Exams for UX Certification

Professionals who spend more than 30 hours in our intensive training demonstrate a high-level commitment to their UX education. An exam helps us verify participants’ content retention and apply concepts practically. To be UX Certified, each person must pass an exam for each course. Exams are available only to people who recently participated in the courses.

Exam Format

Each course's exam is based on the topics, theories, and examples the instructor covered during the course, and:

• tests 2 types of understanding: 1) knowledge of theories and topics, and 2) practical application of that knowledge to real-world situations and examples;
• is online and can be taken anywhere you have a computer and internet connection (though some strict firewalls may disrupt the exam delivery);
• has 30 multiple choice questions;
• is timed, with 1 hour allowed for each attempt (most people complete the exam in about 30 minutes);
• allows a maximum of 3 attempts to pass;
• requires a score of 80% or higher in order to pass.

Frequently Asked Questions About Exams

How much does the exam cost?

The exam administration fee is $80 USD per course exam (€75 EUR, £60 GBP, $105 CAD, or $105 AUD). Exam fees are in addition to the tuition cost. Exam fees cover administrative expenses related to exams and UX Certification, including: writing exam questions; editing questions (for improvement or when course content changes); technology to create and update the exams; tracking scores and UX Certification credits; and maintaining verifiable UX Certification information.

Exam administration fees can be paid with UX Conference registration or prior to taking an exam. Exam administrative fees paid prior to the UX Conference are subject to the same refund policy as tuition; exam fees paid after the UX Conference are non-refundable.

How can I prepare for the exam?

Paying close attention and taking notes during the course is the best way to prepare for the exam. All material that appears on exams is covered during class and usually in the course slides. It is not necessary to read any external books to pass the exams. Just before attempting the exam, we suggest that you review:

• the PDF course slides provided at the training event,
• your own notes from the course, and
• any additional materials the instructor may have provided.

Who can take the exam?

Only people who have attended the entire training course can take the exam, and the exam must be taken within 35 days. Earning UX Certification credit represents both the knowledge verified by the exam and the hands-on practical learning during class. Taking the exam without attending the course does not fulfill the requirements for NN/g UX Certification. 

How will I access the exam?

After the class ends, if you have signed in and attended the course, you will be able to access your exam by logging in to www.nngroup.com.

How long do I have to take the exam?

We recommend taking the exam shortly after the class, while the information from training is fresh. Many people take them in the evening on the same day as the training, or on the following day. The exam must be passed within 35 calendar days of the course in order to apply the course credit toward UX Certification. After this period there will be no other opportunity to apply the course credit toward UX Certification.

Do I need any equipment to take the exam?

We recommend using a computer that is not subject to a strict firewall, as some firewalls can cause issues with the exam. We also strongly recommend taking the exam for a large screen device rather than a small mobile phone, as some questions refer to large screenshots of designs which may be difficult to see on a small screen.

Is the exam timed?

Yes, up to one hour is allowed for each attempt. However you can pause the exam at any time to take a break.

Can I refer to my notes while I take the exam?

Yes, participants can refer to the materials given during the course, as well as any notes they took while in class; they may not consult other sources or confer with other people.

Can you provide accommodations for the exam?

We provide reasonable adjustments to the exam process to individuals who need accommodations. These adjustments are individualized, so we consider them on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please contact [email protected].

What happens if I don't pass the exam?

To receive UX Certification credit, you must pass the exam within 3 attempts. After 3 attempts it is not possible to purchase additional attempts.  You will have the option to repeat the virtual class at a reduced price, and pay for and take the exam again. 

What are the exam questions like?

The following examples give a basic sense of the types of exam questions for various courses. Do not be concerned if you don’t know the answers before taking the course. You will learn in class!

Source: Navigation Design exam

For most websites, which of the following is a good reason to use a spatial metaphor in your navigation menu?

A. To create a more visually interesting interface

B. To help users visualize conceptual relationships

C. To display geographically categorized content

Source: Persuasive Design exam

A person’s disposition to trust others is influenced by which of the following?

Select all that apply: 

A. General life experience

B. Socialization

C. Personality type

D. Intelligence

Source: Application Design exam

Which of the following are good strategies when designing complex applications for Domain Experts?

A. Offer perceived value over using other applications

B. Offer more benefits than domain experts would get from using their own intuition and another application (such as a spreadsheet)

C. Offer unlimited application features so users can work in the ways they want

D. Offer unlimited functionality