Adult Learning Certificate
The foundational course for those who teach and develop lifelong learners.
Gain foundational knowledge of the theories and cognitive science principles underlying adult learning in the workplace to design, build, and facilitate learning with greater impact.
Live Online
Face to face
Course Info
Practices for successful adult learning differ greatly from those used for teaching children. By understanding the science behind how adults learn, as talent development and education professionals, we should optimize our learning and development initiatives to better meet outcomes and drive behavior change. To put it simply, this course will change the way you work and increase your impact.
This comprehensive certificate program introduces the key adult learning and cognitive science theories and demonstrates how instructional designers, facilitators, subject matter experts who train, and other practitioners can put them into practice to maximize learning impact. With this critical knowledge at your fingertips, you will be able to use adult learning principles to inform all aspects of your education and training initiatives, from needs assessments to developing learning content to engaging and motivating participants in and outside of the classroom. You will explore how the adult brain works, including information processing, cognitive load, and communication theories and how these can be deployed in a learning setting.
Format
Live Online
Face-to-Face
Roles
Independent Consultant, Instructional Designer, Talent Development Manager, Training/Talent Development Coordinator, Trainer/Facilitator, Professor/Educator
Capability Areas
Learning Sciences, Training Delivery and Facilitation, Instructional Design
Level
Capable
Language(s)
English
Credits
APTD 14
CPTD 14
CEU 1.4
HRCI 14
PDC 14
Recognition
ATD Certificate of Completion, Digital Badge
ATD Adult Learning Certificate Brochure
Download the brochure to learn everything you need to know about this course.
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COURSES BY ROLE
Trainer / Facilitator
Still exploring options? ATD offers more train-the-trainer courses on a variety of specialized topics, including in-person and virtual training, and evaluating learning. Learn more!
Course Topics
Dates & Locations
Time Zone: UTC
Apr 15 - 24 2025, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Live Online
Online
May 6 - 15 2025, 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Live Online
Online
May 16 - 17 2025, 12:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Face-to-Face
Washington, DC
Jun 2 - 11 2025, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Live Online
Online
Jun 16 - 25 2025, 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Live Online
Online
Credits & Recognition
ATD Certificate of Completion
Digital Badge
14 Learning Hours1.4 CEUs| Additional Credits | Type | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| APTD Credential | Professional Development Hours/Recertification Points | 14 | More Info |
| CPTD Credential | Professional Development Hours/Recertification Points | 14 | More Info |
| HR Certification Institute® | Recertification Credit Hours | 14 | More Info |
| Society for Human Resource Management | Professional Development Credits (PDCs) | 14 | More Info |
Facilitators
Lynette Van Steinburg
Virtual Effectiveness Driver | Virtual Effectiveness Consulting
Lynette Van Steinburg has worked in the sphere of corporate learning, leadership, and transformation since 1997. She has had experience in leadership, project management, instructional design, development, change management, quality...
Ronnie Blanton
Director Curriculum and Staff Development Division | Foreign Service Institute
Ron Blanton entered the talent development field as a result of his passion to help others succeed. After a 27-year military career where he had two assignments as an instructor...
Emmy Monticelli, CPTD
CEO & Founder | Momentum Learning Solutions
Emmy Monticelli is a certified leadership and mindfulness coach, facilitator, and consultant with more than 20 years of experience developing leaders, trainers, and employees in talent management. Her upbringing amidst...
Esther Jackson
Project Manager
Esther Jackson helps people discover their potential. Esther resides in Michigan and has myriad experiences in HR leadership, project management, instructional design, and training management. She is a project manager,...
Amy P. Kelly
President and Chief Learning Officer | Amy P. Kelly Companies
Amy P. Kelly, SHRM-SCP, SPHR is a Human Resources & Talent Management Executive. She builds award-winning employment brands, corporate universities, leadership development programs, and organizational well-being strategies. She is a...
Aya Medhat, CPTD
Freelance Training | Independent Consultant
Aya is an enthusiastic training professional with 14+ years of experience in managing training projects and learning activities, designing and delivering trainings that vary between soft skills and technical topics...
Beth Yoder
Head of Professionalization & Innovation in Education | University of Groningen
Beth Yoder specializes in helping local talent succeed in the global arena. Through experiential learning focused on application and outcomes, she designs and facilitates multicultural team training, leadership development, diversity...
Christie Ward
Principal | The Impact Institute
Christie is Principal of the Impact Institute, a consulting firm that helps clients with interpersonal communication skills, team skills, leadership skills and presentation skills. She deals with real issues, asks...
Donald Ford
President | Training Education Mgmt. LLC
Donald J. Ford, Ph.D. is a training and performance improvement consultant specializing in instructional design, human resources and quality improvement. As President of Training Education Management LLC since 1997, he...
Emily Wood, CPTD
Founder | Serenity Learning LLC
With a robust 20-year career in learning and development, focusing on learner experience design, Emily Wood is a seasoned professional dedicated to driving organizational success through innovative learning solutions. Emily...
Jennie Walker
Global Leadership Development Consultant and Professor | DeEtta Jones & Associates
Jennie Walker has more than 20 years of experience designing and facilitating talent development solutions across cultures, industries, and organizational levels for many leading companies. She specializes in developing people...
Darryl Wyles
Senior Facilitator | ATD
Darryl Wyles is the co-author of Facilitation in Action (2022 ATD Press) and Senior Facilitator for ATD Education. He brings over 20 years of experience in talent...
Bernadette Costello
Managing Partner | BCC Consulting, LLC
Dr. Bernadette Costello is the managing partner for BCC Consulting. The foundation of her coaching and consulting practice is “you are exactly where you are supposed to be.” Affirming where...
Cecilia Lillegard, CPTD
Instructional Designer | CJLillegard3
Cecilia Lillegard is a Certified Professional in Talent Development and an innovative connector of people and processes to technology, growth, and purpose. With a focus on operational and performance improvement,...
Ethan S. Sanders
Founder and CEO | Sundial Learning Systems, Inc.
Ethan Sanders is the Founder and CEO of Sundial Learning Systems, a consulting firm specializing in the fields of organizational strategy, development, and engagement. Ethan has provided consulting services to...
Julie Patrick
Learning and Performance Consultant | JP Learning Associates
Julie Patrick is a learning and performance consultant with JP Learning Associates. Julie has been a trainer, facilitator, and instructional designer since 1992.
As a former manager of a corporate...
Jennifer Bailey
Manager, Learning & Development | Vanguard
Jennifer “Jen” Bailey is a learning solutions manager at a leading financial services organization where she has spent the last 24 years of her career. Jen has a passion for...
Lynn Lewis, CPTD
VP Training/Prof Services | Learning Solutions, LLC
Lynn Lewis is an author and learning and performance consultant who fell onto this path in life by accident. Starting her career in broadcast journalism and newswriting, she taught those...
Niamh Briody Jordan
Regional Partner | TPC Leadership Middle East
Niamh Briody Jordan is the Regional Partner for TPC Leadership Middle East, she resides in Abu Dhabi and is completing her 18th year living and working in the UAE.
Niamh...
Rusty Shields
Owner and Chief Performance Consultant | Develefy Consulting
Rusty Shields is owner and chief performance consultant at Develefy Consulting. His passion, energy, and excitement when facilitating is palpable and contagious. As a facilitator and consultant for the past...
Seema Nagrath Menon, CPTD
Founder & MD | CALM Worldwide (Center for Action in Learning Management)
Seema Nagrath-Menon is the Managing Director & Founder of CALM Worldwide (Center for Action in Learning Management), a professional and dynamic Management & Learning Consultancy.
Seema is a Talent Development...
Tracey Harris-Bennett
Facilitator, Consultant | Bennett Global Group, LLC
Tracey Harris-Bennett is an energetic, results-oriented training professional experienced in instructional design, multimedia and training program development. She has over 25 years of experience designing and delivering training solutions for clients...
WHAT OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING
Testimonials
"ATD has a strategic and forward-thinking approach to providing valuable professional development. They are constantly rethinking the value proposition of talent development on a global scale and deliberately positioning the organization in a way that adds value to my membership. I look to the association for industry trends and best practices."
Read More"This program provides the science behind practices that we pickup along the way. It gives a holistic idea about all the essential elements in the talent development field with practical examples and scenarios."
Read More"There were three major learnings from attending this program: The ecology-based method (e.g., limits of concentration); The results of the participants are the results of the trainer; All of the Trainer's comments, attitude, and actions were the very content of the program. This program provided me with the information I needed to achieve my goals."
Read MoreThings To Know
Contact Us
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Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM ET.
Phone
1.855.404.2783
mycareerpath@td.org
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