in.
Earn all three
Become a Web Performance Expert.
Complete all three roll-up certifications and we automatically award the Web Performance Expert credential — a single seal that signals full-stack mastery of performance, conversion, and SEO-ready design.
— 03 / Built around live websites
Certification you can win.
We don’t just test your knowledge — we audit your work across performance, conversion design, and SEO-ready visual craft. Recognition is tied to an actual website review, not exam questions.
Built around real websites
Recognition is tied to an actual website review — easier to validate, and far more useful in client conversations.
Three specialization paths
Pursue performance, conversion, or SEO-ready design depending on the strengths of the submitted site.
Proof for hiring & pitches
Helps freelance designers and studios show clients exactly what's been reviewed and approved.
150+
Design parameters
$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 that real users, browsers, and search engines reward.
01
Core Web Vitals & performance
- LCP, INP, and CLS at 75th percentile (field + lab)
- Image formats, lazy-loading, font display strategy, render-blocking assets
- JavaScript weight, hydration cost, third-party script budget
02
Responsive & cross-device execution
- Mobile, tablet, and desktop layout integrity across breakpoints
- Touch target sizing, viewport handling, no-horizontal-scroll guarantee
- Container queries, fluid typography, modern CSS layout primitives
03
Accessibility & inclusive design
- WCAG 2.2 AA color contrast, focus states, keyboard navigability
- Semantic HTML, ARIA usage, screen-reader landmark structure
- Reduced-motion support, form labels, alt-text completeness
04
Conversion-focused UX
- Above-the-fold value prop, primary CTA prominence, form friction
- Trust signals, social proof placement, pricing clarity
- Information architecture and journey alignment to user intent
05
Visual craft & design system
- Typographic hierarchy, vertical rhythm, modular spacing scale
- Color system consistency, component reuse, surface treatment
- Motion design discipline, micro-interactions, brand expression
06
SEO-ready design structure
- Heading hierarchy, semantic regions, indexable navigation
- Crawlable links, server-rendered content, no design-led link traps
- Metadata surfaces, OG image discipline, schema-friendly markup
— 05 / How this compares
Audit-backed vs. course-based.
Most certifications validate what you have studied. This one validates what you have shipped.
Feature
WDA Design Cert
Google UX
IxDF
Coursera
Format
Live website audit
Coursera modules + quiz
Course library + quiz
Course modules + projects
Validates execution
Yes — real shipped work
No — coursework only
No — coursework only
Partial — peer-reviewed exercises
Tied to a public proof URL
Yes
No
No
No
Cost
$90 (only if approved)
$49/mo (Coursera)
$16+/mo membership
$39+/mo per specialization
Specializations
Performance, Conversion, SEO-ready
UX Design (general)
UX, IxD, UI Design
UI/UX, Web Design
Resubmission allowed
Yes — with feedback
Yes — retake course
Yes — retake course
Yes — retake course
— 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+ parameters covering performance, accessibility, conversion, and visual craft.
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 does the web design certification review cover?
The review covers Core Web Vitals, responsive execution, accessibility, conversion-focused UX, SEO-ready design structure, and overall front-end craft on a live website.
How much does the web design certification cost?
Each web design certification costs $90 total. You pay $20 to submit the website for review and the remaining $70 only if your certificate is approved.
Which web design certifications are available?
The available certificates are Core Web Vitals & Performance Specialist, Conversion-focused Web Designer, and SEO-ready Web Designer. Completing all three qualifies the website for the additional Web Performance Expert credential.
Who is the web design certification for?
It is designed for freelance designers, web studios, UX-focused teams, and agencies that want credible recognition based on real design execution instead of theory-only coursework.
How long does the design review take?
Most reviews are completed within 7 to 14 business days from submission. Multi-template sites or design systems with extensive component libraries 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 design 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 design, performance, or accessibility 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 UX, Interaction Design Foundation, or Coursera UX certifications?
Course-based certifications from Google, IxDF, and Coursera validate knowledge of UX principles through lessons and quizzes. This certification validates execution on a real, public-facing website. The two are complementary: course-based certs prove what you have studied, audit-backed certs prove what you have shipped.
Is the certification recognized by clients and employers?
The certificate includes a public verification page tied to the audited website, plus an embeddable badge. It is positioned as third-party validation of design execution, useful as a portfolio asset for freelance designers, studios, and in-house design leads.
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 design?
Choose one certification or all three. Submit one website for review, and pay only after approval.
— Keep exploring