Directors of Learning and Development: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of directors of learning and development 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 directors of learning and development to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of directors of learning and development 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 directors of learning and development.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Directors of Learning and Development?
Do directors of learning and development need a degree? What kind of experience do directors of learning and development 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 directors of learning and development to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Directors of Learning and Development
Jobs Postings for Directors of Learning and Development By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 16,829 (51%)
- No Education Listed: 7,366 (22%)
- Master's degree: 5,085 (15%)
- High School or GED: 2,841 (9%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 817 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of directors of learning and development. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 51% of positions. In 22% of job listings no education level was listed and in 15% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Directors of Learning and Development
Jobs Postings for Directors of Learning and Development By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 2,177 (12%)
- 2-3 Years: 5,123 (28%)
- 4-6 Years: 6,941 (38%)
- 7-9 Years: 2,022 (11%)
- 10+ Years: 2,051 (11%)
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 directors of learning and development. In 38% of job postings for Directors of Learning and Development, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 12% of job postings for directors of learning and development.
What Kind of Degree Do Directors of Learning and Development Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for directors of learning and development, 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 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective directors of learning and development, and in 2021 a total of 20,780 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 directors of learning and development.
Top Degree Programs for Directors of Learning and Development
Top 5 Degree Programs for Directors of Learning and Development (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General. | 18,408 |
| Human Resources Development. | 2,315 |
| Executive/Career Coaching. | 57 |
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 Directors of Learning and Development
Find ways to attract, train, and retain the very best talent by implementing effective benefits and labor-relations strategies.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Focus your online doctoral program at Franklin University and earn an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction (Doctor of Education in Instructional Design Leadership).Focus your online doctoral program at Franklin University and earn an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction (Doctor of Education in Instructional Design Leadership).
- Years To Complete: 3
Focus your online doctorate in educational technology at Franklin University and earn an Ed.D. Instructional Technology degree (Doctor of Education in Instructional Design Leadership).
- Years To Complete: 3
Educational and business settings need effective and ethical leaders. Franklin’s 3-year Ed.D. with a focus on Organization Leadership equips you to become a transformative leader. With this 100% online doctor of education, you’ll develop expertise in educational technology, data-driven decision making and real-world change management.
- Years To Complete: 3
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
Understand what’s behind the structure, behavior and environment of your organization.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Learn the strategic skills needed to be a leader in the evolving field of Human Resources.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Be a dynamic HR leader by building your expertise in workplace law, organizational development and strategic human resource management, with Franklin’s online accredited 12-month MBA with a Specialization in Human Resources.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Directors of Learning and Development Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by directors of learning and development 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 directors of learning and development, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Directors of Learning and Development
Based on 27,451 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Directors of Learning and Development
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management | 5,401 | 20% |
| Marketing | 3,629 | 13% |
| Learning Management Systems | 3,445 | 13% |
| Talent Management | 3,383 | 12% |
| Instructional Design | 3,219 | 12% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Directors of Learning and Development
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership | 13,630 | 50% |
| Communications | 13,536 | 49% |
| Management | 11,723 | 43% |
| Training And Development | 8,305 | 30% |
| Operations | 7,203 | 26% |
Based on 27,451 job postings related to directors of learning and development, project management was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 20% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for marketing, learning management systems, talent management, instructional design and adult education were also highly sought.
As for common skills, leadership was the most desired skill found in job postings for directors of learning and development, followed by communications, management, training and development, operations and customer service.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management | 5,401 | 20% |
| Marketing | 3,629 | 13% |
| Learning Management Systems | 3,445 | 13% |
| Talent Management | 3,383 | 12% |
| Instructional Design | 3,219 | 12% |
| Adult Education | 2,979 | 11% |
| Curriculum Development | 2,923 | 11% |
| Organizational Development | 2,400 | 9% |
| Data Analysis | 2,218 | 8% |
| Change Management | 1,997 | 7% |
| Selling Techniques | 1,981 | 7% |
| Auditing | 1,977 | 7% |
| Performance Management | 1,942 | 7% |
| Process Improvement | 1,860 | 7% |
| Succession Planning | 1,584 | 6% |
| Nursing | 1,431 | 5% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 1,380 | 5% |
| Adult Learning Principles | 1,316 | 5% |
| Finance | 1,289 | 5% |
| Business Process | 1,215 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership | 13,630 | 50% |
| Communications | 13,536 | 49% |
| Management | 11,723 | 43% |
| Training And Development | 8,305 | 30% |
| Operations | 7,203 | 26% |
| Customer Service | 5,924 | 22% |
| Planning | 5,835 | 21% |
| Sales | 5,610 | 20% |
| Coaching | 5,425 | 20% |
| Writing | 5,362 | 20% |
| Problem Solving | 5,099 | 19% |
| Presentations | 5,096 | 19% |
| Microsoft Office | 4,770 | 17% |
| Microsoft Excel | 4,369 | 16% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 4,106 | 15% |
| Influencing Skills | 3,850 | 14% |
| Coordinating | 3,749 | 14% |
| Innovation | 3,695 | 13% |
| Detail Oriented | 3,651 | 13% |
| Mentorship | 3,502 | 13% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about directors of learning and development? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for directors of learning and development.
What do directors of learning and development do?
How much do directors of learning and development make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.