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ATD’s certification program has evolved with its learners. Now, it is about to award its 5,000th certification.

The ATD Certification Institute anticipates its 5,000th certificant by the end of 2023, a significant milestone for the department.

ATD formed the Certification Institute in 2004 to develop, administer, and promote credentialing programs in talent development. The first credential the Certification Institute issued was the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) in 2006. It should be noted that the CPLP changed to the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) in 2020 due to a global study regarding the needs of talent professionals. The resultant research helped create the ATD Talent Development Capability Model.

The Certification Institute has continued to evolve, introducing the Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) in 2017. Both the CPTD and the APTD credentials are recognized worldwide, with certificants on every continent except Antarctica.

As ATD nears its 5,000th certificant, the Certification Institute continues to give TD professionals the tools they need to validate their knowledge and skills.

“As organizations are changed by artificial intelligence and automation, part-time and contract workers, virtual and remote work, and other factors, TD professionals can leverage their diverse skill set to unleash human potential to drive learning and results,” explains ATD Director of Credentialing Morgean Hirt. “Our APTD and CPTD certifications are grounded in the Talent Development Capability Model, which details those skills.”

How much have ATD’s certifications helped TD professionals? The Certification Institute recently partnered with the ROI Institute to study the value of the association’s certification programs. The study found that:

· More than 90 percent of current certificants say they gained new insight into their work and had increased confidence because of the programs.

· Eighty-eight percent reported improved work quality and time savings.

· Seventy-four percent have improved innovation and have seen improved internal stakeholder satisfaction.

· The APTD program has a return on investment of 255 percent, and the CPTD has an ROI of 179 percent.

Interested in applying for one of ATD’s certification programs? Learn more about each certification program and how you can apply.