UXQB

What UXQB does

UXQB (International Usability and User Experience Qualification Board e.V.) is a German non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2013 and headquartered in Cologne. The organisation operates the CPUX (Certified Professional for Usability and User Experience) certification programme, comprising five credentials: CPUX-F (Foundation in Human-Centred Design), CPUX-M (Essentials in UX and HCD Management), and three advanced certifications — CPUX-UR (User Requirements Engineering), CPUX-DS (Designing Solutions), and CPUX-UT (Usability Testing and Evaluation). All curricula are grounded in ISO 9241-210 and other international standards, authored by field experts, and made freely downloadable; UXQB has issued 10,000+ certifications cumulatively across its history. Certification exams are administered by independent certification providers globally, including Pearson VUE test centres, remote browser-based apps, and in-person paper exams arranged by training providers.

The organisation's revenue model rests on two streams: per-exam fees (approximately 300 EUR for CPUX-F/CPUX-M and 600 EUR for advanced-level exams, with member discounts of 10-20%) and annual Recognised Training Provider (RTP) membership fees of 1,500 EUR, unchanged since 2014. UXQB reaches the market entirely through indirect channels — 36 RTPs across 10 countries (Austria, China, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Korea, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom) deliver training and handle exam logistics; the CPUX programme is officially recognised by five European national UX associations (German UPA, UX Switzerland, UXPA UK, UX Denmark, UXPRO Austria). The organisation is governed by a volunteer board under Section 26 of the German Civil Code (BGB), chaired by Thomas Geis, with John Goodall as Vice-chairperson and Matthias Reisemann as board member.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally light: the public website is built on WordPress and hosted by IONOS SE, with a separate members/login portal at app.uxqb.org and no public APIs, SDKs, or proprietary software product. The competitive positioning rests on ISO-standards anchoring, free curriculum access, official association recognitions, and the scale of the certified-professional and RTP networks rather than on technology differentiation.

Name

UXQB

Legal name

UXQB – International Usability and User Experience Qualification Board e.V.

Website

https://uxqb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UXQB is a Cologne-based non-profit that operates the CPUX certification programme — five ISO 9241-210-anchored credentials (foundation through advanced) for UX professionals, delivered through 36 Recognised Training Providers and independent exam providers (including Pearson VUE) across 10 countries, with 10,000+ certified holders to date.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

UX Professional Certification

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Certification & Licensing Exam Management Platforms (EDAFADAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Learning Experience Design (LXD) & UX for Learning (EDAGAKAF)

Keywords

• UX professional certification
• Human-centred design standards
• Usability testing and evaluation
• User requirements engineering
• UX management certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Certification Exam Fees: UXQB charges certification exam fees through independent certification providers. Advanced-level certifications (CPUX-UR, CPUX-DS, CPUX-UT) cost approximately 600 EUR per exam. Foundation and Management certifications (CPUX-F, CPUX-M) cost approximately 300 EUR. Members of member organisations receive discounts (10% for advanced, 20% for foundation/management). Revenue is collected via independent certification providers operating globally, including Pearson VUE test centres.
2. Recognised Training Provider (RTP) Annual Fees: RTPs pay an annual fee of 1,500 EUR to UXQB to maintain their recognised status. This has remained unchanged since 2014. RTPs receive access to additional training materials, the UXQB Recognised Training Provider logo, ability to list courses in the official training calendar, and the right to arrange UXQB-accredited certification exams at the end of training courses.
3. Training Provider Certification Coordination: UXQB coordinates with independent certification providers to deliver exams at the end of training courses, for a fee per delegate. This creates a per-transaction revenue stream alongside the RTP annual fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UXQB develops and maintains the CPUX certification programme, comprising five certifications covering Human-Centred Design, UX and HCD management, user requirements engineering, designing solutions, and usability testing and evaluation. It provides open-access standards-based curricula and certification exams, with training delivered by Recognised Training Providers and exams administered by independent providers worldwide.

Product overview

UXQB (International Usability and User Experience Qualification Board) operates the CPUX (Certified Professional for Usability and User Experience) certification programme - a comprehensive portfolio of five certifications covering the full spectrum of UX and usability expertise. The programme consists of two entry points: CPUX-F (Foundation in Human-Centred Design) providing fundamentals, and CPUX-M (Essentials in UX and HCD Management) for UX leadership. Three advanced-level certifications - CPUX-UR (User Requirements Engineering), CPUX-DS (Designing Solutions), and CPUX-UT (Usability Testing and Evaluation) - build upon the foundation. All curricula are based on international standards (ISO 9241-210), free to access, and certification is delivered through independent exam providers worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CPUX-F (Foundation in Human-Centred Design) Foundation-level certification covering the fundamental principles and processes of Human-Centred Design as described in ISO 9241-210. It introduces key UX and usability terms, concepts, and processes, including context of use, user requirements, design solutions, and evaluation, and is intended for people becoming familiar with usability fundamentals.
• CPUX-M (Essentials in UX and HCD Management) Certification introducing User Experience and Human-Centred Design management for UX managers, consultants, product owners, and other organisational leaders. It covers communicating the importance and impact of UX, advocating UX in organisations, engaging senior management, and applying UX leadership practices.
• CPUX-UR (User Requirements Engineering) Advanced-level certification for identifying and managing user requirements. It covers context-of-use analysis; planning and implementing user-research methods; and extracting, structuring, specifying, and prioritising usage requirements for development projects.
• CPUX-DS (Designing Solutions) Advanced-level certification for translating user requirements into design solutions. It covers conceptual models, information architecture, interaction design, prototyping, interface and sensory design, accessibility, design ethics, and cultural diversity for professionals involved in designing interactive systems.
• CPUX-UT (Usability Testing and Evaluation) Advanced-level certification for evaluating user interfaces through usability tests with users, usability inspections, and user surveys. It covers planning, conducting, analysing, and reporting on usability-test findings for professionals responsible for ensuring project usability.
• Recognised Training Provider (RTP) programme Annual organisational status for training companies and institutions that deliver CPUX curricula. Recognised Training Providers receive additional training materials, UXQB Recognised Training Provider branding, official training-calendar listing, and the right to arrange UXQB-accredited certification exams at the end of training courses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ certified professionals worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• German UPA (German Usability and User Experience Professionals Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman UPA is the German professional association for usability and UX professionals. It officially recognises the CPUX certification programme, providing credibility and endorsement within the German UX professional community. CPUX certification holders who are members of German UPA receive a 20% discount on foundation/management exams (10% on advanced exams).
• UX Switzerland (uxschweiz.ch)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUX Switzerland officially recognises the CPUX certification programme, providing credibility and endorsement within the Swiss UX professional community.
• UXPA UK (User Experience Professionals Association UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUXPA UK officially recognises the CPUX certification programme, providing credibility and endorsement within the UK UX professional community.
• UX Denmark (ux-danmark.dk)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUX Denmark officially recognises the CPUX certification programme, providing credibility and endorsement within the Danish UX professional community.
• UXPRO Austria (uxpro.at)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUXPRO Austria officially recognises the CPUX certification programme, providing credibility and endorsement within the Austrian UX professional community.
• Pearson VUEcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPearson VUE is a global exam delivery partner that administers CPUX certification exams at test centres worldwide. UXQB-accredited independent certification providers use Pearson VUE infrastructure to deliver exams globally.
• 36 Recognised Training Providers (RTPs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRTPs are authorised training partners that deliver CPUX curricula worldwide. They pay an annual fee of 1,500 EUR, must use trainers with 80%+ exam scores, and are required to use only UXQB-accredited certification providers. RTPs receive additional training materials and the UXQB Recognised Training Provider branding. Major RTPs include: Spiegel Institut Mannheim GmbH (Germany), usability.de GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), UXEA / USE-Ing. GmbH (Germany), Mindfacts GmbH (Germany), bemorrow GmbH (Germany), eresult GmbH (Germany), ProContext Consulting GmbH (Germany), inovex GmbH (Germany), artop GmbH (Germany), Cegos Integrata GmbH (Germany), Owl Insights (Germany), rocket-media GmbH (Germany), Gain (UK), User Vision Ltd (UK), alysis GmbH (Austria), AIT Austrian Institute of Technology (Austria), TrustWorks A/S (Denmark), Digicomp Academy AG (Switzerland), Zühlke Engineering AG (Switzerland), and others. RTPs are located in Austria, China, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Korea, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
• Independent Certification ProviderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent certification providers are accredited by UXQB to administer CPUX certification exams. They operate globally, offering exams at Pearson VUE test centres, via remote browser-based exam apps, and in-person paper exams. RTPs must use only UXQB-accredited certification providers.
• bemorrow GmbH (newly accredited RTP)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorbemorrow GmbH was officially accredited as a Recognised Training Provider by UXQB in February 2026, joining the network of qualified UXQB training providers and expanding its professional education offerings with CPUX-aligned courses.
• leefs CX GmbH (newly accredited RTP)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorleefs CX GmbH was officially accredited as a Recognised Training Provider by UXQB in February 2026, expanding its portfolio to include officially recognised courses preparing professionals for the CPUX certification.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• UXPA International: UXPA International is the global professional association for UX practitioners. While UXQB's certifications are recognised by national UXPA chapters, the parent organisation itself shapes credential expectations that compete for attention with CPUX.
• Interaction Design Association (IxDA): IxDA is the leading global community for interaction designers, with local chapters and events that shape UX professional identity. It is thematically adjacent to UXQB in setting UX professional standards and recognition.
• Skillsoft UX and Design Courses: Skillsoft offers enterprise UX training and credentialing programmes that compete with UXQB for corporate UX upskilling budgets, particularly relevant to the CPUX-M manager/leadership audience.

Direct peers

• Human Factors International (HFI): HFI offers Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) and other UX credentials and training. It overlaps directly with UXQB's CPUX-UT and CPUX-F certifications as a vendor-neutral UX certification body.
• Nielsen Norman Group: NN/g is the most recognised UX training and research firm globally, offering UX Certification and extensive UX courses. It is a direct competitor to UXQB in providing vendor-neutral UX credentials to practising professionals.
• User Interface Engineering (UIE): UIE provides UX research, training, and community resources aimed at practising UX professionals. It is comparable to UXQB in audience (working UX practitioners) and content area (usability, UX research, design).
• Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF): IxDF is a large online UX learning community offering UX courses, certifications, and memberships. It competes with UXQB for self-study UX learners and offers an alternative certification path to CPUX.

Emerging players

• IA Institute: IA Institute focuses on information architecture and content strategy certifications, which overlap with UXQB's CPUX-DS (Designing Solutions) curriculum covering IA and interaction design.
• Google UX Design Professional Certificate (Coursera): Google's UX Design Certificate on Coursera is a high-volume, employer-recognised alternative to CPUX-F for entry-level UX learners. It targets the same 'UX beginners / career starters' segment as UXQB's foundation certification.
• IBM UX Design Professional Certificate (Coursera): IBM's UX Design Certificate provides an alternative industry-recognised credential for aspiring UX professionals, competing with CPUX-F and CPUX-M for foundational learner mindshare.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uxqb_info
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uxqb-%E2%80%93-international-usability-and-user-experience-qualification-board-e-v-

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UXQB