Sub-Badge: ID Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes

Criteria: Evidence demonstrating completion of professional development training –and/or— membership in professional communities or associations.

Artifact: Association of Talent Development (ATD) Membership Card

Reflection

For the competency of "participating in professional development activities," I am using my Association for Talent Development (ATD) membership. I joined in May of 2025 and have found several helpful resources through the membership.

The ATD was founded in 1943 and has grown to become the world’s largest association dedicated to talent development. As a member, I can enroll in various courses at discounted prices to improve my instructional design skills. For those who may not want to pursue an advanced degree in instructional design, ATD offers a course that, upon completion, awards an instructional design certificate. It also provides additional resources, such as books and articles, that can be accessed as well.

My ATD membership isn’t the first time I’ve been a member of an organization. While pursuing my PMP, I had a membership with the Project Management Institute (PMI). That organization was similar in that it also offered many valuable resources to help you become a successful project manager. Once I entered the instructional design field, joining ATD was a no-brainer for me. Since becoming a member, I’ve purchased several books from them and plan to attend their conference in 2026. I also participate in local chapter meetings to network with other ATD members. The membership has given me networking opportunities that I might not have had otherwise.