Training and development manager: degree, years in training or HR, sometimes a master's or MBA
Training and development managers typically need a bachelor's or master's degree and related work experience, often as training and development specialists. Some employers prefer or require a master's in training and development, HR management, organizational development or business administration (MBA).
For: Experienced trainers or HR people who want to lead an organization's learning programs and budget.
Route 1: Degree → training specialist → manager Typical
Many positions require experience in management, teaching, or training and development or another human resources field; some employers prefer experience in their industry.
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Start here
High school diploma
BLS
Training and Development Managers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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About 4 years
Bachelor's in business, communications, social science or a related field
BLS
Training and Development Managers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Years of work
Training and development specialist, teacher or HR job
Training specialistBLS
Training and Development Managers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Goal
Training and development manager
BLS
Training and Development Managers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Route 2: Master's in training, HR or organizational development, or an MBA Some employers prefer or require
Studying instructional design, behavioral psychology or educational psychology may also help.
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Start here
Bachelor's degree
BLS
Training and Development Managers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Exam gate
GMAT or GRE (for an MBA)
The GMAT has three sections (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights) and takes 2 hours 15 minutes.
GMAT and GRE exam pagesGMAC
GMAT exam structureGraduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), mba.com- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
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Graduate
Master's in training and development, HR management or organizational development, or an MBA
BLS
Training and Development Managers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Goal
Training and development manager
BLS
Training and Development Managers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- GRE instead of GMAT
- ETS calls the GRE General Test one test for graduate, business and law school, accepted at thousands of schools.
ETS
The GRE General TestETS- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Licenses, registrations and certifications
Each one is marked: a state or federal license is the law, a registration through an employer comes with the job, and a voluntary certification is one employers may ask for.
- Training and development certification
Professional associations · Employer may require - Not required, but some employers prefer certified candidates and some positions require it; some associations specialize in training and development.
BLS
Training and Development Managers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Where to go next
Every career page in this cluster: entry, license, BLS pay and outlook.
What the job is, BLS pay and job outlook, and how to become one.