How to Become a Certified Professional Photographer

Step 1: Declare Your Candidicacy


Take the first step in your Certification journey! The candidacy application fee is $200 and allows you two years to complete the exam and the Technical Image Evaluation requirement.

Declare Today


Step 2: Take the Certification Exams


Take the CPP Exams when you feel ready!

With on-demand proctored exam access, you can take the test from the comfort of your own computer, whenever you’re ready.

No scheduling needed! The exams are located at the bottom of each module in the Credentialing Curriculum.

There are 6 exams and you can take them in any order, at any time. If you declared your candidacy before February 1, 2025, you are not required to take the Module 6: Introduction to Business Exam. 

Prep for your exam with the free CPP Curriculum

The CPP Curriculum features:

  • Engaging video content & tutorials
  • PowerPoint presentations that you can download
  • Practice quizzes to test your knowledge 
  • The Photography Certification Guide link inside each module

Get started with the CPP Curriculum


Step 3: Technical Image Evaluation


After you have passed the CPP exams, you will be eligible to submit your images to the Technical Image Evaluation.  There are 10 evaluation periods per year and each submission period will be open for one week.

In this part of the CPP journey, you will be required to create three assigned images using the Technical Image Evaluation kit from BlickU. All candidates must use the same kit for the Technical Image Evaluation. 

  • Please only order the items on the Blick U List.
  • Please allow between 5-10 business days for kit delivery. Each kit costs approximately $35, shipping included.
  • Note: If the 8 pack of Crayola Crayons from BlickU is on backorder, you may pick those up from your local store or order them on Amazon.

Using the 5 items in the kit and the evaluation setup guidelines, you will choose from one of three offered lighting scenarios inside the Technical Image Evaluation Handbook to create the images assigned. These set ups will demonstrate your understanding of key photographic concepts including depth of field, camera angle, exposure, lens compression, white balance, light sources and file handling criteria. All images will be evaluated on pre-set elements including composition, focus, sharpness, lighting, camera angle and white balance. A successful evaluation will satisfy all elements for all three images.

You will be able to submit your evaluation as many times as needed during your candidacy period and there is no charge to submit your images.

Technical Image Evaluation Submission Dates

March 11-18, 2026
April 8-15, 2026
May 6-13, 2026
June 10-17, 2026
July 8-15, 2026
August 5-12, 2026
September 9-16, 2026
October 7-14, 2026
November 4-11, 2026


Technical Image Evaluation Resources

Download the Technical Image Evaluation Handbook


Technical Image Evaluation Curriculum

Head over to the CPP Curriculum page for instructional videos to guide you through this final step.

Technical Image Evaluation Curriculum

And don't forget the CPP FAQs here, if you have any questions!


Step 3: Technical Image Evaluation


After you have passed the CPP exams, you will be eligible to submit your images to the Technical Image Evaluation. Starting in 2025, there will be 10 evaluation periods per year and each submission period will be open for one week.

In this part of the CPP journey, you will be required to create three assigned images using the Technical Image Evaluation from BlickU. All candidates must use the same kit for the Technical Image Evaluation. 

  • Please use the Ordering Guide to help you through the process.
  • Please allow between 5-10 business days for kit delivery. Each kit costs approximately $35, shipping included.
  • Note: If the 8 pack of Crayola Crayons from BlickU is on backorder, you may pick those up from your local store or order them on Amazon.

Using the 5 items in the kit and the evaluation setup guidelines, you will choose from one of three offered lighting scenarios inside the Technical Image Evaluation Handbook to create the images assigned. These set ups will demonstrate your understanding of key photographic concepts including depth of field, camera angle, exposure, lens compression, white balance, light sources and file handling criteria. All images will be evaluated on pre-set elements including composition, focus, sharpness, lighting, camera angle and white balance. A successful evaluation will satisfy all elements for all three images.

You will be able to submit your evaluation as many times as needed during your candidacy period and there is no charge to submit your images.

Technical Image Evaluation Submission Dates

February 11-18, 2026
March 11-18, 2026
April 8-15, 2026
May 6-13, 2026
June 10-17, 2026
July 8-15, 2026
August 5-12, 2026
September 9-16, 2026
October 7-14, 2026
November 4-11, 2026

Technical Image Evaluation Curriculum

Head over to the CPP Curriculum page for instructional videos to guide you through this final step.

Technical Image Evaluation Curriculum

And don't forget the CPP FAQs here, if you have any questions!