What you'll walk away with

  • A clear understanding of what L&D is and what the job actually involves

  • A map of the roles available and which ones suit your background

  • A realistic action plan for landing your first L&D role

  • The ability to read and decode L&D job descriptions with confidence

  • A free career roadmap to use as your ongoing reference

Is this path for you?

This path is for you if you're curious about L&D but don't know where to start, if you're coming from HR, teaching, training or a related field and want to make the move, or if you've been googling "how to get into L&D" and want a structured answer rather than a scattered reading list. This path is not for you if you're already working in L&D and want to develop your practice — in that case, the L&D Foundations path is a better fit.

Course curriculum

    1. What is Learning and Development?

    2. A Day in the Life of L&D

    1. The Many Jobs in Learning and Development

    2. Beginner's Guide to L&D Roles

    3. Career Progression in Learning and Development

    4. Your First Steps in Learning & Development

    1. How to Start a Career in L&D in 2026

    2. Shifting Careers: How to Transition into L&D Successfully

    3. How to Make Sense of L&D Job Descriptions

    4. Career Roadmap for Learning and Development

    1. How to Future-Proof Your Career in Learning and Development

    2. The Role of Soft Skills in Professional Development

    3. Weekly Planner

    4. Daily Planner

    1. Career Roadmap for L&D

About this course

  • Free
  • 15 lessons

Meet your instructor

Learning and Development Consultant Irina Ketkin

I have been in Learning and Development since 2011, focusing on soft skills, leadership and management, and team development. I have designed and facilitated over 1000 custom development programs for multinational corporations in the IT and online gaming sectors and working with employees and managers in different hierarchical levels in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa.

Want to go further after this path?

FAQ

  • Is this really free?

    Yes, completely. No credit card, no trial period. You enrol and start immediately.

  • Do I need any L&D experience to start?

    None at all. This path is designed specifically for people who are new to the field or still exploring it.

  • How long will it take to complete?

    The videos and articles total around 3–4 hours. Most people spread it across a week at their own pace.

  • Will I get a certificate?

    Yes — you'll receive a completion certificate from The L&D Academy when you finish the path.

  • What happens when I finish?

    You'll have a clear picture of the field and a free career roadmap in hand. If you want to go deeper, the Start a Career in L&D course is the natural next step — but there's no obligation.

  • I'm already in HR / teaching / training. Is this still useful?

    Yes. The path is particularly useful for people transitioning from adjacent roles — it helps you translate your existing experience into L&D language and understand which roles are the best fit for your background.

Ready to take the first step?

Free. Self-paced. No payment required.

Enroll today