Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Continuing Education Instructor

🎯 Role Definition

The Continuing Education Instructor delivers high-quality professional development and lifelong learning to adult learners, working across online, hybrid, and classroom environments. This role designs and delivers accredited courses that meet CE credit requirements, uses instructional design principles to create engaging content, evaluates learning outcomes, and partners with industry and academic stakeholders to keep curriculum current and marketable. Ideal candidates combine subject matter expertise, adult-learning pedagogy, LMS proficiency, and strong facilitation skills to support working professionals seeking certification, recertification, or career advancement.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Adjunct instructor or part-time continuing education facilitator
Industry professional transitioning into training (e.g., nursing, IT, HR)
Instructional designer or training specialist

Advancement To:

Lead Continuing Education Instructor / Program Lead
Curriculum & Instruction Manager for Continuing Education
Director of Professional Development / Continuing Education
Academic Program Director (certificate and workforce programs)

Lateral Moves:

Instructional Designer (e-learning focus)
Corporate Trainer / Learning & Development Specialist
Accreditation & Compliance Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, develop, and update comprehensive continuing education curricula and course materials aligned with adult learning principles (andragogy), accreditation standards, and employer needs for both synchronous and asynchronous delivery formats.
Create detailed course outlines, learning objectives, assessment strategies, and rubrics that map to state, national, or professional association CE credit requirements and support measurable competency gains.
Deliver live and recorded instruction using a range of delivery modalities (in-person workshops, virtual classrooms, webinars, hybrid formats), ensuring high engagement through active learning strategies and multimedia.
Build and maintain course content in the Learning Management System (LMS) — including Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard, or similar platforms — uploading modules, assignments, quizzes, and tracking learner progress and completion.
Develop interactive e-learning modules and multimedia assets using authoring tools (Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, Camtasia) to support self-paced professional development and micro-credential pathways.
Evaluate learner performance with valid, reliable assessments, provide constructive feedback, and maintain thorough records to support CE credit issuance, transcript updates, and regulatory audits.
Ensure program and course compliance with accrediting bodies, licensure boards, and organizational policies by preparing documentation, participating in accreditation reviews, and implementing recommended improvements.
Issue CE certificates, manage CE credit allocations, and maintain accurate reporting for certification and recertification cycles, including participant tracking and audit-ready documentation.
Collaborate with industry partners, professional associations, and subject matter experts to identify emerging skill needs, secure adjunct instructors, and co-create industry-aligned learning experiences.
Market courses and certificate programs in coordination with continuing education administration and marketing teams by contributing to promotional copy, participating in information sessions, and representing programs at conferences.
Facilitate cohort-based learning and professional communities of practice that foster networking, peer feedback, and real-world application of course concepts among working professionals.
Advise and mentor adult learners on course selection, career pathways, and upskilling strategies; provide individual learning plans and referrals to support services when appropriate.
Adapt instructional content and assessments to meet diverse learner needs, applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and coordinating accommodations for learners with disabilities.
Monitor and analyze course engagement and outcomes data (completion rates, satisfaction scores, learning gains) to drive continuous program improvement and share findings with stakeholders.
Lead and coordinate hands-on labs, case studies, simulations, and workplace-based projects that enable learners to apply new skills directly to their jobs and demonstrate competency for credentialing.
Supervise, onboard, and support adjunct faculty and guest instructors; provide training on course delivery expectations, assessment standards, and academic policies related to continuing education.
Manage classroom and virtual logistics, including scheduling, room set-up, scheduling proctors for exams, ensuring AV and platform readiness, and coordinating with facilities and IT teams.
Maintain active professional credentials, certifications, or licensure in the subject area; participate in ongoing professional development and industry networks to keep content current and relevant.
Create and implement assessment strategies that measure short-term learning and long-term impact on learners’ performance, collecting qualitative and quantitative evidence for program reporting.
Prepare course budgets, recommend resource allocations, and manage modest program expenditures related to materials, guest speakers, and technology vendors.
Support grant writing, program proposals, or continuing education expansion initiatives by providing curriculum descriptions, learning outcome frameworks, and evaluation plans.
Respond to learner inquiries, resolve complaints, and escalate academic or compliance issues as needed while maintaining a high level of student service and professionalism.
Proactively iterate on instructional approaches by piloting innovative modalities (microlearning, flipped classroom, mobile learning) to increase access and completion for working adults.

Secondary Functions

Participate in faculty and program meetings, committees, and cross-functional initiatives focused on improving adult learning services and institutional partnerships.
Contribute to the creation and maintenance of program catalogs, website course descriptions, and SEO-optimized content to increase program discoverability by prospective learners.
Support program enrollment and retention efforts by helping screen applicants, reviewing prerequisites, and advising on prerequisite remediation or placement.
Assist with the design and maintenance of program evaluation tools, including post-course surveys, employer feedback forms, and alumni outcome trackers.
Coordinate with registrar, finance, and program administrators to ensure accurate enrollment records, billing for CE courses, and timely issuance of completion documentation.
Serve as a subject matter resource for internal training, faculty development workshops, and community outreach events promoting lifelong learning.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Curriculum development for adult learners and continuing education programs
Instructional design methodologies (ADDIE, Backward Design) and andragogy
Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard) — course build and reporting
E-learning authoring tools (Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, Camtasia) and multimedia editing
Assessment design, rubric development, and competency-based evaluation
Knowledge of CE accreditation processes, professional licensure requirements, and compliance reporting
Virtual classroom technologies (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex) and webinar best practices
Learning analytics and basic data analysis to interpret course metrics and learner outcomes
Experience with LMS integrations, SCORM/xAPI packages, and content standards for portability
Course marketing and SEO-friendly course description writing to drive enrollment
Basic budget management and vendor coordination for course materials and guest speakers
Proficiency with office productivity tools (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace)

Soft Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication tailored to adult professional audiences
Strong facilitation and public speaking skills for live and virtual learning environments
Empathy and cultural competence when working with diverse adult learners and schedules
Adaptability and creativity in designing solutions for non-traditional learners and workplace constraints
Organizational skills and time management to balance course development, delivery, and administrative duties
Collaboration and stakeholder management across academic departments and industry partners
Student-centered coaching and mentorship to support career and skills application
Problem-solving orientation for troubleshooting technology, learner issues, and program logistics
Attention to detail for compliance, recordkeeping, and assessment integrity
Continuous improvement mindset and receptivity to feedback from learners and peers

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in education, adult learning, a subject-matter field (nursing, IT, business, allied health, etc.), or equivalent professional experience.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Adult Education, Instructional Design, Curriculum & Instruction, Education Technology, or a closely related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Adult Education / Andragogy
Instructional Design / Educational Technology
Nursing, Allied Health, Information Technology, Business, Public Safety (industry-specific)
Workforce Development / Professional Development

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3 – 7+ years of professional experience teaching adults, designing continuing education, or equivalent industry experience with demonstrated instructional competencies.

Preferred:

5+ years delivering continuing education, professional development, or corporate training.
Experience with accredited CE program delivery, licensure/recertification requirements, and issuing CE credits.
Proven track record of online and blended course design and demonstrated outcomes (completion rates, learner satisfaction, employer adoption).