Feature
Research Report
The ROI of Employee Experience
A learning and development certification gives you an edge — and in today's workplace, you need one. The field of learning and development moves fast, and staying sharp isn't optional anymore.
According to the 2025 LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report, employees want their organizations to invest in their training. In fact, 84% of people said it adds purpose to their work and 68% said it helps them adapt during times of change.
We've gathered some L&D certifications and ways to upskill to help L&D professionals deliver effective learning in the workplace. By no means is this an exhaustive list, but these investments are worth considering for your professional development.
Table of Contents
- How to Choose a Learning and Development Certification
- 12 Learning and Development Certification Programs to Consider
- 1. Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM)
- 2. Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD)
- 3. Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD)
- 4. Agile Certification for HR and L&D
- 5. SHRM: Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
- 6. Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
- 7. Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
- 8. Certified Learning and Development Professional (CLDP)
- 9. Certificate in Designing in Online Learning
- 10. Certification in Generative AI in HR & L&D
- 11. Applying AI in Learning & Development Certificate
- 12. SHRM AI+HI Specialty Credential
- Expanding Opportunities with a Learning and Development Certificate
How to Choose a Learning and Development Certification
With a multitude of courses and training programs available, it might feel impossible to narrow down the options and make the right choice. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned learning and development specialist, here's a guide on selecting the best learning and development certification tailored to your needs.
- Identify your career goals. Where do you envision your career in five or 10 years? As a training coordinator, corporate strategist, L&D consultant? Different learning and development certification courses cater to varied career aspirations. Mapping your goals will sharpen your focus and help you find certification programs that align.
- Research curriculum and content. Dive deep into the content of the learning and development certifications on your radar and ensure they incorporate the latest trends, methodologies, tools and approaches. Does it cover elements you're passionate about? Or the latest emerging learning trends, for example the use of AI in workplace learning?
- Look at reputation and accreditation. Consider training programs for professional development that are recognized and accredited by notable L&D organizations. A globally recognized learning and development certificate not only enhances your resume but is more likely to ensure a quality education.
- Think about flexibility and mode of delivery. In today's world, flexibility is a must. Determine if you need a learning and development certification that offers online, hybrid of on-demand modules.
- Consider cost and return on investment (ROI). Compare the costs of various corporate training and development certification factors. Considerations should include course duration, resources provided, technical skills required, networking opportunities and potential salary increases post-certification.
- Look for testimonials. Dive into reviews and testimonials. Do people have mostly good things to say about the training programs?
- Opt for continuous support and engaging training programs over ones that just hand you a certificate and wave goodbye. The best L&D programs will provide continuous resources, updates about the field and opportunities for further learning. They'll also have an active and engaged alumni network that can open doors to networking opportunities, mentorship and job prospects.
12 Learning and Development Certification Programs to Consider
A number of certification programs exist that cover a range of core competencies, from performance management to ethical behavior to employee retention strategies.
To determine which learning programs might be the most useful to you, it could be helpful to first perform a skills gap analysis, analyzing which skills you still need to be successful in your role or desired role. Then, look for a program with training materials that address those skills.
Some of the most popular certification programs include:
1. Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM)
The Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM) is an internationally recognized certification that focuses on the skills and competencies of the training manager and aligning learning and development plans to the goals of the organization.
Rolf Bax, formerly CMO at Career.io, recommends this corporate training certificate, which is meant for those who are interested in becoming employee training managers. It's full of the skills required for designing and managing training programs.
The course revolves around seven core responsibilities and competencies of a training manager:
- Strategic alignment
- Developing and delivering solutions
- Evaluating performance
- Identifying needs
- Optimizing processes
- Managing technology
- Selecting and managing resources.
"The certification will upskill the HR [human resources] professionals in a variety of fields and at every level of seniority," Bax said. Besides training and human resource management, all the leaders of the organization and everyone working their best to produce high results can benefit from this certification, Bax added.
There is no prerequisite for this certification program, but you will get the certification only if you pass the final exam. The exam is about 100 multiple-choice questions, and you need to score a minimum of 70% to earn the certification.
2. Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD)
The Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) is a corporate training program aimed at those who are early on in their professional L&D careers. It's focused on the core building blocks of the field, including communication, emotional intelligence, decision-making, collaboration, cultural awareness and more.
The Talent Development Capability Model from the Association for Talent Development Association for Talent Development
The typical APTD credential holder has three to five years of experience in talent development, and around 15% of candidates who've earned the APTD so far are in a management role, according to the Association for Talent Development.
Eligibility requirements for the Associate Professional in Talent Development include:
- Three years of paid, professional work experience with adults in the TD field or related discipline AND 28 hours of professional development in talent development content over the past three years OR
- Three years of paid, professional work experience with adults in the TD field or related discipline AND successful completion of any ATD Master Series Certificate within the past three years.
3. Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD)
The Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) is another career advancement program offered by the Association for Talent Development. The certification is aimed at talent development professionals with at least five years of experience.
The CPTD covers the capabilities from the Talent Development Capability Model, such as:
- Project management
- Lifelong learning
- Compliance and ethical behavior
- Performance improvement
- Change management
- Instructional design
- Technology application
- Evaluating impact
To be eligible for the CPTD program, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Five years of experience AND 60 hours of qualified professional development OR
- Four years of experience AND a current APTD credential OR
- Five years of experience AND completion of an ATD Masters Series certificate within the past five years.
4. Agile Certification for HR and L&D
The Agile for HR and Learning and Development certification from Training Industry is ideal for any HR or training and development professionals who want to bring agile methodologies into their practices.
People who finish this certification program will learn:
- How to articulate purpose and need relating to Agile processes.
- Design employee journeys that support engagement.
- Shape initiatives that will complement shifting leadership patterns in Agile organizations.
- How to embrace a growth mindset and innovative perspectives to increase business agility.
- How to improve and align recruiting, onboarding and performance management processes.
This course's training delivery is live and online over the course of three half days. There are no prerequisites to signing up for and completing the course, making it great for those looking to move further into their learning and development careers.
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5. SHRM: Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
While not strictly a Learning & Development certification, the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) program is for those pursuing a career in human resource management or those who perform HR-related duties at work, which will frequently cover L&D. Those who wish to complete this program do not need a degree or previous HR experience.
The SHRM-CP exam assesses HR competency at the organizational level, looking at:
- The implementation of policies
- Supporting day-to-day HR functions
- Serving as an HR point of contact for staff and stakeholders
The final exam includes three different types of questions: HR-specific knowledge, situational judgment and leadership, covering seven top areas: Organization, People, Leadership, Business, Interpersonal and Workplace.
To be eligible for the SHRM-CP program:
- You must perform HR or HR-related duties or pursue a career in human resources
- Your current or most recent work in HR must be operational in nature
- Your HR duties tend to be specialized rather than generalized.
6. Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
SHRM also offers the Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification, an advanced training and development course for HR professionals. SHRM recommends that HR leaders who define HR policies, develop strategies, analyze performance metrics, oversee HR operations, and align HR strategies to organizational goals should go for the SHRM-SCP exam.
SHRM's topic breakdown for the Senior Certified Professional certification SHRM
The development professional program covers topics such as:
- HR policies and procedures
- Leadership development
- Ethics in human resources
- Interpersonal competencies
- Employment law
- Diversity and inclusion in HR
Eligibility requirements for the certification program include:
- At least three years performing strategic level HR duties
- SHRM-CP holders who have been certified for three years and are transitioning to a strategic role
- The ability to show that they have devoted at least 1,000 hours per calendar year to strategic level HR work, or HR-related work.
7. Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
HCRI offers a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) among its many human resources-related certifications. Again, this is wider than an L&D certification but covers the topic within its curriculum.
The SPHR certification in particular covers the following:
- Developing training, development management and employee retention strategies (modes of delivery, timing, content).
- Analyzing business needs to develop a succession plan for key roles (for example: identify talent, outline career progression, coaching and development).
- Developing and evaluating employee retention strategies and practices (for example: assessing talent developing career paths, managing job movement within the organization).
To be eligible for this certification program, HR professionals must meet one of the following conditions for education and experience:
- Have at least four years of experience in a professional-level HR position AND a Master's degree or higher.
- Have at least five years of experience in a professional-level HR position AND a Bachelor's degree.
- Have at least seven years of experience in a professional-level HR position AND a high school diploma.
8. Certified Learning and Development Professional (CLDP)
The Certified Learning and Development Professional course, offered through the Global Skill Development Council (GSDC), is a robust online learning course designed to help learners build strong expertise in the field of L&D.
The training sessions cover topics like:
- L&D core competencies and techniques.
- Modern adult learning methods.
- Learning experience and design.
- Digital transformation and learning technology.
- Designing comprehensive education for the learning journey and business alignment.
- Leadership development and management development programs.
- How to measure training effectiveness and evaluate training impact with L&D metrics.
This certification program is a mix of on-demand videos and weekend live sessions, and those who sign up gain access for life. To earn the learning and development certificate, learners must pass a final exam and complete a capstone project where they will apply newly learned skills to real-world scenarios.
According to GSDC, this certification is helpful for those who want to advance their career opportunities and stay on top of the competitive job market.
9. Certificate in Designing in Online Learning
The Certificate in Designing in Online Learning (CDOL) from LPI aims to equip L&D professionals with the knowledge to design effective online learning experiences.
It covers areas such as:
- Designing learning materials that reflect best practice design principles
- Ensuring areas such as brand alignment to establish credibility
- Reducing cognitive load and increasing engagement
- Providing a consistent and seamless experience.
The certificate consists of thirty hours of study, including 18 hours of online learning and 12 hours of self-study. There are no required conditions for entry.
Editor's Note: The article has been updated on Jan. 22, 2026 to include new data and information.
10. Certification in Generative AI in HR & L&D
The GSDC also runs a Certification in Generative AI in HR & L&D, another learning course based on videos and weekly live sessions, as well as an opportunity for a one-to-one session with an expert in the field.
According to GSDC, the course aims to equip HR & L&D professionals so they can, among other things:
- Demonstrate competence in the area of generative AI.
- Applying generative AI to create learning solutions.
- Use prompt engineering for HR & L&D.
- Use AI to produce media.
- Apply generative AI techniques to different industrial contexts
- Innovate using AI
- Advocate for the ethical use of AI.
Topics covered include the role of employee experience and employer branding, process automation in L&D, and the rise of agentic AI.
As part of the certification program, participants get the opportunity to learn how to use many of the different leading tools, with opportunities to practice in real time.
11. Applying AI in Learning & Development Certificate
The Association for Talent Development's Applying AI in Learning & Development Certificate is a three-day, in-person training program that provides an overview of AI for L&D professionals. According to ATD, it aims to help participants to use AI to create learning solutions and integrate AI to streamline and automate everyday workflows.
Topics covered include:
- Redefining L&D roles
- AI performance consulting
- AI learning needs access and action mapping
- Using AI for learning journey design
- Advanced AI implementation
- And more.
The course is designed to be very hands-on, but participants will need to have access to an LLM through a subscription to ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot or similar.
12. SHRM AI+HI Specialty Credential
While not strictly a certification, the SHRM AI+HI Specialty Credential offers 30 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) that contribute to HR professionals maintaining SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification.
The source covers areas such as:
- strategic visioning around AI
- integrating AI into key HR areas such as recruitment, development and rewards
- ethical and responsible leadership around AI.
The course is delivered through a mix of instructor-led labs, a number of self-paced modules, an online forum for community learning and discussions, and a capstone project involving the development of an AI implementation plan.
Expanding Opportunities with a Learning and Development Certificate
Staying relevant in today's workplace means never stopping learning — especially if you're responsible for training others. The certification programs mentioned above offer practical ways to sharpen your skills and create training programs that actually work. Better training means better careers and stronger organizations overall.
Whether you're just getting started in learning and development or looking to level up, the right certification keeps you ahead of what employers need today and tomorrow.
Editor's Note: What else is happening in the world of learning and development?
- Learning and Development Needs a Reset — We need to evolve L&D from telling and teaching, to activating new skills, capabilities, habits and behaviors.
- Busting the Top L&D Myths: What the Research Really Shows — Research challenges common L&D myths, showing that learning success depends on context, content and design choices rather than outdated assumptions.
- AI Is Moving Skills Management Out of Spreadsheets and Into Action — Skills shape hiring, learning and knowledge management, but efforts are often fragmented. Can AI-powered solutions finally fix how organizations manage skills?