E-Learning Instructional Designers: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of e-learning instructional designers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for e-learning instructional designers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of e-learning instructional designers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for e-learning instructional designers.

What Education & Experience is Needed for E-Learning Instructional Designers?

Do e-learning instructional designers need a degree? What kind of experience do e-learning instructional designers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for e-learning instructional designers to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for E-Learning Instructional Designers

A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of e-learning instructional designers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 44% of positions. In 25% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 18% of postings no education level was listed.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for E-Learning Instructional Designers

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for e-learning instructional designers. In 47% of job postings for E-Learning Instructional Designers, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 32% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 13% of job postings for e-learning instructional designers.

What Kind of Degree Do E-Learning Instructional Designers Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for e-learning instructional designers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 7 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective e-learning instructional designers, and in 2023 a total of 100,768 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective e-learning instructional designers.

Top Degree Programs for E-Learning Instructional Designers

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for E-Learning Instructional Designers

What Skills Do E-Learning Instructional Designers Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by e-learning instructional designers to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for e-learning instructional designers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's E-Learning Instructional Designers
Based on 57,346 job postings

Based on 57,346 job postings related to e-learning instructional designers, instructional design was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 28% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for curriculum development, learning management systems, project management, adult education and educational technologies were also highly sought.

As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for e-learning instructional designers, followed by teaching, leadership, writing, management and research.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about e-learning instructional designers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for e-learning instructional designers.

What do e-learning instructional designers do?
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