What Is Professional Development and What Are the Benefits?

Key takeaways

Engaging in professional development is a way to improve your skills, knowledge, and techniques, as well as those of your workforce. 

• Companies that embrace and champion professional development report higher confidence in their ability to retain and attract talent [1].

• Professional development could be anything from learning something new in an academic setting to earning Professional Certificates or brushing up on knowledge and learning a new skill through research and personal projects.

• You can engage in professional development in various ways, including completing certificate or certification programs, online learning, and attending conferences and seminars. 

Learn more about professional development and its impact on individuals and organizations. Then, check out Coursera for Business to help drive professional growth. This platform provides access to world-class learning content and training programs from more than 350 global leaders, including 20 of the top business schools and many leading companies and universities.

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What is professional development?

Professional development is education, training, or skill development engaged in for career progression. This can range from keeping up to date with changes and trends in your field to learning new skills to advance your career.

What is professional development planning? 

Professional development planning involves setting goals and objectives for training and skill development. It helps create a roadmap you can use to guide your learning pathways, both on an individual and organization-wide basis. Having plans in place can help support successful learning and development goals, which can offer additional benefits. 

According to LinkedIn's Workplace Learning Report 2025, 75 percent of companies that prioritize professional development report confidence in their profitability, compared with only 64 percent for other companies. Similarly, those who embrace professional and career development also experience greater confidence in their organization's abilities to attract and retain talent [1].

Who needs to engage in professional development?

Putting time aside for professional development can benefit you and your workforce at any career stage. Providing professional development opportunities to employees can help increase confidence, boost engagement, and ensure your workforce has a sharp skill set that’s ready for today and tomorrow.  

Some companies and industries consider ongoing professional development a requirement for working in a specific position. Many employers will offer regular internal and external to ensure employees are current with industry standards. The process helps ensure they have skilled employees and attract professionals dedicated to growing within their roles.

Read more:What is Continuous Learning

Some professionals, such as psychologists, certified public accountants (CPAs), pilots, and lawyers, have continued professional development (CPD) as an essential requirement to practice. This may involve taking exams to renew licenses or retain membership with a professional body. It may also mean taking courses to sharpen skills in fast-moving industries at regular intervals or moving to the next level. These include industries like construction and surveying, education, and medicine.

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The difference between personal development and professional development

Professional development and personal development share similar characteristics, but professional development is always career-related. On the other hand, personal development can include working on any area that benefits your personal growth. This could improve your career prospects or help you perform your role at a higher standard. Still, personal development generally affects all aspects of your life instead of solely your career. Professional development focuses on improving your skills to perform better at your job or profession.

Examples of professional development

Professional development can take many forms, including structured learning, such as courses, seminars, and workshops. These can be set by an employer or based on personal areas of . Other forms of professional development include more reflective learning, such as research, reading, and listening to podcasts. This type of professional development is more informal and led by employees rather than employers.

Online courses

Whether formal or informal, essential or optional, professional development can be in the form of online courses. These can vary from degree programs to short projects and everything in between. Online learning is a big part of how we learn these days, and you can always find plenty of available options. On Coursera, you can access various for multiple professions.

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Academic courses

Academic courses can be considered continued professional development if they relate to your role. These can be , or courses with accreditation.

Conferences and seminars

Attending conferences and seminars can count toward your professional development efforts, as they are opportunities to learn from industry experts and for peer support. Speaking at a conference can be a great way to develop your presentation skills and learn from leaders in your field.

Reading and research

Informal professional development is a great way to upskill and learn something new to help your career development. A wealth of books, podcasts, and videos on professional development is available.

Coaching

Finding a coach or mentor allows you to learn from someone who has already achieved what you want. Using a performance coach or picking a mentor in a position above you gives you opportunities to follow their guidance and learn strategies that worked for them.

Certificates and certification

Earning a career credential, like a certification or certificate, can validate learning efforts. Certification involves a formal process, typically culminating in having to pass an exam and engage in continuous learning. Professional Certificates are another quantifiable form of professional development. Whatever your industry, having a certification in a relevant field can boost career prospects and aid performance in your role. Coursera hosts a range of for you to choose from, including the .

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Benefits of pursuing professional development

Whether you are looking to progress in your career or want to perform your best in your current role, you can see the benefits of professional development in many different ways. With so many options, professional development can be invigorating. Keeping up to date with industry specifics and learning skills to help you in your role can benefit you and your company.

Skills development

The skills you develop through professional development can be both workplace and technical. You don’t need to limit which skills you work on, provided they help you develop and grow in your career.

Confidence building

Professional development can increase your knowledge and help you learn skills that benefit your career. You may feel more confident in your role and can take on new responsibilities or put yourself forward for promotion.

New qualifications

Achieving a qualification or certification is a way of gaining proof that you have mastered a skill or a certain level of knowledge. While non-accredited professional development is still valid, it is easier to demonstrate your achievements if you can cite a certification or certificate and add it to your resume.

Career development

With your new skills, you may become more appealing to employers and stand out from other candidates when you apply for a new role or approach your boss for a promotion.

Your go-to guide for professional development and training your team

With Coursera for Business, you and your employees can engage in ongoing professional development, with access to content from 350+ leading universities and industry partners. Build real-world experience with innovative skills, tools, and technologies while earning globally recognized credentials. Our customizable, scalable learning solutions balance workplace and technical skills training in diverse formats, from video clips to Guided Projects and Professional Certificates.

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