Why Join WebProfessionals.org and What Are the Member Benefits?

Updated

WebProfessionals.org is a professional association for web designers, developers, marketers, analysts, and other web professionals. According to the site, it exists to empower "technical, creative & business-savvy Web professional[s]," and its membership structure is built around three areas it groups as Design, Development, Business. If you work in or around the web and want a professional community, credentialing path, and industry connections, joining is the main way to access those resources. The site lists a dedicated "Why Join WebProfessionals.org?" page and a "Member Benefits" page under its Join section, so the specific benefit list lives there rather than being fully spelled out on the homepage.

Reasons to join the community

The site frames membership around belonging to a community of web professionals rather than a single product. Based on the navigation and headings, the practical reasons fall into a few buckets:

  • Community – a "Welcome / About Community" area and a "Join the Community of Web Professionals" call to action.
  • Credentials – a full certification program (see below), which is one of the most developed parts of the site.
  • Events and partners – a "Conferences & Events" section and an "Industry Partners" listing.
  • Recognition and contests – including the Web Design Contest and the "Iron Chef of Web Design" and "Iron Chef of Information Security" challenges.
  • Career support – a "Web Pro Jobs" section with job-seeking tips, hiring guidance, and interview tips.

Member benefits

The site points to a "Member Benefits" page as the authoritative list. From the structure of the site, the benefits you can expect to engage with as a member include:

Area What the site offers
Community Access to the WebProfessionals.org community and its welcome/about resources
Education Web Professional Academy Program, an Education Alliance Program, and training such as the 2018 Summer Class and Web Design Training Foundations Courses
Certification A large catalog of certifications (see next section)
Events Conferences & Events, plus design and security challenges
Careers Web Pro Jobs, job-seeking tips, hire-a-professional and interview tips
Advocacy An Advocacy Backgrounder, Executive Committee, and Advisors

Because the homepage does not enumerate every benefit, treat the "Member Benefits" page as the place to confirm exactly what is included before you join.

Certification options

Certification is the most detailed offering visible on the site. The catalog includes professional, associate, apprentice, and novice levels across several tracks:

  • Web Design – Certified Professional Web Designer, Certified Web Designer Associate (CWDSA), plus apprentice and novice levels.
  • Webmaster – Certified Professional Webmaster (CPW), Certified Associate Webmaster, Certified Apprentice Webmaster (CAW-apprentice).
  • Web Development – Certified Professional Web Developer, Certified Web Developer Associate, plus apprentice and novice levels.
  • Web Administration – Certified Professional Web Administrator, Certified Web Administrator Associate, plus apprentice levels.
  • WordPress Administration – Certified Professional WP Administrator and associate, apprentice, and novice levels.
  • Web Animation – Certified Professional Web Animator (CWAnim) and associate, apprentice, and novice levels.
  • Web and Mobile App Development – Certified Professional Web and Mobile App Developer (CWMA) and associate, apprentice, and novice levels.
  • Business/consulting – Certified Web Consultant-Small Business (CWCSB) and Certified E-Commerce Manager (CECM).

The site also provides a Certification Overview, Certification Benefits, Testimonials, and a Frequently Asked Questions page, plus a "Register For Exam" link. If certification is your main reason for joining, start with the Certification Overview and FAQ before registering.

How to join or renew

The Join section contains two clear actions: Join WebProfessionals.org and Renew Your Membership. The general flow is:

  1. Go to the Join section of the site.
  2. Choose "Join WebProfessionals.org" for a new membership, or "Renew Your Membership" if you are already a member.
  3. Review the "Why Join WebProfessionals.org?" and "Member Benefits" pages first so you know what you are signing up for.

The site does not publish pricing or payment details in the material available here, so check the Join pages directly for current fees and requirements rather than assuming membership is free.

Community, conferences, and partners

Beyond certification, the association positions itself as a hub:

  • Conferences & Events – listed under the Community section.
  • Industry Partners – a partner directory.
  • Contests – the Web Design Contest and the Iron Chef challenges.
  • Education alliances – an Education Alliance Program and directory, with named institutions such as Illinois Central College (ICC), Harper College, and West Hills Community College.
  • In Memoriam – a section honoring members.

A practical way to decide

If you want a professional community plus a recognized certification path, WebProfessionals.org is structured for that. If you mainly need a job board or event listings, the Web Pro Jobs and Conferences & Events sections are accessible entry points to explore first. Before joining, open the "Why Join" and "Member Benefits" pages to confirm the current offering, then check the Certification Overview if a credential is your goal.