AATD - Accrediting Alliance for Training and Development

What is a Training & Development Credit (TDC)^TM?

A Training & Development Credit (TDC)^TM is a unit of measure based on quality standards. TDCs^TM serve educational providers to qualify and quantify a variety of training and development activities in adult education. This specialized and standardized form of credit can easily be converted into academic credit. Each TDC^TM represents 15 hours of learning in an organized, controlled and competency-based training, learning or developmental activity.

Training & Development Credits (TDCs)^TM can be earned through the following:

Training seminars and workshops
Self-paced online courses
Instructor-led online courses
Directed, independent self-study

Who owns the Training & Development Credit (TDC)^TM?

The Accrediting Alliance for Training and Development is the keeper and standardizing agent for the TDC^TM. All the rights and the trademark are owned by the Institute of Training and Development.

What are the Benefits of Training & Development Credits (TDCs)^TM?

Increased credibility of your institute
Highly visible commitment to quality
Measurable benchmark for your customers
Professional learning acknowledgement for your participants
World-wide recognized unit of measure
Competency-based standards for different learning formats
Professional documentation of learning experiences

How can a training professional become approved to award TDCs^TM?

To be able to award TDCs^TM, the training professional must be an accredited member of AATD. Membership is granted upon successful completion of the accreditation process.

Who keeps the permanent records of the TDCs^TM?

Each member is responsible for keeping TDC^TM records in accordance with the AATD standards. In addition to the records kept by the member, the Accrediting Alliance for Training and Development (AATD) maintains an international register for all TDCs^TM issued.

What differentiates CEUs from TDCs^TM?

The generic Continuing Education Unit (CEU) represents 10 contact hours in seminars or workshops. CEUs are in most cases not accepted for conversion into academic credit.

The TDCs^TM are based on standards equivalent to those for academic credit. Therefore, the admissions departments of colleges and universities can easily evaluate the TDCs^TM and assign academic credit.