Learning and Development Managers: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of learning and development managers 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 learning and development managers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of learning and development managers 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 learning and development managers.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Learning and Development Managers?

Do learning and development managers need a degree? What kind of experience do learning and development managers 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 learning and development managers to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Learning and Development Managers

A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of learning and development managers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 51% of positions. In 26% of job listings no education level was listed and in 11% of postings a master's degree was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Learning and Development Managers

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 learning and development managers. In 35% of job postings for Learning and Development Managers, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 32% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 12% of job postings for learning and development managers.

What Kind of Degree Do Learning and Development Managers Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for learning and development managers, 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 24 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective learning and development managers, and in 2021 a total of 1,108,580 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 learning and development managers.

Top Degree Programs for Learning and Development Managers

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 Learning and Development Managers

What Skills Do Learning and Development Managers Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by learning and development managers 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 learning and development managers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Learning and Development Managers
Based on 464,314 job postings

Based on 464,314 job postings related to learning and development managers, marketing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 35% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for sales management, selling techniques, business development, sales prospecting and customer relationship management were also highly sought.

As for common skills, sales was the most desired skill found in job postings for learning and development managers, followed by communications, management, leadership, customer service and presentations.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about learning and development managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for learning and development managers.

What do learning and development managers do?
How much do learning and development managers make?

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