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October 12, 2026

Your next instructional design role might have a different title

Careers · October 12, 2026

You might scroll past a good opportunity because it never says “instructional designer.”

The work can appear under curriculum, training, learning development, or instructional technology titles. For people who create courses and training materials, the useful question is: What will this person actually design, develop, and assess?

This careers brief brings together current occupational information and established professional guidance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics profile was updated August 27, 2026; ATD introduced its Career Pathways tool on February 24, 2025. The practical applications below are Sonja’s design suggestions.

Search for the work, not just the title.
O*NET’s instructional coordinator profile includes reported titles such as instructional designer, curriculum specialist, instructional technologist, and learning development specialist. Its tasks include defining learning objectives, developing materials, and evaluating instructional effectiveness (National Center for O*NET Development, n.d.). Suggested application: expand your search terms, then read the responsibilities carefully. Similar titles do not guarantee similar jobs.
Show your decisions alongside your finished product.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics describes training and development work as assessing needs, creating materials, delivering instruction, and evaluating programs. Its profile, updated August 27, 2026, projects 11% employment growth for training and development specialists from 2025 to 2035 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026). Suggested application: build a portfolio example that explains the learning need, intended outcome, design choices, and how you would assess learning. A polished course shows what you built. Your explanation shows why you built it that way.
Map your next skill to a role you want.
ATD’s Career Pathways tool connects job families, common activities, and capabilities. Its February 24, 2025 introduction also notes that responsibilities vary between specialized teams and one-person departments (Hirt, 2025). Suggested application: compare three relevant job descriptions. Identify repeated responsibilities, match them to evidence from your work, and choose one gap to address through a focused project. That might be assessment, facilitation, learning technology, or project management.

What the evidence can tell us

These sources describe occupations and career pathways, not hiring guarantees. The BLS projection covers a broader occupation than instructional design alone and does not establish demand for remote or freelance work. Your career map can begin with the work you want to do, then help you recognize the titles attached to it.

Sources to explore

Hirt, M. (2025, February 24). Discover the possibilities along your career pathway. Association for Talent Development.https://www.td.org/content/atd-blog/discover-the-possibilities-along-your-career-pathway
National Center for O*NET Development. (n.d.). Instructional coordinators: 25-9031.00. O*NET OnLine. Retrieved October 12, 2026.https://www.onetonline.org/link/details/25-9031.00
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026, August 27). Training and development specialists. Occupational Outlook Handbook.https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/training-and-development-specialists.htm

Curated by Sonja L. Howell, Ph.D.

MEET YOUR CURATOR

A learning designer.
A curious pirate.

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Oh hi, welcome on board! I’m glad you’re here to explore new IDeas with me. My own path to learning hasn’t always been straightforward. Living with dyslexia has taught me to be resilient, look for different ways forward, and appreciate how clear, well-organized information can help someone learn. It also shaped my desire to work with others and find creative solutions that make learning accessible, engaging, and effective. As an instructional designer and developer, author, and creator of Tranquil Parenting^™ and the TMID Method, I bring that approach to my work at Jackson College, where I design learning experiences and teach. My focus is on data-driven assessment, using evidence of learning to understand what’s working and where coursework can better align with learning goals.

That same resourcefulness inspired the ID Pirate theme: exploring IDeas, finding fresh approaches, and sharing useful discoveries. Through IDea Brief, I use AI to help search for those learning treasures, then review and curate them into brief reads with sources and practical connections for people who teach, train, coach, and design learning. Follow along for the next discovery. The plank is strictly optional. Arrr! ⚓Sonja L. Howell, Ph.D.

#IDPirate #IDeaBrief #InstructionalDesign #EDTech

Instructional Design Certified Educator (IDCE) Program

Build a course. Earn a certificate.

I teach the IDCE program at Jackson College, where participants build a complete, accessible course aligned with formal online learning requirements, with clear outcomes, aligned assessments, accessible materials, and consistent navigation. My book, Unleashing the Power of Instructional Design, is used in the course.

Upon completion of the five courses, participants receive a certificate from Jackson College Corporate and Continuing Education. SCECHs are also available.