Adobe’s ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) certification is an entry-level certification for IT professionals “seeking recognition for their expertise with Adobe products†and who want to be able to “promote themselves to clients or employers as highly skilled, expert-level users of Adobe software.†The ACE was launched in 1995, and has been updated as new versions of Adobe products get released. The ACE is offered for several of Adobe’s products.
In terms of certification retirement: “Recertification is required of each ACE within 90 days of a designated Adobe Product Proficiency Exam release date. To get recertified, call Prometric. You will need to verify your previous certification for that product. If you are getting recertified, you are entitled to a 25 percent discount. In order to receive this discount, give the code "RETEST."
Job roles of those pursuing this certification typically include: graphic designers, Web designers, system integrators, value-added resellers, developers, or business professionals “seeking recognition for their expertise with Adobe products.â€
To achieve the ACE a candidate must pass one Adobe Product Proficiency exam for the product for which he or she wants to be certified.
For more information:
http://www.adobe.com/education/educators/ace_program.html