Home » Teach Online » Faculty Development and Training » Digital Teaching and Design Credentialing Digital Teaching and Design Credentialing Online Instructor Credentials As of Fall 2026, the Center for Distributed Learning (CDL) is introducing streamlined teaching and design credentials for all online and blended course modalities. Design, Develop, and Deliver (3D) The 3D credential allows instructors to develop and teach in online and blended modalities. Recertification is required every five years. Program Options IDL6543, Integrated Digital Learning Online Teaching and Design Readiness (OTDR) assessment Deliver (D1) The D1 credential allows instructors to teach inherited courses in online or blended modalities for one year, after which the 3D credential must be obtained. Program ADL5000, Applied Digital Learning Services and Benefits for Credentialed Instructors Dedicated support from Instructional Designers Quality and High-Quality course designations Graphics and Video production services Priority access to workshops and advanced trainings Some legacy credentials (ADT, AT, EOT, ETV, etc.) will be converted and/or replaced over time and with advance notice to affected instructors. See FAQ for more information. Get started now! Earn a Credential Recertify Already credentialed and want to connect? Submit a Service Request Credentialing Programs Training Pathways There are two pathways for earning a digital teaching credential, based on your needs: Developing Online/Blended Courses IDL6543, Integrated Digital Learning Six week, cohort-based program (~25 hours) Primarily asynchronous with required in-person kickoff gathering. Participants must have a course to design (W, S, R, M modalities) Open to faculty, instructional staff, GTAs, post-docs Credential earned: Design, Develop, and Deliver (3D) 📅 Fall cohort begins Sept 11, 2026. Required kickoff gathering Friday, Sept 18. Instructors with legacy credentials are encouraged to enroll to update skills and knowledge. Faculty participants may be eligible for stipends or course releases; discuss with your academic unit for details. Inheriting Online/Blended Courses ADL5000, Applied Digital Learning Fully asynchronous, self-paced program (~4-8 hours) Participants must be assigned an inherited course (W, S, R, or M modalities) Open to faculty, instructional staff, GTAs, post-docs Credential earned: Deliver (D1) 📅 Enrollment is ongoing year-round. Instructors who need immediate credentialing upon hire may complete this program to expedite initial onboarding. No stipends are available for this pathway. Assessment Pathway Instructors with substantial online teaching and course development experience can be offered, with academic unit approval, an alternative pathway to credentialing: Online Teaching and Design Readiness (OTDR) Assessment Formerly OFRA Fully asynchronous, self-paced program (~2-8 hours) Participants must have a course to design (W, S, R, M modalities); successful completion contingent on development of quality Webcourses@UCF content. Open to instructional faculty and faculty administrators Credential earned: Design, Develop, and Deliver (3D) 📅 Enrollment is ongoing and year-round. This option is not a training; it allows experienced instructors to bypass training by demonstrating existing proficiency in meeting UCF standards for online learning. No stipends are available for this pathway. How to Enroll in a Credentialing Program To participate in IDL6543, ADL5000, or OTDR: Request nomination from your academic unit. Chairs and delegates may use this form to nominate faculty for all programs. Enroll in and complete prerequisite: Webcourses@UCF Fundamentals Instructors with legacy credentials (ADT, EOT, OFRA) are encouraged to re-enroll in IDL6543 to earn the new 3D credential and update your skills at your convenience. Credential Recertification Options Instructors who will need to recertify their 3D credential on a five-year cycle will have a variety of options, to be detailed in 2026-2027. We anticipate these options to include: earning Quality or High-Quality course designations, participating in faculty development workshops, completing assessments in-lieu-of training, and/or re-enrollment in IDL6543. Stay tuned for updates! Frequently Asked Questions I already have online teaching credentials at UCF. How do the new credentials affect me? No action is required for instructors whose highest legacy credential is ADT, EOT, or OFRA. You have the option of 1) enrolling in the significantly updated IDL6543 (including potential stipend eligibility) or 2) completing OTDR to earn the 3D credential. No automatic conversion will occur for these credentials. Instructors whose highest legacy credential is AT will be asked, with advance notice, to: 1) automatically convert to or earn the D1 credential, providing an additional year to complete IDL6543; or 2) directly earn the 3D credential by completing IDL6543 (including stipend eligibility) or OTDR in lieu of training. Instructors with VDT credentials will be contacted with options for conversion or re-credentialing, as the associated V course modalities (for which the credential was intended) no longer exist. I have been teaching online for many years at UCF or elsewhere. Do I have to complete training? All instructors who will teach in online or blended modalities must earn an appropriate UCF credential. Instructional faculty who have substantial experience designing and teaching online courses at UCF or elsewhere can opt for the OTDR assessment in lieu of training with academic unit approval. Upon successful completion, the 3D credential will be awarded. Talk to your chair or delegate to be nominated for OTDR. How often is IDL6543 offered? The six-week IDL6543 program (3D) is offered once per semester: Fall, Spring, and Summer. ADL5000 (D1) and OTDR are self-paced and offered continuously. What does the IDL6543 program cover? The IDL6543 program leading to the 3D credential is a guided, hands-on course design and development experience that helps instructors ensure their courses meet evidence-based criteria for quality course design. It also incorporates important student interaction and facilitation considerations for digital learning. How can I prepare for IDL6543? Complete the prerequisite training: Webcourses@UCF Fundamentals. Ensure you have been assigned an online or blended course to design and develop. Confirm your enrollment after your academic unit has nominated you. Mark your calendar for the required kick-off gathering that you will be invited to. Plan to spend a few hours each week completing activities as you design and develop the course you will teach. What is expected of IDL6543 participants? IDL6543 participants are expected, at a minimum, to submit deliverables by published deadlines and meet with their instructional designer (ID) at least twice during the program. There are many optional synchronous and asynchronous engagement opportunities, but these are not required. What if I cannot attend the required in-person kickoff gathering for IDL6543? Last minute illness or emergencies that arise for scheduled participants can be accommodated via a required online orientation. If you have a pre-existing schedule conflict, we recommend that you plan to attend in a future semester. You can complete ADL5000 to earn the D1 credential on a shorter, asynchronous timeline and then will have a full year to earn the 3D credential. I am a program leader or delegate and need to nominate faculty for credentialing. What should I do? First, check your email for a call for nominations which is typically sent to academic units several weeks prior to the nomination deadline. If you cannot find it, reach out to idesign@ucf.edu for assistance and we will be glad to help. How do I know which credential is appropriate for me/my faculty? ADL5000, leading to the temporary D1 credential, is exclusively focused on facilitation and student interaction/support as appropriate to teaching an inherited, pre-existing online or blended course. Instructors who will design and develop online courses will need to earn the 3D credential, either via IDL6543 or OTDR. For expediency, it may be appropriate for new instructors to complete ADL5000 initially, and then enroll in IDL6543 later within the first academic year.
