Question 1

Why should I attend the ATD Master Instructional Designer Program?

Accepted Answer

Develop and demonstrate mastery of instructional design to position yourself as a credible, evidence-based professional.  Learn research-based best practices from across the Talent Development Capability Model to elevate your instructional design skills. Benefit from the role-modeling, wisdom, and guidance of an ATD expert facilitator. Learn with and from a group of peers through application-based discussions and reflections. Gain access to tools, resources, and templates to use on the job.  Confirm your strengths and close your gaps in the practice of instructional design.  Earn the industry-recognized ATD Master Instructional Designer designation and digital badge.  Accelerate your pathway toward achieving the APTD or CPTD certification.

Question 2

How the does the program work?

Accepted Answer

This program is getting an update in October 2026! Carefully review the schedule for your selected dates. For eight-week blended programs, you will:  Engage in a flexible around-your-schedule program via ATD’s online learning platform.  Attend four virtual facilitator-led sessions throughout the program, in weeks 1, 3, 5, and 7. For four-day live in person or eight-session live online programs (see schedule for exact session dates), you will: Complete all activities and project activities with your cohort during your sessions. This updated format does not include any self-paced work.  Take the online assessment after you complete your sessions.  If you have any questions, contact ATD Customer Care:  +1.800.628.2783 +1.703.683.8100 customercare@td.org

Question 3

Who should attend the ATD Master Instructional Designer program?

Accepted Answer

This program is ideal for experienced instructional designers and training and development specialists ready to boost their competency, capability, and confidence in instructional design. Review the eligibility criteria before you enroll. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA To ensure you gain the most from this advanced-level program, you must have a: Minimum of three years in the instructional design profession Solid understanding of instructional design principles and terms Demonstrated knowledge and application of various instructional design models A strong background in traditional instructional design tasks which could include conducting needs assessments, writing effective learning objectives, structuring content, developing learning materials, implementing training solutions, and evaluating learning impact Awareness of design considerations for a variety of modalities (for instance, traditional classroom, virtual classroom, and e-learning) Completion of a foundational ATD certificate program (preferred, not required) Not quite ready for this program? ATD’s Instructional Design Certificate is a great fit for participants new to the field or those with some experience who wish to learn and practice foundational instructional design principles, models, and skills.  ATD offers a variety of additional instructional design courses, such as E-Learning Instructional Design Certificate, Virtual Instructional Design Certificate, and Writing for Instructional Design and Training Certificate.

Question 4

Which programs can I take for my elective course offering?

Accepted Answer

To support ongoing professional development, ATD master program registration includes a complimentary course elective. Take the ATD certificate program of your choice following successful completion of your ATD master program. Exclusions apply. Learners cannot enroll in the following as their complimentary elective:  Other ATD master programs  Essentials for Practitioners in Talent Development  Talent Development Executive Certificate  Applying AI in Learning & Development Certificate Training Design & Delivery Certificate  Fundamentals of Negotiation Skills Workshop APTD or CPTD preparation courses and preparation bootcamps ATD self-paced and on-demand courses, including ATD's Online Course Library and Micro courses Please note that you must schedule your elective course within 12 months of program completion.

Question 5

What are the attendance policy and course requirements?

Accepted Answer

Additional information to help you prepare for your program: Completion Requirements: Review the attendance policy before your course begins to ensure your successful completion.  Technical Requirements: Ensure your tech is ready for the first day of your program. Enrolled in a program? To check your course status and enrollment details, launch your course, or download your certificate, go to MyATD.  Terms and Privacy: Review our cancellation policy, health protocols for in-person courses, and more.  Have additional questions about ATD courses? Visit our ATD Education FAQ for answers.

Question 6

What is the difference between the ATD Master Instructional Designer program, ATD’s Instructional Design Certificate program, and an instructional design graduate certificate?

Accepted Answer

Each of these instructional design courses serves a different need. ATD's Master Instructional Designer is an advanced instructional design certificate program. The course is assessment-based, assumes some prior knowledge of instructional design, and goes more in depth than ATD’s Instructional Design Certificate. Alongside a certificate of completion, you will earn the ATD Master Instructional Designer designation, a verified credential recognized in the talent development field. The Instructional Design Certificate is a foundational program that introduces the end-to-end instructional design process from needs assessment through evaluation. If you are new to instructional design or have some experience but are looking for formal training, this certificate in instructional design is the place to start. The program also works well for talent development professionals who specialize in training, learning technology, or other aspects of the field and want to deepen their knowledge of the instructional design process. Like instructional design graduate certificates, ATD’s instructional design programs include leading instructional design principles and models. But, unlike those instructional design courses, our facilitators are experienced in the talent development field and our content, real-world application opportunities, practical skills, and tools, templates, and resources are tailored specifically to instructional design in learning and development.

Question 7

Does the ATD Master Instructional Designer program count toward other industry-recognized certifications or CEUs?

Accepted Answer

In addition to an ATD Master designation, 2.8 CEUs, and a digital badge, participants can accelerate their pathway to APTD or CPTD certification by completing the program, which satisfies the professional development hours required for certification eligibility. Visit the certification website for the full details on eligibility requirements. This program offers recertification credit toward PHR, SPHR, and GPHR through the HR Certification Institute. It is valid for PDCs for SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP, and provides recertification points from the ATD Certification Institute for APTD® and CPTD® credentials.

Question 8

Is this program available for team training?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this program is available for team training. Connect with ATD’s Enterprise Solutions team to explore bringing this course to your organization, either on site or virtually, and save up to 30%.  An ATD representative will work with you to match your team with the right facilitator, coordinate scheduling for your preferred delivery format, and discuss options to tailor the content to your organization’s specific goals and needs.

Additional Credits	Type	Credits	Actions
APTD Credential	Professional Development Hours/Recertification Points	28	More Info
CPTD Credential	Professional Development Hours/Recertification Points	28	More Info
HR Certification Institute®	Recertification Credit Hours	28	More Info
Society for Human Resource Management	Professional Development Credits (PDCs)	28	More Info

ATD Master Instructional Designer® Program

Prove your ability. Elevate your design. Develop impactful learning solutions.