Freelancers who have an Upwork Skill Certification on their profile have successfully passed an Upwork assessment process demonstrating proficiency in a given skill. We offer Upwork Skill Certifications to talent on an invitation-only basis for certain skills in Web, Mobile & Software Development, Design & Creative, and Customer Service.
Hiring talent with Upwork Skill Certifications
Each Upwork Skill Certification helps identify talent who demonstrate use of best practices with proficiency in a given area.
Because this talent has been assessed, these skills certifications are intended to help you save time in screening talent independently. However, you should still conduct your own screening and interview process to ensure the selected freelancer is a great fit for your particular need.
Available Skill Certifications
Currently, we offer Skill Certifications to talent on an invitation-only basis in Web, Mobile & Software Development, Design & Creative, and Customer Service.
Upwork Skill Certifications in Web & Mobile Software Development test for individual proficiency in a particular language or technology.
- Android, Java
- Android, Kotlin
- C#, Desktop Software Development
- C++, Desktop Software Development
- iOS, Objective-C
- iOS, Swift
- Java Back-end Development
- JavaScript Back-end Development
- JavaScript Front-end Development
- PHP Front-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.
- 2D Animation
- 3D Animation
- 3D Modeling
- 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
The customer service test evaluates a candidate’s ability to understand customer issues, identify the root cause, determine effective solutions, and respond with empathy and professionalism. We cover these skills:
- Conflict resolution
- Communication
- Prioritization
- Problem solving
- Listening skills
- Interpersonal skills
Assessment Process
Web, Mobile & Software Development
This certification requires a passing score on a two-part 2-3 hour technical assessment. The first part of the assessment is a timed, proctored coding test with four language agnostic algorithm-based questions that test implementation and problem-solving skills. The second part is a timed, skill-specific coding test with a combination of coding questions and multiple choice questions that tests knowledge of a specific language or set of languages.
Design & Creative
A panel of two or more domain experts evaluates a freelancer or agency Upwork portfolio based upon several dimensions depending upon the skill and current design best practices.
We evaluate work based on these areas (as applicable to the skill being evaluated):
- Creativity
- Demonstrated technical tool aptitude
- Overall portfolio curation
- Recent and complex project work
- Layout and information hierarchy
Also, for motion graphics & animation:
- Demo reel
- Use of audio
- Animation
- Pace
- Meaningful motion
Also, for videography:
- Strong camera skills and shot composition
- Video editing and post-production skills
Customer Service
The customer service test evaluates a candidate’s ability to understand customer issues, identify the root cause, determine effective solutions and respond with empathy and professionalism. We present candidates with real-life, scenario-based questions to determine which have a customer-centric approach.