Degrees and Certification
Professional Photographers of America (PPA) offers four degrees and a certification. PPO’s print competitions help members prepare for the District and International print competitions hosted by PPA. We also offer PPA merited classes to assist our members in achieving their degree goals as well as classes on the certification process.
Professional Photographer of America (PPA) Degrees
Photographic Craftsman (Cr.Photog.)
Awarded for service as an orator, author or mentor. This degree shows that you have gone beyond the creation of images and dedicated your time to move the industry forward and encourage education.
Master of Photography (M.Photog.)
Awarded for superior photographic skills. Demonstrated through the PPA International Photographic Competition, advanced education and service to the industry.
Master Artist (M.Artist)
Awarded for superior photographic skills. Demonstrated through the Artist category of the PPA International Photographic Competition (with images evaluated for computer-applied techniques and proficiency), advanced education and service to the industry.
Master of Wedding Photography (M.Wedding.Photog.)
Awarded for superior photographic skills. Demonstrated through the Wedding category of the PPA International Photographic Competition, advanced education and service to the industry.
*A PPA degree is not the completion of a university curriculum; it is a representation of the oldest and largest professional photography organization’s standards of excellence. Learn more about PPA Merits & Degrees here.
Certified Professional Photographer
The certification of specialized skill-sets affirms a knowledge and experience base for practitioners in a particular field, their employers, and the public at large. Certification represents a declaration of a particular individual’s professional competence. In some professions certification is a requirement for employment or practice. Doctors, mechanics, accountants, professional secretaries, surveyors and many others are all required to go through a certification process of some kind.
As the leading certifying agency for imaging professionals, the Professional Photographic Certification program is recognized throughout the industry. Those who have earned the Professional Photographic Certification have passed a comprehensive written exam measuring their technical expertise, and have successfully submitted their work to a panel of judges for review and approval.
