Training for Learning & Development Jobs

• Learning and Development incorporates skills from the education and training fields. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

  Learning and Development jobs require a wide variety of training. Depending on the industry you plan to work in, you may need experience as a trainer in a classroom environment, an eLearning instructor or designer, a curriculum expert or as a traditional educator in the school system. It is helpful to check job descriptions individually for the exact requirements of a position, but in general you can expect to need a four-year degree.

ASTD Offers L&D Training

• ASTD, the American Society for Training and Development, offers training for Learning and Development professionals through conferences, seminars and online classes. It is free to search for L&D jobs on the ASTD website, and there is a searchable "Knowledge Center" with more than 3,000 full text articles available. ASTD also publishes "T&D" (Training and Development), "Technical Training" and "Learning Circuits" magazines. Additional training courses are available to ASTD members only. The ASTD TechKnowledge 2011 Conference, "Define, Design, Deliver," is scheduled for February 2nd to 4th, 2011 in San Jose, California.

ASCD Offers Professional Development for L&D Educators

• The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development offers professional development opportunities geared for Learning and Development professionals within the field of education. ASCD professional development and training is offered in an online format and through conferences. 2010 topics include: "21st Century Skills," "Differentiated Instruction," "Response to Intervention," "English Language Learners," "Building Academic Vocabulary," "Understanding by Design" and "Teacher Effectiveness." ASCD publishes several magazines and journals, including "Educational Leadership" and the "International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership." ASCD's website also offers a free job search. The organization's 2011 Conference, "Bold Actions for Complex Challenges," will be held in San Francisco, California, March 26th to 28th.

CIPD Offers L&D Certificate and Exam

• In the UK, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development offers a 20-week program to obtain a L&D certificate; however, they require at least four years of previous experience in the field before you qualify to take the training course. From the Online Learning Directory, users can access more than 130 short training modules. L&D-specific training modules include topics such as "e-Learning," "Managing Training," "Training Essentials" and "Creative Training." The 2010 annual conference, "Forward Planning, Forward Thinking, Forward Moving," is November 9th to 11th in Manchester, UK.

The BILD Offers Learning Materials and Training

• The BILD, or The British Institute for Learning and Development, publishes "Connect Online" magazine and offers training through online "events." Its website also hosts a free resource library of learning and development articles. The 2010 BILD annual conference, "Learning and Development: The Next Five Years," was on June 10 at The Open University, Milton Keynes.

L&D Training via Education Programs

• There are many four-year college degrees that offer a major or certificate in L&D. Learning and Development topics within the educational system are also found under related majors, such as Training and Development, eLearning, Curriculum and Instruction or Human Resources. Many times, the same schools that offer these programs will also allow enrollment by non-degree-seeking students who desire specific L&D classes for training purposes. Educational institutions also sometimes offer L&D classes through the school's continuing education programs.