What Is a Learning and Development Specialist?
Learning and development specialists, also known as a training and development specialist, design, conduct, and organize training programs to improve employee performance and ensure organizational productivity.
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Duties
Still wondering what is a learning and development specialist? The following training and development specialists' duties will help you to better understand this position:
- Conduct interviews with employees, use surveys and consult with the management to establish the training needs
- Prepare training materials (including designing and creating training manuals) and organize course materials and modules for online training
- Participate in the evaluation of the training programs
- Deliver training to the employees to meet the established training needs
- Review training materials from time to time to ensure they are relevant and up to date
- Monitor costs related to training, schedule for classes, set up systems and equipment, and coordinate enrollment
Work Environment
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019, training and development specialists held 327,900 jobs. The following were the major employers of training and development specialists:
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 13% |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 12% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 11% |
| Finance and Insurance | 10% |
| Administrative and support services | 7% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
For most of their work schedules, training and development specialists are busy giving presentations or conducting activities. They are almost always with the people and in the training sites. The work schedules, though full-time and regular, can get busy, making the training and development specialists work for more than 40 hours a week.
Career Requirements
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), becoming a training and development specialist requires that one acquires a bachelor's degree in such areas as training and development, human resources, education, or instructional design, although other areas may be considered as well. BLS states that a degree in business administration or social sciences, most importantly related to educational or organizational psychology is also helpful for one to succeed in a career as a training and development specialist. Other requirements for learning and development specialist jobs are summarized below.
| Degree Level | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Fields | Instructional design, education, business, or related field |
| Licensure and/or Certification | Voluntary |
| Experience | 3-5 years of experience |
| Key Skills | Managerial, interpersonal, critical-thinking, decision-making and communication skills, understanding of corporate finance, budgeting and organizational management, proficiency in eLearning, technical writing and project management, in-depth knowledge of various learning management systems (LMS), Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and training software |
| Salary (2019) | $61,210 per year (Median annual wage for training and development specialists) |
Sources: Job ads posted on Careerbuilder.com and Monster.com (August 2019), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
How to Become a Learning and Development Specialist
The learning and development career path comprises a number of steps. These steps are capable of equipping you with the education, experience, and skills needed to succeed in this career.
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree
A bachelor's degree in business, instructional design, education, or a related field is necessary for a career as a learning and development specialist. Numerous schools offer accredited programs in these areas from which students can choose. All of these programs provide various skills applicable to the job duties required of learning and development specialists.
Success Tip:
- Acquire presentation and teaching skills. Learning and development specialists work with photo imaging and graphics programs to create effective training solutions. Being proficient with the widely-used presentation and training programs in the industry gives students a competitive advantage when entering the workforce. Learning and development specialists also need to be able to teach the training programs they develop to employees within the company.
Step 2: Get Experience
Students generally gain hands-on experience while obtaining their degree by working part-time at entry-level jobs or through internships. Admissions or academic advisors can usually provide assistance in finding these opportunities.
Success Tips:
- Join a professional organization. Prospective specialists may want to improve their job prospects by acquiring certification or evidence of course completion from a national organization. The American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) is a nationally recognized organization in the industry. Membership in this group, and others in the industry, demonstrates an individual's commitment to the profession. Members benefit from getting the latest research, news, and trends in the industry. Aspiring learning and development specialists can also join public-speaking and leadership groups such as Toastmasters to hone their public speaking and presentation skills.
- Get certified. Many employers look for candidates who are certified in certain skills. Both the ASTD and the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) offer certification opportunities for learning and development professionals. The ASTD offers the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance credential. Candidates with at least three years of experience may apply for the ISPI's Certified Performance Technologist credential.
Step 3: Seek Career Advancement When Available
Learning and development specialists can advance in their careers if they can perform highly specialized training, show efficiency in the job, and lead productive teams. Candidates should demonstrate outstanding records of achievement in their current positions before applying for advancement opportunities. Entry-level employees generally require some time to perfect their craft and learn new skills through experience.
Success Tip
- Consider earning a master's degree. Some employers prefer candidates with master's degrees, and a master's degree may be required for some upper-level management positions. Individuals should consider a master's degree program after researching accredited schools where advanced skills and theories can be learned.
Acquiring both learning and development degree and work experience are vital in earning one a competitive edge when applying for corporate learning and development jobs. When making an application for these jobs, it is important for one to review some of the learning and development CV examples to understand what to include in the application.
Learning and Development Specialist Salary & Job Outlook
In 2019, the BLS reported that the lowest-earning 10% of learning and development specialists had a salary of less than $32,680, while the highest-earning 10% had a salary of more than $104,200. The annual median wage was $61,210.
The growth in employment for training and development specialists is expected to be 9% for the period 2019-2029. This is higher than the average of all occupations according to BLS. Employment in 2019 stood at 327,900 and with 9% growth, it will grow by 28,200 to reach 356,100 by 2029. This means there will be more demand for training in various industries driving the increase of employment of training and development specialists.
Highest-Paying Fields
For the various fields that training and development specialists work in, the following were the highest median annual wages in May 2019:
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | $71,460 |
| Finance and Insurance | $64,530 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | $62,720 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | $55,910 |
| Administrative and support services | $54,160 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2019)
Highest Paying States
The top five paying states for training and development specialists' occupation are:
| State | Annual Mean Wage |
| Alaska | $85,050 |
| District of Columbia | $80,050 |
| Massachusetts | $77,080 |
| Rhode Island | $76,590 |
| New Jersey | $75,150 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2019)
