APTD Certification Preparation Course

Yes, please visit the APTD certification website for resources to assess your readiness.

You may also contact the certification institute team with any questions at [email protected].

The preparation course is designed to be a comprehensive learning experience that will give you the confidence you need to take the exam. You will receive:

• Customized learning that will allow you to dive into the content you most need to learn so you won’t waste time studying what you already know.

• Core content from the TDBoK Guide that aligns to the exam content outline.

• Application of the content through stories from expert credential holders.

• Approaches for studying and preparing for the APTD certification exam.

• Full-length, timed practice test that allows you to assess your readiness in real-time with instant feedback, including answer rationales.

• Opportunities to join live online sessions to discuss the application of select capabilities.

The Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) is a credential for TD professionals with at least three years of experience—those who are in the early parts of their careers or whose professional roles and aspirations are focused on foundational areas of the field.

The APTD focuses on a subset of capabilities from the Talent Development Capability Model and covers all three domains of practice:

• Personal Capabilities - 20%

• Professional Capabilities - 50%

• Organizational Capabilities - 30%

View the detailed APTD exam content outline here.

The course uses an adaptive, assessment-based approach to allow you to customize your learning and dive into the content you most need to learn. Participants have access to the course content for a full year and can complete the sections according to their study plan. The preparation course provides 28 learning hours/2.8 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). We anticipate, however, that most candidates will spend more time on overall preparation for the exam. On average, candidates have reported spending 40-60 hours preparing for the APTD exam.

Yes, with the purchase of the APTD Preparation Course you will receive access to a complete practice test allowing you to rehearse the test-taking experience and build the confidence needed to be successful on the exam. Three fully timed test attempts are included with your course enrollment.

Sessions are open to all on-demand course participants and hosted via Webex. Complete details on each session, including how to join, are provided in the course.

ach session targets a specific capability and focuses on how to apply its concepts. Sessions also spend time examining practice questions and allow for Q&A with the facilitator. The select capabilities are emotional intelligence & decision making, collaboration & leadership, learning sciences, instructional design, technology application, organization development & culture, talent strategy & management, and data & analytics.

Two sessions are held per month, on average, biweekly, and each session repeats every three months. The full session schedule is available in the course. If you can’t attend a session that you’re interested in, don’t worry; you’ll have several more opportunities during the 12 months you have access to the course.

Yes, a recording will be made available in the on-demand course following each session.

Yes, you will receive 2.8 CEUs upon successful completion of this course.

No, attending live online sessions is not required to successfully complete the course and receive CEUs.

No, certificates of completion are not awarded for preparation courses.

Yes, the APTD Preparation Course will provide 20 hours of learning toward the APTD requirement of 28 hours of professional development.

Every candidate is unique, but we recommend allowing a minimum of six months to study for the exam. If you are newer to the profession, you may want to add additional time. Learn more about the APTD Certification.

You will be able to launch the course immediately upon enrolling via your ATD login at MyATD. Please note it could take up to 15 minutes after enrollment for your course to appear. A notification with detailed instructions will also be sent to your email.

You will have access to the on demand course for 12 months from your registration date.

You will receive a 12-month subscription with the purchase of the APTD preparation course. During that timeframe, you may access the course as many times as needed.

You may access the course via your ATD login at MyATD on any device. The course is not available offline.

At this time the course is only available in English. For more information about global resources for the APTD certification, please contact [email protected].

Yes, please contact an ATD Enterprise Solutions Account Executive here for more information on how to receive special rates for group training.

No, the exam fee, which covers 18 months of eligibility (once approved) and one test authorization, is not included in the cost of the preparation course. See the APTD Exam page to learn more.

You will access the complete online TDBoK Guide through ATD’s Bookshelf application (available through a link within the preparation course) or smaller sections via links to specific learning references throughout the course so you can easily read further about a particular topic. Detailed access instructions will be provided in the course.

Full completion of the on-demand program within the 12-month access period is mandatory in order to receive CEUs. Participants who complete all aspects of the program will see their completion status reflected on their transcript in MyATD.  

If applicable, a certificate will be issued through MyATD at the end of the program. 

 A laptop computer with Wi-Fi capability is recommended to access all on-demand courses. For the best learning experience, we suggest using the Chrome browser.  

Once your registration is complete, you will receive an email confirmation with instructions on how to log in and access the course in MyATD. Visit MyATD to check your course status and enrollment details, view credits, or download your certificate if applicable. 

Transfers/Cancellations
Click here to review our cancellation policy.

ATD Health and Safety Policy
View our health protocols for in-person courses.

Frequently Asked Questions
Have additional questions about ATD courses? Visit our FAQs for answers.