ATD Certifications

The Association for Talent Development sets the international standard for the talent development profession. Its certifications are examined against the Talent Development Capability Model. skills+ was named ATD Best Global Partner in 2023.

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Associate Professional in Talent Development

APTD® · early to mid-career credential

For practitioners in the first years of a talent development career who work primarily in instructional design, training delivery and learning technologies. The examination covers the capabilities most relevant to hands-on delivery.

Our preparation programme runs as a blended bootcamp: a virtual kickoff with the facilitator, in-person teaching on the Capability Model, on-demand review modules across the capabilities assessed, twelve months of access to the online body of knowledge, study planning templates, and three full-length practice examinations with a facilitator debrief after each.

Certified Professional in Talent Development

CPTD® · senior practitioner credential

For experienced talent development professionals with deep knowledge across the full capability model, including organisational strategy and impact. Eligibility requires five years of talent development experience and sixty hours of qualifying professional development within the previous five years.

Preparation runs as an eleven-week blended programme: a pre-course overview of the certification institute's requirements, a virtual kickoff, five days of facilitator-led in-person teaching on the Capability Model, self-study modules, and live online check-ins through the study period.

ATD preparation courses can be reported toward the professional development hours required for eligibility, up to the limit the certification institute sets.

02Best Global Partner 2023

Recognised by the body whose credentials we teach.

ATD named skills+ its Best Global Partner in 2023. The award recognises delivery quality and reach outside the United States, and it is the credential we are least able to award ourselves, which is why it appears here rather than in a list of self-declared strengths.