I'm considering obtaining an Articulate Storyline certificate through ATD. I'm fairly new to the field, so I want to build credibility with my clients, but I'm hesitant to pay so much for a certification if it won't benefit me beyond learning the software. I'm already very comfortable with Articulate, so completing the program would be more for the certificate than the actual training. Based on your experiences, does having an official certification add value in the eyes of someone who isn't involved in instructional design?
That's a great question. I cannot speak to the quality of the ATD course. I don't know that much about it. I can, however, address the question regarding "certification". As the certified training partner for Articulate, we get this question a lot. We find that the confusion lies with the understanding around what a "certificate" is and does it connotate "certification?" Basically, the training programs offered by us or by the ATD can offer a "certificate" of completion or attendance, but not an industry-accepted "certification". If someone came to work at Yukon and stated that they had been certified by another organization it would not carry any weight with us. We would still take them through our training processes to learn our best practices. The same would be true if you approached the ATD with a Yukon certificate. We have discussed setting up some standards and processes for measuring competencies, but it is not in the near future. The only certifications we currently offer are for our training partners in other countries and for our training team. This certification qualifies them to teach the software on our behalf as part of the Certified Training Partner team. (https://articulate.com/training) I hope that makes sense and provides a little clarity.
If you are new to instructional design and do not have any formal training in this field, I suggest you spend your professional development time learning instructional design. Articulate is just the development tool instructional designers use. It does not replace a strong learning design.
My opinion, and it's just an opinion, is that if you already know the program then a certificate "of completion" probably won't do much. Like you said cost vs. application. Personally, showing off a certificate has only helped maybe with job interviews or for an employer to reference when trying to get a contract won where showing certifications might be helpful or even necessary.
If it's just to attract potential clients for yourself (not an employer), then you could probably lean more on a portfolio than technicalities like certificates. Depending on who you're dealing with it might be a lot easier and more effective showing samples of what you can do or have done. But it does look nice on resumes and page bios! :)
Still, some classes have highlighted subtleties and incorrect assumptions I've made by learning stuff without formal instructions over the years, so there is still a good bit to be gained in taking a proper course. YMMV.
Thank you all for your responses! They were extremely helpful in giving me a better sense of what would be most useful for me and have given me some things to think about. I think for now, I will continue learning and developing my Articulate skills and work on building a portfolio instead of relying on a certification to speak for my work. I appreciate your help!
4 Replies
Hello Emily,
That's a great question. I cannot speak to the quality of the ATD course. I don't know that much about it.
I can, however, address the question regarding "certification". As the certified training partner for Articulate, we get this question a lot. We find that the confusion lies with the understanding around what a "certificate" is and does it connotate "certification?"
Basically, the training programs offered by us or by the ATD can offer a "certificate" of completion or attendance, but not an industry-accepted "certification". If someone came to work at Yukon and stated that they had been certified by another organization it would not carry any weight with us. We would still take them through our training processes to learn our best practices. The same would be true if you approached the ATD with a Yukon certificate.
We have discussed setting up some standards and processes for measuring competencies, but it is not in the near future. The only certifications we currently offer are for our training partners in other countries and for our training team. This certification qualifies them to teach the software on our behalf as part of the Certified Training Partner team. (https://articulate.com/training)
I hope that makes sense and provides a little clarity.
Hi Emily,
If you are new to instructional design and do not have any formal training in this field, I suggest you spend your professional development time learning instructional design. Articulate is just the development tool instructional designers use. It does not replace a strong learning design.
Cheers,
Julie
My opinion, and it's just an opinion, is that if you already know the program then a certificate "of completion" probably won't do much. Like you said cost vs. application. Personally, showing off a certificate has only helped maybe with job interviews or for an employer to reference when trying to get a contract won where showing certifications might be helpful or even necessary.
If it's just to attract potential clients for yourself (not an employer), then you could probably lean more on a portfolio than technicalities like certificates. Depending on who you're dealing with it might be a lot easier and more effective showing samples of what you can do or have done. But it does look nice on resumes and page bios! :)
Still, some classes have highlighted subtleties and incorrect assumptions I've made by learning stuff without formal instructions over the years, so there is still a good bit to be gained in taking a proper course. YMMV.
Thank you all for your responses! They were extremely helpful in giving me a better sense of what would be most useful for me and have given me some things to think about. I think for now, I will continue learning and developing my Articulate skills and work on building a portfolio instead of relying on a certification to speak for my work. I appreciate your help!
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