In my last blog post, I explained how I’d finished my journey to becoming an instructional designer for a government contractor. This post will focus on what my certification journey and a professional credential can do for you. For context, in my first two blogs posts (td.org/insights/my-talent-development-career-journey-in-the-public-sector and td.org/atd-blog/changing-course-but-moving-forward-in-my-career), I discussed how I earned my bachelor’s of education degree in 2009 and master’s of education degree in 2012, which helped me to get work as a corporate trainer.
Once I received my master’s degree, I asked myself, “What now?” Did I want to go back and earn another master’s degree in my preferred area of specialization, or did I want to go for a PhD? As a proponent of lifelong learning, I believe that anytime you can add letters behind your name, it is a good thing. However, after more than five years of working a full-time job and earning two degrees, I was done with the classroom.
After researching the issue, I determined that while my degrees showed I had the theoretical knowledge of how to design, deliver, and manage training, a professional certification would show I had the practical knowledge and experience. Earning a credential was more appealing than going back to school. It would take less time and money and provide more credibility in the workplace.
I had heard about the Certified Professional in Learning & Performance (CPLP) certification (now the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) certification), and it seemed like the best fit for my needs. At the time, earning the CPLP required passing a knowledge exam and submitting a work product. Over time, the process for earning the CPTD credential has evolved to the point that only one exam is required.
During my first attempt to earn the certification, I was able to pass the knowledge exam, but I was unable to develop and submit my work project. After a couple of cross-country moves, I was in a place where I could again attempt to earn my certification. By this time, the work product had been replaced by a skills application exam that was supposed to measure how well I could apply my knowledge at work. My supervisor advised me to think about a “best-case scenario” when answering the questions, not how things might happen in the “real world.” However, that was harder said than done, and I failed the exam twice before passing on my third try. A lot of “blood, sweat, and tears” had gone into earning my certification, so as soon as I received my certificate in the mail, I had it professionally framed. Then I repeated the process after the change to the CPTD.
This story tells you how I earned the letters behind my name, but it doesn’t answer why I did it or why you should. As I said earlier, I believe anytime you can add letters from an accredited organization behind your name, it is a good thing. It adds credibility to what you say and do. Degrees are routinely used as gatekeepers during the application process, and in most cases, you don’t need a degree in that specific job field. A bachelor’s degree tells your potential employer of your ability to learn, while an advanced degree can give you a salary bump.
Employers view professional certifications differently because they are designed to measure whether you meet a standard that a profession has set. And typically, they must be renewed every few years, which means credential holders must stay current in their field.
In some cases, holding a professional credential is required by employers, but in many cases, they are simply a preferred or desired qualification. The CPTD and APTD are increasingly mentioned as preferred qualifications in job descriptions. A recent search on Indeed produced over 500 job postings with APTD or CPTD listed.
So again, I ask, what does the CPTD or APTD do for you? It can aid you in getting your next job by setting you apart from other applicants. It could be the reason you get an interview while your competitor doesn’t. This requires the hiring manager to understand the significance of the certification and what you would bring to the table versus your competitor.
Public sector entities vary widely in their dedication to talent development. Employers who list APTD or CPTD as a preferred qualification are signaling that they understand and value talent development as a profession. Including it in their job postings helps to set them apart from other employers in a competitive job market. In turn, having the certification may also help you to identify and attract employers who are serious about talent development. With your knowledge of best practices, you will be better positioned to help your organization to excel. That is the value and why you should consider certification.
So, why did I work to get my certification? It wasn’t to necessarily help me get my next job. My reason was much more primordial: I wanted to prove that I was a talent development pro. It was my ticket to being part of an elite group of professionals with approximately 3,000 members worldwide and saying that I have been recognized by my peers within my chosen industry.
