Certification

Become an HFI-Certified Usability Analyst™

Usability is becoming increasingly critical to online success, but most designers or developers have no formal training in it. HFI's Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) program validates a usability practitioner's expertise in user-centered design.

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Training, Certification, and Career Outcomes – (pdf file)

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Certified Usability Analyst

There are currently 3736 HFI-Certified Usability Analysts™.

HFI-Certified Usability Analysts have a clear understanding of research-based principles of designing interfaces from the perspective of the end user. They perform data gathering, task analysis, and usability testing. They pinpoint the usability problems and offer design solutions. The usability analyst brings the critical success factor to bear throughout the development life cycle. That is, designing for the user.

The advantages of becoming HFI-certified:

Get certified by the world's leading user-centered design firm.
Become a recognized usability authority within your company and appear in HFI's official CUA directory
Help your company increase user satisfaction in products and services
Achieve growth and progress in your career path
Join CUA Central – exclusive new online community for Certified Usability Analysts

Read how CUA certification helped Art Zippel in his career.

The certification served as a reinforcement for what I'm doing, so I am more confident in presenting a concept or design"

Jim O'Brien
Senior Interaction Designer
AutoTrader.com

The training was great, very effective. Now, having been tested and certified by HFI, I have more confidence in addressing usability challenges."

Chow Sok Mui Murie
Senior Creative Consultant
NCS, Singapore

The Process: Become HFI-Certified

HFI-Certified Usability Analysts pass an examination demonstrating their mastery of the fundamental principles of user-centered design. The following HFI courses provide a solid foundation in this knowledge. You can take the certification exam without having to take these courses.

Course 1. User-Centered Analysis and Conceptual Design
User-centered analysis is the basis for designing software interfaces that are intuitive and easy to use. In this course, you'll learn the methods of analyzing user requirements.

Course 2. The Science and Art of Effective Web and Application Design
This course draws on the most up-to-date usability research and on the principles of successful visual design. You will learn how to create winning Web sites that balance user performance and visual appeal.

Course 3. Practical Usability Testing
A critical component of creating a user-centered application is progressive testing. This course provides practical techniques to help you move the design into accordance with the user's needs, limitations, mental models and cognitive styles.

Course 4. Putting Research into Practice
This course provides participants a fast-paced review of recent usability research with a distinct "How can I use this?" focus.

HFI's public course schedule

I went to a taxonomy conference recently and much of the discussion was around 'are we a profession?', 'what are the qualifications needed?', 'what should we call ourselves,' and 'do we need a certification program?'

" HFI is way ahead of the game and has done so much to provide standards for the usability field through their courses and programs. I really appreciate the work they're doing and feel that I'm able to do a better job for my company as a result of HFI's courses and certification program."

Linda Moir
Manager, Web
Communications
Alberta Blue Cross

Examination

Several times a year, HFI will offer a two and a half hour online exam. In India we offer a proctored exam for those wishing to be certified. For information on examinations in India, please contact training@humanfactors.com.

Online Exam Dates – 2012 January 10 2012 March 20, 2012 May 22, 2012	July 24, 2012 September 25, 2012 November 27, 2012

Register for exam. Upon successful completion of the exam, HFI-Certified Usability Analysts receive an authenticated certification diploma. If you do not pass the exam, you can retake it within six months at no cost. For pricing of the courses and the examination, please see below.

Keeping Current

Our policy is "Once a CUA, always a CUA." However, HFI-Certified Usability Analysts can stay up-to-date on the latest Web design research by attending the Putting Research into Practice course each year.

Future options may include affiliation of the program with a university so students would receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for taking the four courses.

Pricing

Courses range from $1,345 to $1,645 each.

There is a $175 fee to take the two and a half hour online examination once all classes are completed. If you wish to take the exam without taking the HFI courses, the fee is $750.

Certification Track Pricing

If you prepay for the complete certification track in advance (four courses plus the examination) the cost is $5,320. This track must be completed within a two-year period. This certification track fee is non-refundable, but course seats may be transferred to another person. Contact Judy or Karen at 1-800-242-4480 or by email if you would like to be on this track. For information about onsite pricing, please call 1-800-242-4480.