Compare certifications
Compare digital marketing and UX certifications in New Zealand.
Six IDNZ certifications side by side: how long each one takes, what it costs, what you learn, the jobs that use those skills, and what those jobs pay in New Zealand and Australia.
- Internship
- A real one, included
- Length
- 11 weeks (JumpStart 5)
- Mentoring
- Weekly, one-to-one
- Funding
- Up to 50% with MCDF
5.0 from 90+ Google reviews1,000+ students and business owners trained since 2016
The short answer
- For all-round digital marketing: the Certified Agile Digital Marketing Expert (CADME), our most popular course. 11 weeks, $4,789 + GST.
- For one channel: Social Media (CASMME) or Search Marketing (CASME, for SEO and Google Ads). 11 weeks, $4,789 + GST each.
- For leading a team: Digital Strategy (CADSE). 11 weeks, $4,789 + GST.
- For a move into UX: the 5-week UX Design JumpStart ($2,597 + GST), then the 11-week UX Product Design certification (CAUXPDE, $4,789 + GST), which includes AI agentic design.
- Every 11-week certification includes a real internship in digital marketing or UX product design, plus coaching in business, branding and advertising.
- All of them run online with weekly one-to-one mentoring, and eligible NZ businesses can have up to 50% covered through MCDF funding.
Which one fits
Six certifications, two career paths.
-
MarketingMost popular
Certified Agile Digital Marketing ExpertCADME
Marketers and business owners who want the whole digital toolkit in one course.
11 weeks$4,789 + GST
Roles that use these skills
- Digital marketing specialist
- Digital marketing manager
-
MarketingCertified Agile Social Media Marketing ExpertCASMME
Anyone running social channels who wants better content and paid social results.
11 weeks$4,789 + GST
Roles that use these skills
- Social media coordinator
- Social media manager
-
MarketingCertified Agile Search Marketing ExpertCASME
People responsible for the traffic a website gets from Google, paid or organic.
11 weeks$4,789 + GST
Roles that use these skills
- SEO specialist
- Paid search (SEM) specialist
-
MarketingCertified Agile Digital Strategy ExpertCADSE
Managers who set digital strategy, own the budget and lead a team.
11 weeks$4,789 + GST
Roles that use these skills
- Marketing manager
- Head of marketing
-
DesignCertified Agile UX Product Design ExpertCAUXPDE
Designers, marketers and career changers moving into UX and product design, including AI products.
11 weeks$4,789 + GST
Roles that use these skills
- UX designer
- Product designer
-
DesignAgile UX Design JumpStart
Complete beginners who want to try UX before committing to 11 weeks.
5 weeks$2,597 + GST
Roles that use these skills
- Junior UX/UI roles, after building a portfolio
Compare at a glance
Length, price and format, side by side.
Prices are in New Zealand dollars, excluding GST, and locked in for 2026 and 2027. Eligible NZ businesses can have up to 50% covered through MCDF funding, or you can pay interest-free over up to 12 months with Splitit.
| CADMEMarketing | CASMMEMarketing | CASMEMarketing | CADSEMarketing | CAUXPDEDesign | JumpStartDesign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Certified Agile Digital Marketing Expert | Certified Agile Social Media Marketing Expert | Certified Agile Search Marketing Expert | Certified Agile Digital Strategy Expert | Certified Agile UX Product Design Expert | Agile UX Design JumpStart |
| Length | 11 weeks | 11 weeks | 11 weeks | 11 weeks | 11 weeks | 5 weeks |
| Price (NZD, excl. GST) | $4,789 + GST | $4,789 + GST | $4,789 + GST | $4,789 + GST | $4,789 + GST | $2,597 + GST |
| What you learn | The full digital marketing stack: SEO, paid media, content, email, analytics and AI. | Platform strategy, AI content workflows and paid social campaigns. | SEO, Google Ads and Performance Max, AI search visibility and search analytics, worked on your own website. | Digital strategy, budgets and leading a digital marketing team. | UX research, Figma prototyping, CX strategy, agile delivery and AI agentic design, on a real client project or your own business. | UX and UI basics for beginners: research, personas, wireframes, Figma prototyping and a portfolio piece. |
| You apply it to | Your own business or role | Your own business or role | Your own website | Your own business or role | A real client project or your own business | A portfolio piece |
| Format | Online, weekly one-to-one mentoring | Online, weekly one-to-one mentoring | Online, weekly one-to-one mentoring | Online, weekly one-to-one mentoring | Online, weekly one-to-one mentoring | Online, weekly live mentor sessions |
| What you get | Industry certification | Industry certification | Industry certification | Industry certification | Industry certification | Course (a first step towards CAUXPDE) |
Skills
What each certification covers.
CADME covers the most ground. The others go deeper on one area.
Core focus Covered Not part of this course
| Skill | CADME | CASMME | CASME | CADSE | CAUXPDE | JumpStart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEO and AI search visibility | Core focus | Not covered | Core focus | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered |
| Google Ads and paid media | Core focus | Not covered | Core focus | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered |
| Social media and paid social | Covered | Core focus | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered |
| Content and AI content workflows | Core focus | Core focus | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered |
| Email marketing | Core focus | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered |
| Analytics | Core focus | Not covered | Core focus | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered |
| AI tools for marketing | Core focus | Core focus | Core focus | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered |
| Digital strategy and budgets | Covered | Not covered | Not covered | Core focus | Not covered | Not covered |
| Leading a digital marketing team | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Core focus | Not covered | Not covered |
| UX research and personas | Covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Core focus | Covered |
| Wireframes and Figma prototyping | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Core focus | Core focus |
| CX strategy and agile delivery | Covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Core focus | Not covered |
| AI and agentic product design | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Core focus | Not covered |
Careers and salaries
The jobs these skills lead to, and what they pay.
Typical advertised salaries in New Zealand and Australia for roles that use what each certification teaches. Pick a certification to see its roles.
- 10.4%of New Zealand marketing and communications job ads now ask for AI skills.SEEK NZ Employment Report, Sept 2026
- 3.4 monthson average to fill a digitally skilled role in New Zealand.AWS, Unlocking New Zealand’s AI Potential 2026
Each figure is the typical midpoint of the salary ranges employers put in SEEK job ads, as analysed by WhatsTheSalary (data refreshed 2 June 2026). The New Zealand social media figure comes from SEEK’s own salary guide (October 2026). Amounts are in local currency, so NZ$ and A$ are not equal, and advertised ranges are a guide, not confirmed pay. Starting roles pay less: a marketing coordinator in New Zealand is typically advertised at about NZ$68k (WhatsTheSalary, June 2026), and SEEK puts a social media coordinator at NZ$70k–75k (October 2026).
The numbers as a table
| Role | Certification | New Zealand | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital marketing specialistRuns campaigns across search, social, email and content day to day. | CADME | NZ$83k51 ads | A$93k122 ads |
| Digital marketing managerOwns the digital channels, the budget and the results. | CADME | NZ$123k19 ads | A$123k92 ads |
| Social media managerPlans content, runs paid social and reports on what works. | CASMME | NZ$88kSEEK NZ, Oct 2026 | A$98k39 ads |
| SEO, SEM and performance rolesGrows traffic from Google through SEO and paid search. Figure is SEEK’s whole Digital & Search Marketing category. | CASME | NZ$98k487 ads | A$98k1,510 ads |
| Marketing managerLeads marketing plans, budgets and a team. | CADSE | NZ$123k124 ads | A$123k388 ads |
| Head of marketingSets marketing strategy and reports to the leadership team. | CADSE | NZ$173k21 ads | A$173k97 ads |
| UX/UI designerResearches users and designs screens and flows. | CAUXPDE | NZ$123k24 ads | A$113k24 ads |
| UX designerRuns user research and turns it into tested designs. | CAUXPDE | NZ$133k13 ads | A$133k15 ads |
| Product designerDesigns digital products end to end, increasingly including AI features and agents. | CAUXPDE | NZ$158k16 ads | A$158k40 ads |
New to UX?
The 5-week Agile UX Design JumpStart is the first step towards the design roles above. You finish with a portfolio piece, then move on to the 11-week UX Product Design certification to work on a real product.
What recruiters look for
Employers hire for skills. We teach to the job.
A qualification tells a recruiter what you studied. Work on a real business shows them you can do the job. IDNZ is built for that gap: 11 weeks, nothing you won’t use, and a real internship in digital marketing or UX product design. Alongside the course, you’re coached and mentored in business, branding and advertising, which makes it a different way to study in New Zealand.
- 01
11 weeks, no fluff
We cut anything you don’t need to do the job, so every week is spent on skills you’ll use.
- 02
A real internship
Work in digital marketing or UX product design on a real business, so you finish with results to show an employer.
- 03
Business, branding and advertising
One-to-one coaching from practitioners on how businesses grow, how brands are built and how advertising works.
Certification or diploma
11 weeks, or a year of study?
Both are good routes. They suit different people. Here is how an IDNZ certification compares with a typical one-year NZQA digital marketing diploma.
| IDNZ certification | One-year NZQA diploma | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 11 weeks (UX JumpStart 5 weeks) | 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time |
| Weekly study | Built to fit around a job | Around 30 hours full-time, 15 part-time |
| Tuition | $4,789 + GST (UX JumpStart $2,597 + GST), locked in for 2026 and 2027 | Around $10,000 or more, plus course costs |
| Funding | Up to 50% through MCDF for eligible businesses, or Splitit over 12 months | StudyLink loans and allowances, if eligible |
| Work experience | A real internship in digital marketing or UX product design | A capstone or industry project |
| How you learn | Weekly one-to-one mentoring, plus coaching in business, branding and advertising | Live online classes and projects |
| What you get | Industry certification | NZQA-approved Level 5 or 6 diploma |
| Best if | You want job-ready skills quickly, while you work | You want a formal qualification or a student loan |
Diploma figures are 2027 fees and study hours published by a New Zealand online digital marketing school for its Level 5 and Level 6 diplomas. Check with each provider for current details.
“I would not have secured my current role if it hadn’t been for those internships.”
“Our organisation is now benefitting from me having fresh, up-to-date IP which I can put into practice daily.”
Still deciding
Pick by the job you want to do.
- You want one course that covers all of digital marketingCADME
- Social media is your job, or you want it to beSocial Media Marketing (CASMME)
- You’re responsible for traffic from GoogleSearch Marketing (CASME)
- You lead a team and own the digital budgetDigital Strategy (CADSE)
- You want to design digital productsUX Product Design (CAUXPDE)
- You’re curious about UX but new to itUX Design JumpStart
FAQs
Questions people ask before they enrol.
Which IDNZ certification should I start with?
If you want one course that covers the whole of digital marketing, start with the Certified Agile Digital Marketing Expert (CADME). It is our most popular certification. Pick the Social Media (CASMME) or Search Marketing (CASME) certification if one channel is your job, the Digital Strategy certification (CADSE) if you lead a team and own a budget, and the UX certifications if you want to move into design. If you are still unsure, book a free 15-minute call and we will help you choose.
What is the difference between CADME and the Search Marketing certification (CASME)?
CADME covers every major channel: SEO, paid media, content, email, analytics and AI. The Certified Agile Search Marketing Expert (CASME) goes deeper on one area: SEO, Google Ads and Performance Max, AI search visibility and search analytics, all worked on your own website. Choose CADME for breadth and Search for depth.
Are IDNZ certifications NZQA qualifications?
No. IDNZ certifications are industry certifications, and that is deliberate. They are built around what the job needs right now, so we can update them as fast as the tools change, and every 11-week certification includes a real internship in digital marketing or UX product design.
Do employers care whether a course is NZQA-approved?
Most hiring managers look at skills first. In the Hays 2025 Skills Report, 86% of hiring managers across Australia and New Zealand said they were turning to skills-based hiring. A formal qualification can still matter for some roles, visas or student loans, so it depends on your goal. IDNZ certifications are built around the skills the job needs, and the internship gives you real work to show an employer.
How much do the certifications cost?
Every IDNZ certification is $4,789 + GST, and that price is locked in for 2026 and 2027. The 5-week Agile UX Design JumpStart is $2,597 + GST. Eligible New Zealand businesses can have up to 50% covered through MCDF funding, and you can also pay interest-free over up to 12 months with Splitit.
How long does each certification take?
The five certifications each run for 11 weeks. The Agile UX Design JumpStart is a 5-week course for beginners.
Are the certifications online or in person?
Every certification runs online with weekly one-to-one mentoring, so you can study from anywhere in New Zealand or Australia. IDNZ also runs one-day masterclasses and team training in person in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and Tauranga.
What jobs can I get after an IDNZ certification?
Each certification teaches the skills used in specific roles: digital marketing specialist and manager (CADME), social media coordinator and manager (CASMME), SEO and paid search roles (CASME), marketing manager and head of marketing (CADSE), and UX, UX/UI and product designer (CAUXPDE). No course can guarantee a job, but you finish with a real internship and work you have applied to a real business, which you can show an employer.
How much do digital marketing and UX jobs pay in New Zealand and Australia?
Based on salary ranges advertised in SEEK job ads (June 2026), a digital marketing specialist is typically advertised at about NZ$83k in New Zealand and A$93k in Australia, and a digital marketing manager at about $123k in both. UX designers are advertised at about $133k and product designers at about $158k in both countries. Figures are in local currency and come from advertised ranges, not confirmed pay.
Should I do an IDNZ certification or a one-year diploma?
It depends on what you need. NZQA digital marketing diplomas usually take a year of full-time study (or two part-time), cost around $10,000 or more in tuition, and qualify for StudyLink loans. They suit people who want a formal qualification. IDNZ certifications take 11 weeks, cost $4,789 + GST, are built to fit around a job, and you apply every week to a real business. Eligible NZ businesses can have up to 50% covered through MCDF funding. They suit people who want job-ready skills quickly.
I'm new to UX. Where should I start?
Start with the 5-week Agile UX Design JumpStart. It covers research, personas, wireframes and Figma prototyping, and you finish with a portfolio piece. When you are ready to work on a real product, move on to the 11-week Certified Agile UX Product Design Expert, which also covers AI agentic design: designing products where AI agents act on a user’s behalf.
Not sure which one fits? Talk it through with us.
A free 15-minute call is enough to match your goals to the right certification and check whether MCDF funding applies to you.