What is the value of ISTD certification?

ISTD certifications are earned through the ISTD short-term programs, which the government of India recognises. They demonstrate a professional's capability to adhere to proven frameworks and best practices in human resources and training and development, which similar certifications may lack. ISTD as an organisation is over 50 years old and running, with a key affiliation to Switzerland's IFTDO (International Federation of Training and Development Organizations).

Is it costly to be a member of ISTD?

The ISTD membership for an individual is a nominal annual fee of INR 1,180. After a year, this membership has to be renewed. Do note, that this membership fee is independent of the fees for courses from ISTD. And the primary eligibility criteria to be a member of ISTD is to be 21 years of age at minimum and have a bachelor's degree.

Do all courses from ISTD have exams?

Not all courses from ISTD have exams. For some courses, there are certificates of completion, which still have assessments and capstone projects.

ISTD Courses & Certifications Online

Last updated on 23 Apr '25

ISTD
All About Courses & Platform

ISTD courses with certifications demonstrate high proficiency and leadership prowess in HR management. Human resources professionals certified by ISTD (Indian Society for Training and Development) can easily enhance their careers in education, agriculture, government, and other sectors.

This brief guide will present key areas and factors to consider before enrolling in any ISTD course, or when you are thinking of getting to human resources for learning and/or career.

How Do ISTD Courses Stand Apart for HR Aspirants and Professionals in India?

ISTD courses and certificates are not only government-recognised, but also have international credibility. ISTD’s affiliation with the International Federation of Training and Development Organizations in Geneva demonstrates that learners will learn the latest, well-researched best practices applicable in the global scenario.
Becoming an ISTD member is affordable and helps members find a community to network with highly motivated professionals from different sectors. Also, members get access to important workshops and conferences with concessions.
ISTD courses align with India’s Ministry of Labour & Employment through the Directorate General of Employment & Training (DGE&T). According to this, it's not just about building competencies, but also about recognising the economic difficulties of earning certificates despite having the talent or right skill set.

ISTD Courses: Decoding the Values of Curricula

More than just delivering the latest curricula, ISTD courses have a strategic and highly systematic pedagogy. See how the topics align with India’s current business landscape and have a globally based professional appeal.

Learning the Latest in Training, Learning & Development

One of the core aspects for participants going for continuing education in Training, Learning & Development from ISTD is that they begin to understand organisational challenges and cross-cultural contexts.

ISTD addresses the current challenges in India regarding talent or employee retention. Participants learn how to plan successful strategies.

One comparison if you do with shorter or less expensive human resources management courses online is the focus on what is covered for reducing attrition. They can quickly become generic, focusing on what you already may know. But ISTD shifts this focus by offering insights on the latest challenges that could be solved in reality - all too being competitively priced.

Also, ISTD explores the digital divide that exists in the Indian workforce, especially with bigger organisations, when AI is adopted in workflows. Here, one is taught how to bridge that gap to steer their organisation forward.

The curriculum goes beyond theoretical explanations and includes projects and assessments to test the individual's learning.

Overall, the curriculum focuses on cognitive capacity building through experiential learning.

Implementing AI with Real Use Cases

ISTD has recently added a short program covering what HR professionals should know while deploying AI enterprise-wide.

However, learners from different industries will benefit from this, as AI deployment in the finance domain differs from that in healthcare. Also, the training from ISTD is based exploratory research in its approach, so it’s not simply meeting a trend but also understanding the consequences of how AI can be unethically used. For leaders and executives, using AI ethically is becoming as important as considering IT security threats. These insights are not present in regular AI courses online.

Also, learning to use AI to solve real-world cases makes more sense than just getting a theoretical overview.

All these are made possible through such ISTD courses.