Digital Performance Essentials Certificate

Master the essentials of digital performance marketing and get your career off to a great start.

Discover the key disciplines in digital marketing, including SEO and Paid Search, and develop the skills you need to plan and implement successful digital marketing campaigns.

Who is the qualification for?

This qualification provides a deep dive into the core areas of digital performance marketing, ensuring participants leave with a well-rounded skill set that can be applied immediately in the workplace.

It’s designed for junior practitioners working in the communications industry – for those in their first year in a digital agency, as well as more experienced individuals looking to add knowledge of digital to their existing skill set.

What are the benefits?

  • Gaining an essential grounding in how to be a successful client manager and strategic thinker.
  • Becoming better at briefing, planning and executing digital marketing campaigns.
  • Enabling you to hold your own in team and client meetings with a deep understanding of each key discipline in digital marketing.
View the full Digital Performance Essentials Certificate syllabus.

 

What is covered?

The qualification is structured around seven core modules, each designed to build foundational knowledge and practical skills in key digital marketing disciplines:

Module 1: Display Advertising

Explore the evolution of display advertising from banner ads to sophisticated programmatic systems. Learn how to refine targeting, manage campaign bids, and align campaigns with business goals.

Module 2: Affiliate Marketing

Understand the principles of performance-based marketing, including types of affiliates, how affiliate networks operate, and how to manage campaigns effectively using real-world case studies.

Module 3: SEO

Gain a strong foundation in Search Engine Optimisation, including ethical SEO practices, historical updates, and essential strategies to improve organic visibility.

Module 4: e-Commerce Marketplaces

Delve into the workings of major e-commerce platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. Learn how to build seller profiles, optimise listings, and assess the right platform for your product.

Module 5: Social Media Advertising

Develop an understanding of how to plan, create, and optimise paid campaigns across social media platforms, including how to write effective ad copy and track performance.

Module 6: Email Marketing

Learn how to plan and execute effective email campaigns, from building subscriber lists to creating compelling content and leveraging automation tools.

Module 7: Google Ads

Get hands-on with Google Ads, covering campaign types, keyword strategies, bidding methods, and account structure to drive measurable results across Google’s network.

How is the qualification delivered and assessed?

  • 30 hours of learning across seven modules, accessible through the IPA website on any device.
  • Your knowledge is then assessed via a formal online exam.
  • Passing the exam, you will be awarded a digital certificate of completion and two MIPA stars towards personal accreditation.

How do you book and access the qualification?

Please select your chosen exam date from the ‘Intakes’ drop-down on this page and proceed to checkout.

Once booked, you can access and start your online learning via the IPA website. To access, please head to your personal IPA portal via the profile icon and click on ‘Training’. Or, visit your personal Training page.

Exam dates

  • 3 December 2025. Booking deadline 3 October 2025.
  • 4 March 2026. Booking deadline 5 January 2026.
  • 1 July 2026. Booking deadline 1 May 2026. 
  • 30 September 2026. Booking deadline 30 July 2026. 
  • 2 December 2026. Booking deadline 2 October 2026. 

Price 

  • Members: £275+VAT.
  • Non-Members: £550+VAT.

If you are purchasing the certificate as a business based outside of the UK and believe you should not be charged VAT on the sale, please get in touch with learning@ipa.co.uk. If your business is based in the EU, we will ask you to confirm your VAT number before making your booking. This VAT number will be recorded as part of your sale transaction. If your business is based outside the EU, we will ask for further evidence of your business location.

Policies

We operate a 14-day cancellation policy. Please view the policies for further details:

For more information please email learning@ipa.co.uk.

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Putting new joiners through the qualification will not only take the pressure off more senior staff, but give your new joiners a self-service learning platform where they can build confidence by developing knowledge away from their day-to-day team environment