Instructional Designer
Designs online courses, videos, quizzes and learning material for edtech firms and corporate training.
Facts checked 29/10/2026
Is this for me?
- Turning a hard topic into a clear, step-by-step lesson
- Working with subject experts, designers and developers
- Seeing a finished course help real learners do a task better
- Tight deadlines and several rounds of revisions
- Entry pay can be modest, and jobs often ask for proof of skills first
- Software and tools change fast, so you must keep learning
- Class 11–12 subjects
- Any Class 12 stream works. Later, the job needs a bachelor's degree in any subject. Strong writing, English and a good eye for layout help more than any single school subject.
- First degree
- Any bachelor's degree. Then a 1-year PG diploma in instructional design, or a 2-year M.Ed in educational technology. Some people enter with a portfolio and work experience instead.
- Entrance exams
- No national entrance exam. Private institutes usually admit on merit or their own test. M.Ed admission depends on the university or state.
- Licence or registration
- None needed to start working.
What the work is like
Finding out what learners need, planning the course, writing scripts and storyboards, building e-learning modules, quizzes and videos, and getting feedback from subject experts and reviewers.
A day in the work
A typical day starts with a call or email thread with a subject expert to confirm what the learner must be able to do by the end. You then write a storyboard or script, and build a short module or quiz in an authoring tool. The afternoon usually goes on reviews, fixing feedback from a client or manager, and checking that the material works on a phone as well as a laptop.
The path, step by step
- Step 1 · Class 10–12Any stream is fine. Practise clear writing, presentations and simple drawing or slide design. Learn basic computer work, because course tools are software-based.
- Step 2 · Degree yearsStudy any subject. Take free courses to test your interest, such as the NPTEL e-learning design course or the SWAYAM instructional design course. Both can be started without fees.
- Step 3 · After the degreeChoose a PG diploma in instructional design (about 1 year, open to graduates of any subject) or an M.Ed in educational technology (2 years). M.Ed usually asks for a B.Ed first. (reported — check with the official body)
- Step 4 · During or after the courseBuild a small portfolio: a storyboard, one short online module made in an authoring tool, and a quiz with feedback. Employers ask to see work, not just certificates.
- Step 5 · First jobStart in an edtech firm, a training company or a corporate learning and development team. Many job posts ask for one to three years of experience, so entry roles may be assistant or content-focused.
Ways in
- RoutePG diploma in instructional design after any degree, usually one year.
- RouteM.Ed in educational technology or learning design, usually two years, often after a B.Ed.
- RouteMoving in from teaching, content writing, graphic design or corporate training, then learning the design process on the job.
Time and money
| Stage | Time | Government college or body | Private college | Help available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 11–12 (any stream) | 2 years | Your school's fees | — | — |
| Degree (any subject) | 3 years | Check the college's fee page | Check the college's fee page | Free NPTEL and SWAYAM courses to test interest; NPTEL certificate exam ₹1,000 (optional) |
| Route A: PG diploma in instructional design | 1 year | Check the college's fee page | Check the college's fee page. Private PG diplomas cost more and vary by institute | — |
| Route B: M.Ed in educational technology (often needs B.Ed first) | 2 years | Check the college's fee page | Self-financing Haryana college: ₹38,500/yr (2026-27 prospectus, subject to revision). IGNOU distance M.Ed: about ₹40,000 total (reported) | — |
| Portfolio building (storyboard, online module, quiz) | 6–12 months | Check the college's fee page | Check the college's fee page | — |
Fees from: NPTEL course page (certificate fee) · SNDT Women's University short course page · Maharshi Dayanand University prospectus 2026-27. Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.
What people earn
Earnings vary widely. Entry roles at small firms pay much less than senior roles at large edtech or corporate teams, and bigger cities usually pay more than smaller towns.
Myth and fact
Try it now
- Class 7–9Explain one topic you know well as a short 5-slide lesson, then ask a friend or sibling to test whether they understood it.
- Class 10–12Start the free NPTEL course on designing learner-centric e-learning and note how it plans each lesson.Open link ↗
- College or afterAudit the free Instructional Design Foundations course on Coursera and write a one-page plan for a lesson you would design.Open link ↗
Good to know
- No government body licenses this job. Your skills and portfolio matter more than a single degree.
- Job postings often ask for Articulate, Adobe Captivate, LMS platforms and, increasingly, AI tools. Learn one authoring tool well before you apply.
- Many roles are remote or hybrid, but edtech and corporate jobs are concentrated in a few cities.
Sources: SWAYAM: Instructional Design course (Mahatma Gandhi University) · NPTEL: Designing Learner-Centric E-learning in STEM Disciplines · SNDT Women's University: 4-Credit Online Course on Instructional Design · Maharshi Dayanand University, B.Ed and M.Ed Prospectus 2026-27 · SCDL: Post Graduate Diploma in Instructional Design (private institute)