Add Professional Skills & Expertise with These Diversity Training Courses
Thinking of pursuing a professional certificate in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or even getting your diversity certification this year?
Whether you’re a DEI practitioner (or aspiring to become one), a people leader at your company, or a brand-new manager, there are abundant benefits to learning more about diversity, equity, and inclusion. As with every business training topic, there are dozens of options available, ranging from an introductory overview requiring minimal investment of time and budget, to comprehensive programs that can earn you a professional certificate or certification.
While any new learning about DEI is valuable, there are numerous benefits to making a deeper commitment and pursuing a diversity certificate. These benefits include:
- Acquiring training and tools you can put to work right away to see instant results as a DEI practitioner
- Gaining the insight and expertise needed to create successful, long-term DEI strategies
- Learning to become a more effective and inclusive manager and leader
- Depending on the provider or curriculum, receiving continuing education credits
- Earning a DEI certificate or certification. If you take a course from a nationally respected training provider, this designation can positively differentiate you from other job candidates in a marketplace that increasingly seeks and values DEI expertise.
The Diversity Movement offers two certificates and one certification program, based on our work with hundreds of clients from a wide range of industries. Every curriculum developer and instructor at The Diversity Movement has deep knowledge based on real-world experience. The depth and breadth of our experience enables us to give DEI professionals not just theoretical advice, but invaluable practical guidance, too.
We welcome you to join the hundreds of satisfied business leaders who have expanded their DEI knowledge thanks to The Diversity Movement. While we’re confident that our programs are among the very best available, we have also come across several other programs we feel merit your consideration. Some of these programs have special features and subject matter that may be a good fit for your particular needs.
Here are our top recommended DEI certificate programs for 2023. Please note that some provide a Certificate of Completion or Competency. With others, you can earn continuing education credits and/or receive a formal Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) Certification, a credential respected throughout corporate America and around the globe.
1. The Diversity Leader’s Intensive
- Provider: The Diversity Movement
- Description: A comprehensive course that teaches DEI leaders everything needed to execute a successful, long-term diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program
- Duration: 28 hours of learning over 4 days
- Format: Live, online, expert instructor-led training plus lifetime access to digital resources, including tools and templates
- Documentation of Successful Completion: Certificate of Competency is awarded to participants who successfully complete the training, pass a multiple-choice exam with a score of 70% or higher, and complete one of three prompted candidate projects.
- Investment: $3,000 with two scholarship seats available per cohort
- Advantages: This program goes beyond the “what” and “why,” giving you the “how to” skills to implement real-world DEI for real-world business outcomes. The program consists of a rigorously tested curriculum based on real-world experience with hundreds of clients in diverse industries. Participants also gain access to an exclusive community hub for ongoing networking with instructors and peers.
2. Next Pivot Point
- Provider: Next Pivot Point
- Description: A collection of four self-paced, online courses (Lead Like an Ally, Unpacking Racism, Inclusive Leadership Development, Women’s Leadership Academy) and DEI Training Workshops on more than 30 different topics
- Duration: Varies by course/program
- Format: On-demand, online courses and virtually facilitated workshops
- Documentation of Successful Completion: Earn professional development credits from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) toward Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) recertifications
- Investment: $247-$697
- Advantages: Curriculum covers a wide range of specialized DEI-related topics
3. The Diversity Leader’s Blueprint to Strategy and Implementation
- Provider: The Diversity Movement
- Description: A self-guided course for both DEI practitioners and senior executives. The course teaches DEI practitioners at all levels to create, measure, and sustain successful diversity, equity, and inclusion practices for their organization, while providing senior executives with best practices for recruiting, hiring, and supporting the efforts of their organization’s DEI team. Learn how to leverage strategy design, change management, and business communication to achieve quick wins and build toward long-term organizational change.
- Duration: Approximately 5 hours
- Format: Online, self-guided
- Documentation of Successful Completion: Certificate of Completion
- Investment: $500
- Advantages: This course offers a uniquely valuable perspective for both DEI practitioners and senior executives by addressing how to successfully make the business case for DEI organization-wide and how to establish leadership support for inclusion as a strategic imperative.
4. Diversity and Inclusion Certification Course
- Provider: HR University
- Description: Teaches HR professionals and business leaders strategies and tactics to create a diverse and inclusive workplace. Consists of 120+ video lessons, assignments, and instructor feedback.
- Duration: 40 hours of learning over 10 weeks
- Format: Online, self-paced
- Documentation of Successful Completion: Certified Diversity and Inclusion Certificate
- Investment: $199
- Advantages: Lifetime access to curriculum, including 15+ case studies, interviews with DEI professionals, and new lessons as they are added.
5. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Practitioners
- Provider: Sarah Jane Academy, powered by Johnson Squared Consulting
- Description: Explore the historical evolution of DEI, current DEI challenges, the role of the DEI practitioner, and tools to address common threats to DEI. Includes weekly quizzes, assignments, and resources.
- Duration: 8 hours over 4 weeks
- Format: Live, online; session recordings available
- Documentation of Successful Completion: Certificate is awarded to participants who successfully complete the training and complete a DEI Action Plan approved by faculty. Official Recertification Provider for Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
- Investment: $795
- Advantages: No cost barrier
6. Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) Training Program
- Provider: The Diversity Movement in partnership with The Institute for Diversity Certification
- Description: Provides senior executives with the tools, education, and mentorship needed to foster diverse and inclusive organizational environments. Teaches participants how to remove systemic barriers to inclusion, lead culture change, and transform brands to align with DEI values. Develops competencies including managing DEI strategic planning and budgeting; advancing staff education, development, and training; leading DEI initiatives and integration efforts; and leveraging DEI stakeholders and partnerships.
- Duration: 24 hours of learning over 2 weeks
- Format: Live, online, expert instructor-led training plus digital resources
- Documentation of Successful Completion: Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) credential is awarded to participants who successfully complete the training, pass a multiple-choice exam with a score of 80% or higher, and complete a professional candidate project.
- Investment: $3,000
- Advantages: Designed specifically for senior executives. Engages participants in projects relevant to their unique corporate cultures. The Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) credential is a widely recognized, meaningful addition to corporate resumes.
7. Professional Certificate in Inclusive Leadership
- Provider: CatalystX
- Description: CatalystX offers three inclusive leadership skill-building courses: Becoming a Successful Leader, Get Beyond Work-Life Balance, and Leading with Effective Communication. Learn how to apply inclusive leadership skills including empowerment, accountability, courage, and humility.
- Duration: 1-2 hours/week for 3 months
- Format: Online, self-paced
- Documentation of Successful Completion: Professional Certificate in Inclusive Leadership
- Investment: $132.30
- Advantages: Access to discussions with a global group of learners
8. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Beginner’s Guide
- Provider: Udemy
- Description: A short, general course that provides foundational knowledge in concepts of DEI, bias awareness, active listening, the business case for creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, and strategies for building a DEI practice.
- Duration: One hour
- Format: On-demand video accessible via computer, mobile phone, and TV with closed captions available
- Documentation of Successful Completion: Certificate of Completion
- Investment: $11.99
- Advantages: A brief overview at minimal cost
Consider what your DEI education goals are for the year ahead. As you explore options, remember that some professionals might benefit from lengthier, more in-depth training; while others might prefer short programs or general courses. Whatever course you decide to pursue, choose carefully to ensure you receive a good return on whatever time, attention, and budget you invest.
Learn more about diversity certification and professional DEI certificates at The Diversity Movement by contacting us or visiting our website.
Kaela Sosa, CDE, is Curriculum and Programming Manager at The Diversity Movement as well as one of its founding members. With a degree in Psychology and Gender Studies, Kaela has fought for the visibility and acknowledgement of issues pertaining to underrepresented groups for nearly a decade. Connect with her on Linkedin.
