Is the ISTD Diploma Worth It for Aspiring Trainers? Exploring Its Value and Alternatives

Indian Society for Training & Development Diploma

Indian Society for Training & Development offers a distance learning diploma (Dip. TD) or ISTD Diploma in Training and Development. What is the worth of this diploma? Does this help in creating a niche for you as a trainer?

Other Certification Options

What other options are available to get certified as a trainer?

It is a good option if you are interested in developing yourself as a Training and Development (T&D) professional. It provides in-depth knowledge about the trainer and trainee profiles and behavior.

All the best!

Thanks, Kanika. I am presently working as a Trainer and am considering taking up this course as a value addition. I want to know if this course holds value in the T&D market. Are people with this diploma given preference?

Other Recognized Courses

Also, are there any other recognized courses that certify you as a trainer?

Hi Divya, ISTD Certification is a government certification from the Ministry of HRD. Thus, it holds value, however, to some extent.

I have been in T&D for about 7 years now, and I have not taken up this certification. Whatever laurels, achievements, and little tidbits of success that I have achieved are purely based on experience and practice.

This diploma, according to me, is just for mentioning a certification from GOI. That's all.

The classes that I have taken here at ISTD are good; however, whatever we learn from our experience is better. Also, classroom learning is not implemented practically most of the time, due to which these classes have a negligible contribution, though not zero for a fresher. 

The books are very typical, and it is more like a distance learning program, which eventually leads me to think and believe that it's not worth it.

You could try for other certifications from various other places.

Frankly, I completed my first part of this diploma and realized that I learn much more in real life than just reading from books and taking exams—which I think you could do by reading a lot of material on CiteHR or Google.

Regards,
Avani Bhatnagar
Training Manager
Alta