Is experience enough as a training manager, or do you need a qualification? Graham O'Connell says qualifications from the University of Life are all very well, but you really need at least a CTP.
Graham O'Connell advises:
I met someone once who proudly announced that he had studied at the university of life. The trouble was it was clear he had got a referal not a distinction.
It is perfectly possible to acquire great skills, knowledge and expertise without formal study. And some employers respect that. However, it is also true that most 'professions' require people to achieve a certain standard usually connected to a qualification. If you are competing in the market place it is understandable that most employers would - all other things being equal - choose a qualified person over someone unqualified. Personally, I'd be looking for something more than the CTP as a minimum.
Part of getting qualified is the rubber stamp of approval, the badge, the right of passage, the certificate on the wall. But the other part is the value of the study itself and the breadth and depth of learning you can take from it. The certificate is symbolic. The learning is what can really make the difference, and that is what I am looking more for when I am recruiting.
There is a fast-track CTP you might consider but as you are a training manager I'd cut straight to the chase and look for a qualification that relates to your current role and your future ambitions.
But if you do decide to keep relying on the university of life, please remember to study just as hard, collect evidence of how you have used your learning, and judge your progress against a high, professional level standard.
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