Certified Association Learning Specialist
Professional Societies and Trade Associations play an important and unique role in the Lifelong Learning Continuum. The E-Learning Collaborative offers the only professional designation dedicated exclusively to practitioners who work in Professional Societies and Trade Associations. The Certified Association Learning Specialist (CALS) designation reflects a "Mark of Distinction" indicating that the practitioner has specialized training and adheres to the highest standards for developing high quality E-Learning content and programs.
Why Get Certified?
The Certified Association Learning Specialist (CALS) designation demonstrates a commitment to the application of professional standards and a foundational understanding of instructional design principles in multiple learning formats including onsite, online, and hybrid modalities. Advantages of becoming certified include:
- Improved professional reputation: Certification can help you improve your professional reputation.
- Credibility: Certification can help you establish yourself as an expert in the field and build credibility.
Career Advancement
Certification can help you advance your career through:
- Getting interviews that your competitors might not.
- Certification can lead to higher earning potential over time.
Obtaining the CALS Designation
The Certified Association Learning Specialist (CALS) designation is a competency-based credential. Applicants for certification must first join the Collaborative as an Associate Member and will have access to a self-assessment checklist and resources repository that will be used in preparation for demonstrating proficiency in the following domains:
- Organizational Alignment & Instructional Needs Analysis
- Digital Content Development
- Webinar / Course Design & Development
- Learner Support Structures
- Online / Hybrid Course, Program & Conference Delivery
First Become an Associate Member
Applicants for certification must first join the Collaborative. If you are not yet an Associate Member of the Collaborative, then you should click on the Join Now button to join. The yearly membership fee is $99.
Applying for the (CALS) Certification
After becoming a member of the Collaborative, you should return to this page and click on the application below. The application fee to pursue the Certified Assocation Learning Specialist (CALS) designation is $199. Once your application has been processed you will receive an invoice for payment, and you will be added to the online course for completing the requirements of the competency-based credential.