I have been a professional trainer for \_\_\_\_\_ years! This is the reply offered by so many trainers when asked to prove they’re truly a professional. For a long time, it’s all we could really say. Maybe we could add something about the projects we’ve completed or the workshops we have attended, but that was all, and it was frustrating!

In 2005 when I became a full-time corporate trainer, there weren’t any widely recognized certifications or degrees to define our skills. My HR department asked me to prove I could train our new hires, so I created a PowerPoint deck and taught a short session for leadership. Mission accomplished. Job secure . . . for the moment.

But was I really a professional? I was and still am a good presenter; but what else was I? Could I prove it?

Several co-workers had MBAs and a few others had Microsoft certifications, but I had nothing except a track record and a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field.

Fast forward 13 years, and little had changed. Enter the APTD/CPLP certifications. After 13 years of being a full-time trainer, I have now passed the APTD exam and am well on my way to taking the CPLP exams.

Now, in addition to my years of experience and strong evaluations, I can be measured against a truly professional standard. I have the confidence of knowing that my knowledge is on par with other professionals in learning and development. I, and my employer, can measure my growth against this standard. Now I understand more about instructional design, which was largely a mystery to me in the past. Now I’m learning about HPI, knowledge management, ROI, and the list goes on.

Now I can have larger conversations with leadership about an expanded role in my organization that includes responsibilities outside of the classroom.

What a difference a certification makes.

Learn more about becoming an APTD today!