Best Instructional Designer certifications

The best certifications for an instructional designer are Certified Instructional Technologist (CIT), Instructor Certification (EPIC), and Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP).

Instructional designer certifications demonstrate your competency as an instructional designer to employers. However, not all instructional designer certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best instructional designer certifications. Obtaining an instructional designer certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

Instructional Designer Jobs

14 best instructional designer certifications

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1. Certified Instructional Technologist (CIT)

The Certified Instructional Technologist (CIT) certification is a certification for those in technical or scientific specialties other than health and environmental training.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying Organization
Board of Certified Safety...
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2. Instructor Certification (EPIC)

Are you an experienced vocational instructor or HVAC professional who is looking to take your career to the next level? If so, EPIC may be an option for you. EPIC is an extremely intensive four-day class.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying Website
Instructor Certification
Certifying Organization
Air Conditioning Contractors of...
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3. Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP)

IPMA-HR strives to encourage excellence in public sector human resources, promote continuous learning and develop the next generation of leaders. To that end, IPMA-HR offers two internationally recognized certification programs to the public HR community: the IPMA-CP and the IPMA-CS.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
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4. Certified Technical Professional (CTP)

Certified Technical Professional (CTP) program is designed to serve graduates of both 2-Year and 4-Year Programs. The exam is broad-based, geared to technical programs without a management component that result in either an associate (AS, AAS) degree or a baccalaureate (BS, BA) degree.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? 
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5. Master Certified Web Professional - Designer (CWP)

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
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6. Project Management Professional (PMP)

The PMP designation following your name tells current and potential employers that you have demonstrated a solid foundation of knowledge from which you can competently practice project management.To be eligible for a PMP Credential, you must first meet specific educational and project management experience requirements and agree to adhere to a code of professional conduct. The final step to becoming a PMP is passing a rigorous multiple-choice examination designed to objectively assess and measure your ability to apply project management knowledge in the following six domains: initiating the project, planning the project, executing the project, monitoring and controlling the project, closing the project, and professional and social responsibility. This computer-based examination is administered globally with translation aids in 10 languages.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
Course That Help You To Prepare For Certification
Project Management Certification Training + 2 Practice Exams
udemy
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7. Certified Professional Technical Communicator - Expert (CPTC)

The Certified Professional Technical CommunicatorTM (CPTC) credential assures employers and the public that the certified practitioners possesses the knowledge, skill, and ability needed to meet the demands of complex technical communication projects from the planning stage through completion.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
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8. Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP)

The Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) offered by the ASTD Certification Institute offers workplace learning and performance (WLP) professions an opportunity to enhance credibility and prove value in an increasingly competitive marketplace.The ASTD is pleased to announce the operational launch of the CPLP credential in 2006. This is a broad-based credential for the learning and performance professional. It covers nine areas of expertise as defined by the ASTD Competency Model, which are: Designing Learning, Improving Human Performance, Delivering Training, Measuring and Evaluating, Faclitating Organizational Change, Managing the Learning Function, Coaching, Managing Organizational Knowledge, and Career Planning and Talent Managment.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
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9. Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ)

The NCIDQ Examination consists of three separate exam sections, the Interior Design Fundamentals Exam (IDFX), the Interior Design Professional Exam (IDPX), and the Practicum Exam (PRAC), that measure a candidate's proficiency in interior design principles and application of knowledge to protect public health, safety and welfare. Two of the exams, IDFX and IDPX, are multiple choice exams.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 1 year(s)
Certifying Website
Certified Interior Designer
Certifying Organization
Council for Interior Design...
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10. Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant

The Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant (MCLC) credential recognizes Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) whose job roles have grown to include frequent consultative engagements with their customers. They are more than technology trainers-they diagnose current and desired business performance and design learning solutions to bridge the gap.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? 
Certifying Organization
Microsoft Corporation
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11. Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF)

The IAF Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF) is the professional designation for IAF members who demonstrate having Core Facilitator Competencies. The Core Competencies represent a fundamental set of skills, knowledge, and behaviours that support effective facilitation in a wide variety of contexts.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? 
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12. Defensive Driving Instructor (DDI)

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? No
  • Renewal Required? No
Certifying Organization
National Safety Council
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13. Certified Manager Certification (CM)

The Certified Manager Animal Resources (CMAR) certification program is designed to raise competency and professionalism in the field of Animal Resources Management. The CMAR designation involves a series of four examinations: three exams arranged via an organization called the Institute for Certified Professional Managers (ICPM), and the Animal Resources Exam offered by AALAS. Obtaining the CMAR designation is a sign of professionalism in the field of animal resources management.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? 
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14. Certified Planning Engineer (CPE)

Our AAPM Global Board of Standards issues the CPE Certified Planning Engineer - Board Certification to qualified applicants who have met our commission requirements of: Education, Training, Experience, Industry Knowledge, Ethics, and Continuing Education.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying Website
Certified Planning Engineer
Certifying Organization
American Academy of Project...

Instructional Designer Jobs

What is the best certification for an instructional designer?

The best instructional designer certification is Certified Instructional Technologist (CIT). The Certified Instructional Technologist (CIT) is awarded by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this instructional designer certification:

  • To become a certified Certified Instructional Technologist (CIT), you need to pass the exam.
  • This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every 3 year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for instructional designers?

The most in-demand instructional designer certification is Instructor Certification based on all active job postings. Having this instructional designer certification will give you access to more instructional designer jobs with higher salaries.

What certifications can impact an instructional designer career and salary?

The Certified Technical Professional certification will help you to secure an technical writer position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. An technical writer's average salary is $63,424 whereas instructional designers make an average salary of $57,534.

Best Certifications

The most common combination of instructional designer certifications include: Certified Instructional Technologist (CIT), Instructor Certification (EPIC), and Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP).

Online courses for instructional designers to earn certifications

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1. Foundations of Virtual Instruction

coursera

Welcome to Foundations of Virtual Instruction! This course will help you 'up' your game and develop the advanced skills and techniques that elude even some of the most experienced virtual teachers in the K-12 space. Examine pitfalls and learn how to overcome them by focusing on the fundamentals that have the most significant impact on student learning in a blended or online environment. When you complete this course, you will be able to: • Craft virtual learning experiences that align with your...

2. Advanced Instructional Strategies in the Virtual Classroom

coursera

Welcome to Advanced Instructional Strategies in the Virtual Classroom! This course will help you apply strategies to the critical areas of K-12 virtual instruction to significantly impact virtual education. We will examine the pitfalls beginning teachers run into and learn how to overcome them by focusing on the fundamentals that have the greatest impact on student learning in a blended or online environment. By the end of the course, you will be able to empower your students to be voracious...

3. Instructional Design for ELearning

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Designing Successful ELearning Courses. Learn from a multi-award-winning instructional designer...

4. The complete Instructional Designer course

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Learn the skills to become an e Learning Instructional Designer for Corporate Learning and Development...

5. Instructional Design for Classroom Training

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Design effective and engaging in-person classroom training sessions and learning experiences from scratch...

6. Instructional Design for Corporate Learning and Development

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Giving you the tools to design and deliver on-point, effective corporate training programs...

7. Instructional Design Pro (Part 1): No Beginners Allowed!

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Write Golden Training Curriculum that's Easier to Learn and More Enjoyable to Teach...

8. Instructional Design Pro (Part 3): No Beginners Allowed!

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Write Golden Training Curriculum that's Easier to Learn and More Enjoyable to Teach...

9. Instructional Design Pro (Part 2): No Beginners Allowed!

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Write Golden Training Curriculum that's Easier to Learn and More Enjoyable to Teach...

10. Learn Articulate Storyline 360 from scratch

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Learn to creat interactive e Learning using Articulate Storyline 360...

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