You've Been Ready for This Career Longer Than You Think.
In 8–12 weeks, you'll build the portfolio, master the tools, and develop the real-world skills that get instructional designers hired; even if you're starting from scratch.
You Know You Can Do This Work. You Just Need Someone to Show You How.
The Gap Between "I Think I Could Do This" and "I'm Actually Doing This" Is Smaller Than You Think.
You've been watching instructional designers on LinkedIn. Reading job descriptions. Thinking, "I could do that."
Maybe you've taken a course or two. Watched some tutorials. But when you sit down to build something for your portfolio, you freeze. What if it's not good enough? What if I'm doing it wrong?
You know learning theory. You understand adult learning principles. You've probably helped people learn things your entire career. But the job postings all say the same thing: 3–5 years of instructional design experience required. And every time you see that, you close the tab. The cruel irony? You already have the instincts. What you're missing is proof.
Here's what we know after training 3,500+ graduates: You don't need another degree. You need momentum.Not more theory. Not another certificate to hang on your wall. You need a place where you can build things, get feedback, fix them, and keep moving forward until you have work you're genuinely proud to show.
That's exactly what IDOL Academy is.
Who Built This Program and Why It's Different
IDOL Academy was designed by Dr. Robin Sargent, a PhD in Instructional Design and Online Learning who has worked in corporate L&D since 2012.
She didn't build this program to teach you theory. She built it because she watched talented people get passed over for jobs they were fully capable of doing — simply because they didn't have a portfolio, didn't know the workflow, and didn't know how to speak the language of corporate learning.
Over 3,500 graduates later, the approach is proven: you learn instructional design the same way you'd learn it on the job — by doing real projects, getting real feedback, and building work you're genuinely proud to show.
PORTFOLIO TRAINING & PROJECTS
By the end of the program, you won’t just know instructional design. You’ll have created something real.
The entire focus of the skill development track is to forge a high-quality online portfolio that showcases your best work.
First, we’ll show you how to set up your portfolio “shell”, including choosing a website host, registering a domain name, and building out a simple, well-designed site that looks professional.
Then you’ll add attractive assets to your portfolio, piece by piece, as you complete weekly assignments, submit your work for review, and refine it according to feedback from your instructors, community and our proprietary Smart System Review.
The end result: a first-class portfolio that shows companies and clients why you’re the IDOL they should hire.
You’ll complete a project that showcases your:
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design thinking
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content writing
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use of authoring tools
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understanding of learning principles
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ability to create meaningful learning experiences
Your project becomes your proof.
Your confidence builder.
Your turning point.
What made her stand out? A portfolio to rave about!
“I don't think I would have been employed so quickly if it weren't for IDOL. They taught me everything I need to know. In every interview, people raved about my portfolio. I even learned that I had a leg up on other candidates because other people did not have a portfolio.”
From not that interested to super impressed all thanks to her portfolio.
“At the end the interview that, in all honesty, wasn’t going well, the hiring team asked to see my portfolio. So I opened it up and needless to say they were blown away. Immediately, they asked me when I could start.
I couldn’t believe it! Showing my portfolio completely changed the energy of the interview. It was like, all of a sudden, they went from not impressed to super interested. So much so, they called me back for another interview the next day.”
Struggling with perfection paralysis?
The Do It Messy Mentality helps you break free and build momentum.
The best IDOLs are continual iterators, not perfectionists. In the program, you’ll follow a process that encourages quick decisions in the spirit of experimentation.
This means you’ll rapidly create assets and improve them over time through feedback and fine-tuning. How incredibly freeing is that?!
Consider this your permission slip to leave perfectionist tendencies in the past. Instead, embrace the Do It Messy Mentality. So you can upskill without letting your inner critic hold you hostage.
Learn the Skills Modern Instructional Designers Use Every Day
The IDOL Academy gives you a clear, focused pathway to build real instructional design and eLearning skills—without overwhelm, guesswork, or hours of scattered tutorials.
Here's what's included:
✦ IDOLai, our 4 level Artificial Intelligence course made specifically for Instructional Designers to integrate custom GPTs into their workflow
✦ along with other industry preferred tech and tool training, including courses for:
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Articulate Storyline
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Vyond
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Genially
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Camtasia
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Canva
*Digital Badges can be earned at the end of each software course to show proven proficiency in
these tools and boost your credibility with employers.
✦ A skill development track with immersive lessons, weekly assignments, live practice sessions, and personalized feedback
✦ Private IDOL community and alumni network with 24/7 access
✦ Weekly live lessons (replays available) from expert faculty on the topic and the lesson(s) released that week
✦ Portfolio training accompanied by instant reviews + feedback
✦ 7 Milestone assessments, with pass/fail credentials, evaluated by our IDOL Smart System review, including:
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Instructional Designer
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Learning Architect
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Learning Experience Designer
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Visual Designer
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Rapid Prototyping
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Instructor-Led Training
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eLearning Developer
OPTIONAL ADD-ON
SOFTWARE LICENSES
for $44/month,
add on commercial + non-commercial licenses for L&D centric software such as:
- Course authoring with iSpring Solutions
- 3D animation and course authoring with WeAre Learning
- eLearning authoring with Lectora
- Stock graphics, icons, photos and videos to enhance your learning experiences with the ELB Asset Library
- VR authoring with CenarioVR
- Canva Pro account on Canva Campus with built-in IDOL templates
*Add on available at checkout. Continue to pay monthly to continue your licenses after finishing IDOL Academy
Top companies hire our graduates.
Because they know we train first-rate IDOLs.
April saw exponential skill growth and landed her dream job in 6 months.
Because our curriculum evolves with the industry, you're always up to speed on the latest design trends and techniques.
From day 1, you get to experience instructional design from the inside out.
A key upgrade in our new learning platform is interactive lessons.
Besides being incredibly fun (waaayyy more entertaining that those boring talking-head videos most online programs contain), our training content serves as the ultimate inspiration for the eLearning outcomes you will be working toward.
Instant access to all lessons, so you’re in control of your own pace.
Getting up to speed in a new field can feel like a lot - like a lot, a lot - which is why our program aims for students to set their own schedule and structure their own work ethic.
↑ Click to interact with this demo lesson and get a taste of what learning inside the IDOL Academy is like.
Deliberate practice is how you quickly learn new skills and get really, really good at them.
Ever finished a course or training program but felt like you didn’t learn anything? Yeah? That won’t happen here.
In the skill development track, deliberate practice is the focus of everything that we do. Meaning, you’ll spend more time actively doing and designing than passively watching.
Through small weekly assignments, 1-1 feedback, and continual iteration, you’ll not only implement new skills. You’ll improve them at super speed and produce polished assets for your portfolio.
Ideal for IDOLs at any experience level
Yes, really. IDOL Academy covers every aspect of the corporate instructional design process. So it’s perfect for beginners and any working IDOLs with missing skills.
ASPIRING IDOLS
Gain the skills you need to build an attractive portfolio from scratch. Even if you have no previous experience. So you can launch your new IDOL career in record time.
NEWLY HIRED IDOLS
Pick up the skills you need to deliver outstanding work, excel in your position, and impress your team. So you can turn your next performance review into a future promotion.
SEASONED IDOLS
Update your skills with the latest IDOL trends and techniques. Network within a private community of experts. So you can open doors to bigger and better opportunities.
EDUCATORS
Leverage your teaching experience and transition into a new corporate career doing the online learning work you love. Without being trapped in a classroom.
RECENT GRADS
Get the technical know-how, portfolio support, and practical experience your graduate program didn’t give you. So you can land your first IDOL job.
FREELANCERS
Take on side projects or build a full-time business with your new skill set. And create a life of freedom and flexibility while charging top-dollar rates.
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN SKILLS
This curriculum covers every step of the corporate instructional design process. So you can confidently tackle any training projects that come your way.
What’s better: You’ll master new skills more quickly than ever before thanks to immersive and interactive lessons, step-by-step instructions, tech tutorials, weekly assignments, and personalized feedback on your work.
YOUR SKILL SYLLABUS:
✓ Project Management:
How to planning, schedule, budget, report, manage risk, and more
✓ Instructional Design Theories:
How to use Design Thinking, ADDIE, Merill’s First Principles of Instruction, and more
✓ Developing Learner Personas:
How to conduct a needs analysis and shape your learner personas
✓ Needs Analysis & Course Planning:
How to map your course plan to learning needs and meet company goals
✓ Subject Matter Expert (SME) Interviews:
How to run productive SME interviews and get quality learning content
✓ Performance Goals & Tasks Analysis:
How to conduct a task analysis and create problem scenarios
✓ Writing Learning Objectives:
How to write formal learning objectives for performance goals
✓ Instructional Script Writing:
How to write scripts that are structured and meaningful for learners
✓ Course Design Documentation:
How to draft detailed design blueprints and Instructional Design Documents
✓ Learner Experience Design & Storyboarding:
How to craft a storyboard and prepare for eLearning development
✓ Video Voiceover & Production:
How to record and edit voiceover tracks for course lessons
✓ Rapid Prototyping & Course Wireframing:
How to mockup your course at superseed using simple wireframes
✓ Leading a Project Rollout:
How to manage the rollout of new training solutions in a corporate setting
✓ Learning Analytics & Evaluation:
How to read reports and analytics to identify learning gaps
Start Building My PortfolioWhat's Your Career Worth to You?
The average instructional designer earns $85,000/year. Our career changers report an average salary increase of 62%.
A master's degree in instructional design costs $30,000–$60,000 and takes 2+ years. IDOL Academy costs $1,997 — and graduates have landed jobs before even finishing.
Pay in full: $1,997 (best value) Payment plan: $383/month for 6 months
Optional software bundle (over $7,000 in tools): add for $44/month.
This is not an expense. It's the most efficient investment you can make in a career that will pay for itself within weeks of landing your first role.
We'll Be Honest With You. Here's Exactly What IDOL Academy Is (and Isn't)
Transparency benefits everyone involved and we want to make sure you are ready to commit to breaking into the instructional design industry. The pro's and con's of our program are listed below.
PRO's OF IDOL ACADEMY
✚ Built for real-world instructional design
This is not theory-heavy academia.
You learn how instructional design is actually done on the job, with workflows, tools, and decision-making that mirror real projects.
If your goal is employability and confidence, this matters.
✚ Strong focus on portfolio building
Employers don’t hire certificates; they hire proof.
IDOL Academy is designed to help you build 1–3 solid portfolio pieces that show how you think, design, and solve problems.
That’s the real differentiator.
✚ AI-powered skill acceleration
You get access to IDOLai across all four levels, starting with foundational prompting and moving into advanced prompting, custom GPT creation, and dynamic AI automations. This included course is intentional. It teaches you how to think, design, and build faster without cutting corners, so you’re not stuck staring at a blank screen or second-guessing every decision.
Most programs avoid teaching AI at this depth.
We don’t.
✚ Practical software training that employers actually expect
IDOL Academy doesn’t just teach concepts. You learn how to work inside the tools used in real instructional design roles, including Articulate Storyline, Vyond, Genially, Camtasia, and Canva (subscriptions to tools not included). The focus is on applying instructional design principles inside the software, not just clicking buttons, so your portfolio reflects both strong design thinking and technical confidence.
CON's OF IDOL ACADEMY
✖ Tools subscription is separate
We offer a tool bundle that is an optional $44/month subscription. These tools include:
- Course authoring with iSpring Solutions
- 3D animation and course authoring with WeAre Learning
- eLearning authoring with Lectora
- Stock graphics, icons, photos and videos to enhance your learning experiences with the ELB Asset Library
- VR authoring with CenarioVR
- Canva Pro account on Canva Campus with built-in IDOL templates
Though they're an added cost and not included in tuition, you have the option to continue this tool bundle subscription after your time is done in the program.
✖ Not an academic degree or accreditation
We've tried the accreditation route, and in turn, the cost of our program became unfeasible for many. If you’re looking for some kind of university credit or formal accreditation, IDOL Academy isn’t that.
We've designed our program for career transition and upskilling, not credit hours.
✖ No refunds
This is important to be clear about.
Because you get instant access to the full curriculum, AI tools, and community, all sales are final.
You should enroll only if you’re ready to take responsibility for your progress.
The IDOL Academy Guarantee:
Most programs give you content and wish you luck. IDOL Academy gives you a built-in feedback loop, a support system, and a Smart Review process that makes sure you're never just guessing.
Our guarantee is simple: if you participate, complete your assignments, and use the support available to you, you will finish this program with a portfolio project you're proud to show employers.
We can't guarantee a job offer — that part is yours to earn. But we can guarantee you'll have the skills and the proof to go get one.
No refunds — because this isn't a product you return. It's a transformation you build. We'll be with you every step of the way.
Rachel doubled her income and only works part-time.
“I interviewed with three companies within a few weeks of applying to no more than 30 jobs (easy clickable applications on LinkedIn). I was offered a contract position for 30-35 hours per week through the end of the year. Even though it's not full-time, I doubled my income. I'm so thankful to IDOL, the coaches, mentors, and other learners who helped teach me new skills and build my confidence to move forward as an ID."
Rachael HartmanInstructional Designer at The College of Health Care Professions
Marilyn can’t believe she’s working for Google.
"I'm beyond excited about starting my new role at Google through a contractor! I truly owe it to IDOL - the community, the courses, the opportunities. It was a long journey: I started with the Do It Messy challenge, got a volunteer client, volunteered for Rumie Learn, landed a contract through IDOL, and finally this job offer. Put in the time and effort and you'll make it!"
Marilyn DayInstructional Designer at Google
Lynda is self-employed with a steady base of clients.
"When I started IDOL, I was working as an ID, but looking to update my skills to grow and move into other areas. I considered working freelance, but I didn't really know how to make the move and frankly, I was a bit scared to take that leap. After finishing IDOL I started seriously thinking about going the freelance route. I currently have six clients and am loving the variety and the challenges. It was IDOL that helped me rediscover my passion for instructional design and find the courage to pursue something new.”
Lynda KluckLearning Experience Manager at Culture Partners
Jamie made a complete career change in her 40s.
"I would never have imagined I could take the leap from one career field into a COMPLETELY different, unknown career field. I signed up for classes in January and in the meantime worked for a part-time non-profit. I would watch the videos on my lunch hour and the days that I was not in the office I completed my lessons. Now, here I am less than a year later, and I’ve completely changed my career field! For a woman in her mid-40’s, I’m proud of myself. The support I’ve received from everyone at IDOL has changed my outlook on this venture.”
Jamie BlackLearning Experience Designer at Sea Island Company
Ricky interviewed so well, the company CREATED a job for him.
"IDOL gave me all of the tools I needed to make the jump from teaching to Instructional Design.
My interviewer was so impressed with my skills that she CREATED a job for me. I could not have accomplished my goals without the help of my mentors and coaches and the greater IDOL community!"
Ricky FisherInstructional Designer at Landmark Health
Sharon shocked herself by landing her dream job at IKEA.
“I put all my new assets in my portfolio, finished up my Linked In, and saw that IKEA was hiring learning developers. I did two rounds of interviews with two departments. I got the job! There is NO WAY I could have gotten this role without IDOL. I had a community to look over my portfolio, give feedback on my assets, give me advice for applications, and even do practice interviews with me. I cannot say enough good things about the IDOL!"
Sharon TavaresLearning Developer at IKEA
Auroosa got an offer using assets she made the day before.
“I signed an offer yesterday as a Learning Experience Designer. My dream job at my dream company.
I didn't have my portfolio ready in time to apply for the role but I took a shot and applied anyway. I did submit some samples and I actually made a sample VILT facilitation guide for them that I included in my application.
I could not have done this without IDOL! I can't believe a few months ago I decided I wanted to make a career change and now here I am, hired as a LXD!
Auroosa Kazmi-IshaqLearning and Development Manager at WildBrain
From the POV of the companies you hope
to work for, the master's degree doesn’t matter.
But the skills? They definitely do.
"I hired one of [IDOL's] graduates and I was so impressed at the quality of her work, skills, and knowledge.
Bravo! I have been recommending this program every since!"
✦ Crystal Gasell, Ed.D
Director of Academic Technology & Training
Instructional design work is specialized and technical.
Companies don’t want to have to train you on the essentials. Some companies can’t. They don’t have the expertise in-house. That’s why they’re hiring you.
What captures the attention of today’s employers are highly skilled IDOLs who prove they can hit the ground running create high-quality courses, and solve employee performance gaps starting on day 1.
Start Building My PortfolioIn IDOL Academy, you'll be actually creating the portfolio pieces that prove you can do this work:
You won’t just learn theory—you’ll build real, job-ready skills.
You’ll get:
✦ Technical training
✦ Hands-on project experience
✦ Tool-specific tutorials that degree programs often skip
You’ll learn to:
✦ Apply learning theory to real-world training projects
✦ Write instructional content that actually teaches
✦ Build eLearning assets with industry-standard authoring tools
✦ Use AI to accelerate your workflow and enhance your output
✦ Storyboard, script, design, and iterate like a pro
✦ Produce clean visual layouts and multimedia assets
✦ Follow the same workflows used by corporate L&D teams
✦Exchange feedback using professional review processes
This is the moment you’ve been working for!
A Professional Credential You Earn Through Practice
At IDOL Academy, you won’t just know instructional design — you’ll have proof you can do it.
When you finish, you’ll earn a Professional Development Certificate and a digital badge that showcase your instructional design training, hands-on practice, and real-world readiness.
You’re not being graded. You’re being guided.
With the support of our Smart Review system, you’ll get personalized feedback to help you grow, improve, and polish your work as you go. Whether you’re building your first portfolio piece or refining your skills, you’ll never have to guess if something’s “good enough.”
And because the process is built around iteration, not perfectionism, it’s nearly impossible not to pass — as long as you keep going.
This certificate doesn’t just say you showed up.
It says you did the work. And you’re ready for the job.
FLEXIBLE & SELF-PACED
No due dates?! Designed for flexibility. So you’re never behind. Perfect for busy IDOLs who work full-time.
On-demand, Bite-sized Lessons
Tackle training when it suits your schedule, like with your morning coffee, over lunch, or after the kids go to bed.
Small Weekly
Assignments
Put newly acquired skills into practice and take manageable steps toward building your portfolio.
Personalized Feedback on Project Work
Submit assignments for feedback and get personalized suggestions for strengthening your work.
PRIVATE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
At each stumbling block and every win, you’re always supported inside a warm and welcoming community of IDOL peers.
You’ll never be alone on your career journey, not when you have a community of IDOLs cheering you on. Swap feedback. Share wins. And support each other through challenges only fellow IDOLs will understand. During your cohort, you’ll not only make lifelong friends. You’ll also build an expansive network of fellow professionals who are more than happy to connect you with amazing opportunities.
A safe space to ask questions and get feedback
“If you stumbled across the IDOL and you're wondering "if..", I'll make it easy for you: DO IT!! While the [training] itself is great on its own, the best benefit is the IDOL community. It's the real deal and made transitioning to instructional design sooo much easier.
Having a safe space to learn and ask questions, get great asset feedback, join accountability groups, and get up to date resume and interview help was extremely helpful with beating imposter syndrome. The job search support group really helped me to persevere. I'm so grateful I didn't have to go on this journey alone.”
SOFTWARE & TECH TUTORIALS - check!
Stop struggling with the software. We’ll show you how to design attractive and interactive courses. Even if you aren’t techie.
Our technical training lessons show you, step by step, how to use industry-preferred authoring tools and other tech to bring design concepts to life. Better yet, you’ll earn software-specific badges along the way that you can proudly display on your online portfolio or LinkedIn.
IDOLai: AI for Instructional Designers
For understanding Artificial Intelligence prompt structuring, custom GPT building, and how to integrate all of it into everything you do as an ID.
IDOL® Movie Magic™:
Professional Vyond® Animations
For creating 2D animated videos with pizzazz.
Genially® for IDOLs℠:
Genially® Skilled
For creating interactive images, infographics, eLearning, and job aids.
Storyline® for IDOLs℠:
Articulate Storyline® Skilled
For designing interactive and engaging eLearning experiences.
IDOL℠ 💚 Canva® Skilled
For designing professional-looking graphics, GIFs, slides, videos, and more.
Camtasia Skilled
For recording and editing high-quality videos.
Plus step-by-step tutorials on:
Audacity
Articulate Rise
Storyline
(advanced)
Lectora
Instructor-Led Training
CenarioVR
coming soon!
OPTIONAL ADD-ON:
Practice with the tools instructional designers actually use, and save yourself $7,000+ in software expenses.
You can add software access for just $44/month, giving you licenses worth over $7,000.
NEW in 2025:
Course authoring with iSpring Solutions
(valued at $770/year) – non-commercial
3D animation and course authoring with WeAre Learning
(valued at $2,499/year) - non-commercial
eLearning authoring with Lectora with the ELB Asset Library
(valued at $1,404/year) -non-commercial
VR authoring with CenarioVR
(valued at $4,788/year) - non-commercial
Canva Pro account on Canva Campus with built-in IDOL templates
(valued at $119.99/year)
Yours for $44 /month with enrollment.
* Add on after IDOL Academy purchase.
** Keep the license after program if you choose.
Start Building My PortfolioThe #1 question new students ask:
“How quickly will I get a job?”
AND OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How quickly will I get a job?
There’s a lot to cover. What if I fall behind?
After enrolling, when do I get access to Academy resources?
What happens after my 6 months are up?
Do I need to show up live?
I don’t live in the United States. Will this work for me?
Is there a refund window or guarantee?
What if I have no instructional design experience?
I have some ID experience. Will I get anything out of the Academy?
What if I’m not a techie?
Will I receive a certificate?
Do employers value IDOL training like a degree?
What if I have more questions?
What accessibility features do you offer?
How much does it cost?
Does IDOL Academy have a mobile app?
Are there payment plans available?
The Real Question: Are You Ready to Stop Preparing and Start Building?
The Real Question: Are You Ready to Stop Preparing and Start Building?
You've been circling this decision for a while now.Reading job descriptions. Following instructional designers on LinkedIn. Maybe even creating accounts on portfolio platforms that are still sitting empty.
The distance between "thinking about it" and "actually doing it" is one decision.
This program won't hand you a job. But it will give you the skills, the portfolio, and the confidence to go get one.
We're thrilled to announce that we have been awarded the prestigious Bronze Brandon Hall Group HCM Excellence Award in the category of Best Certification Program.
This recognition, which falls under Learning and Development Awards, solidifies our position as a leader in the field of instructional design and career development. This accolade is a testament to the outstanding quality and impact of our flagship program, IDOL Academy, which continues to empower aspiring instructional designers to build successful and fulfilling careers.
The average base salary for Instructional Designers is $75k,
but money isn’t the only professional perk.
Like these grads, you can add more freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment to your life too:
Whitney’s enjoying better benefits and less stress.
"IDOL courses helped me move from the classroom to a corporate job with so much better benefits and less stress. I learned so much and in a short amount of time. It was definitely worth the investment. The feedback and support you get from Robin and the group are invaluable. I can't recommend it enough... it has literally changed my quality of life."
Whitney EstesSenior Technical Curriculum Developer at Amazon
Morgan is working from home and loving every minute of it.
"I am so thankful for IDOL, as it allowed me to achieve my dreams. I am now working for a company I love, and I am able to work from home. I would not have been able to transition out of education without the IDOL program, or the incredible system of support that it offers. I felt equipped and prepared to answer questions in interviews, and feel knowledgeable in my new role. Thank you IDOL for changing my life!
Morgan LaveyInstructional Design Consultant III at Principal Financial Group
Shemaine finally looks forward to Monday morning.
"It's an amazing program that gave me the confidence and skills to land a dream job. I was working just to make ends meet.
Now I love what I do and I can't wait to get started everyday. Thanks IDOL for helping change my career and my life."
Shemaine HernandezInstructional Designer at WYSR
Join IDOL Academy. And create a career you don’t need a vacation from (with more income to boot!) as a remote or freelance IDOL.
In this industry, anything is possible. Our graduates are proof.
Higher pay. Remote work. Better hours.
“It took less than 6 months to transition from teacher into finance as an ID. Higher pay, remote position, bankers hours, nothing but net. All thanks to IDOL!”
"Well worth the money!"
“IDOL courses was a really great experience! It is a comprehensive and supportive learning opportunity that provided everything you would ever want: low cost, high return on investment, networking, encouragement, comprehensive knowledge and so much more!”
