Recognizing that digital learning professionals come from many backgrounds, we explore prior learning and relevant job experience when assessing a candidate for course entry. Students are admitted following a conversation with one of our experienced Education Advisors, who assesses if participants are capable of successfully completing the course and participating with their peer group of learners.

One of the factors the advisor will consider is your commitment to putting in the time and attention required to achieve this professional qualification. Our tutors and mentors will support and guide you, but to get the most from this experience you will need adequate time each week for both study and project work.

Your fellow students come from all four corners of the globe and a wide range of professional backgrounds. While some have experience in training and development, and possibly digital learning design, some may be exploring the world of digital learning for the first time.

A good working knowledge of English is also required to benefit fully from this course. All content, including the live virtual classrooms, is delivered in English. Recommended level is B2CEFR

There are two study options when taking the certificate.

• Cohort-based learning

• On-demand learning

Cohort-based learning

Cohort-based learning offers a structured, scheduled learning experience where self-paced learning is punctuated by live virtual classrooms and interaction with fellow students. The cohort all starts and finishes the course at the same time, so this is an ideal way to get certified in a timely manner and experience the course with others.

On-demand learning

An on-demand course means you can start and finish when it suits you best and work at your own speed. Because it’s self-paced, there are no scheduled learning activities and interventions although you can choose to attend optional live sessions. You will receive support from a learning mentor and can set your own timetable for the assessment. This option is ideal for people who cannot dedicate four hours per week to study and need the flexibility to manage their own time.

The learning environment

Whether you have opted for cohort-based or on-demand study, you will experience this course through a world-class learning environment. You will have access to a combination of learning activities, including:

• Self-paced multimedia content and a wide range of resources – toolkits, ebooks, guides, etc.

• Interaction with your student community on our social learning platform

• Expert-led live virtual classrooms that include discussions, challenges, and breakout rooms

• Support and feedback from your learning mentors on project work 

When you add CPD to your learning plan, you gain access to a comprehensive suite of resources and opportunities designed to enhance your professional development and career progression.

Here's what you get:

• Micro Credentials: Earn digital badges in key areas like cognitive science, LX design, and AI.

• Live Learning Events: Access webinars, workshops, and bootcamps with global experts.

• Community & Networking: Join a community of practice, with career hubs and live meetups.

• Resources: Get design toolkits, guides, and microlearning resources for on-the-job support.

• For CDLP: Gain access to all elective modules ensuring you remain at the forefront of your field.

Yes. Throughout the course, you will be supported by an experienced digital learning professional and facilitator. In addition to hosting your virtual classrooms, your mentor will support you through through structured feedback on your project work and daily weekday support on the community forums.

As part of our Digital Learning Design course, you’ll choose a learning pathway that allows you to specialize in a specific area of digital learning. These pathways are designed to give you in-depth skills and knowledge tailored to your career goals, helping you build expertise in the areas that matter most to you.

From the outset, you’ll embark on a focused journey, combining foundational core modules with pathway-specific modules that deepen your skills in your chosen area. This approach ensures that you graduate with both a strong foundation and specialised expertise, setting you apart as a professional ready to make an impact.

Yes. The work-based element of the course will give you the chance to design and build end-to-end digital learning experiences in multiple formats. You are welcome to work on a real project related to your current role or, if you prefer, create a hypothetical digital learning experience. Once completed, you can use the project as part of a portfolio that showcases your digital learning design skills and experience.

No. All the tools and software used during the course will be available via a free trial so that you can gain a practical understanding of how they are applied in a digital learning context. There are no additional or hidden costs to undertaking the course.

Yes. This course is industry approved and recognized by the world’s leading employers and educational institutions. Our Industry Advisory Council meets regularly to provide feedback on what employers require from our high-impact curricula.

In addition, the course is university credit-rated by Glasgow Caledonian University (UK), listed in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. This means you will benefit from our courses being on the UK and European qualification frameworks. There will be an equivalent award in the relevant educational system of your home country (see the certification equivalents table for any course you are interested in).

The Digital Learning Institute has been approved by the ATD Certification Institute to offer educational programs that can be used towards initial eligibility and recertification of the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials. This program qualifies for a maximum of 100 points.

Credit recognition is as follows:

• Europe – 10 credits (200 hours) at Level 5 of the European Framework of Qualifications (EFQ)

• England, Wales, and Northern Ireland – 20 credits (200 hours) at Level 5 Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), or the equivalent of a Foundation Degree or Higher National Diploma.

• Scotland – 20 credits (200 hours) at Level 8 Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF), or the equivalent of a Higher National Diploma (HND).

• Ireland – 10 credits (200 hours) at Level 6 National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or the equivalent of an Advanced Certificate.

• USA – In additional to University Accreditation, This course provides 10 Continuing Education & Training hours (CET) , and recognized as the global standard in digital learning by our Industry Advisory Council. DLI follows the American National Standards Institute/International Association for Continuing Education and Training (ANSI/IACET) standard for calculating and issuing Continuing Education Units (CEUs). All ATD courses provide CE credit in exchange for full attendance and completion of program requirements.

The Associate Certificate course is ideal for people who need to understand the fundamentals of the discipline but are not tasked with delivering digital learning projects themselves (for example, those who oversee digital learning service providers or regularly collaborate with digital learning colleagues in their organization). It addresses the core process, principles, and practices of instructional design by focusing on the design of multimedia digital learning. This course would also suit a professional in either industry or education who is considering a career move into instructional design. Exploring this foundational knowledge will help you understand if this rewarding career is for you.

The Professional Certificate course in the USA is designed for people who are looking to advance their career as a digital learning professional. Our students are often already involved in learning, development, and education and looking to innovate their approach to designing and delivering engaging learning experiences online. This is an end-to-end course that builds the knowledge and practical skills you need to implement digital learning strategies. The focus on a real-world application of your skills through your project-based work will build your confidence as an instructional designer.

While some of our students progress from the associate certificate course to the professional certificate course, there is no requirement to do so. In fact, the Professional Diploma course covers the same foundational concepts as the certificate course but does so in much more depth.

Yes. If you are paying for your course yourself, we have the following options:

• Pay in six installments. Pay your first installment up front when you sign up and then the remaining balance taken in 5 equal amounts every 30 days

Our curricula take a ‘technology second’ approach, which means we focus first on giving you the skills and understanding of digital learning processes, principles, and practice. However, we also want you to understand how technology can help you build and roll out your learning experiences. We will show you how to assess and select the right technology for your needs, and during the course you can expect to use apps and tools such as:

• Padlet and Milanote (for brainstorming and whiteboarding)

• Articulate 360 and Elucidat (for eAuthoring)

• Zoom (for virtual classrooms)

• Screencast-o-Matic (for video production and podcasting)

• Canva and Genially (for creating visual assets and presenting)

• 7Taps, Miro, ChatGPT, and Canva (for AI-assisted content creation)