Do I Meet The Requirements?

With the right qualifications, you can start your APTD or CPLP journey today!

Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD)

APTD candidates are typically early career Talent Development (TD) professionals who want to formalize and recognize their role with a certification. Read more about the APTD eligibility requirements.

Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP)

The CPLP is a broad-based certification offered by the ATD Certification Institute for talent development professionals. Read more about the CPLP eligibility requirements.

Content loading...

Requirements At a Glance

Compare eligibility requirements for the APTD and CPLP credentials.

	APTD	CPLP
Eligibility	Minimum 3 years	Minimum 5 years
AOEs Covered	3 primary AOEs - ID, TD, LT (Also ELI and Global Mindset)	All 10 AOEs + 1 Foundational Competency
Type of Exam	Primarily Knowledge	Knowledge & Skills
Certification Process	1 Knowledge Exam	1 Knowledge Exam + 1 Skills Application Exam
Recertification	Every 3 years / 40 credits	Every 3 years / 60 credits
Test Out Option	May use qualifying ATD Masters to test-out of 1 area OR APTD to test out of 3 areas on Knowledge Exam	May use qualifying ATD Masters to test-out of 1 area OR APTD to test out of 3 areas on Knowledge Exam

For more information or specific questions regarding eligibility for the CPLP or APTD programs, please email certification@td.org.