Skills you need to be a curriculum developer
8 skills a hiring manager would actually test for, each with the level this role expects and what it is used for. Not a syllabus — the shape of the job.
Build my path to this roleUpskili checks what you can already do, then sequences only what is missing. No account needed.
What the role requires
Ordered by how much the job depends on it. The bar is the proficiency expected of a competent curriculum developer — not mastery, and not a passing acquaintance.
-
Instructional design models (ADDIE, SAM)
Essential
Structures end-to-end curriculum development for measurable learning outcomes.
Deep -
Learning Management Systems (e.g., Moodle, Canvas)
Essential
Hosts, tracks, and reports on all course content and learner progress.
Strong -
Needs analysis
Essential
Identifies skill gaps and translates business goals into learning objectives.
Deep -
E-learning authoring tools (e.g., Articulate 360, Captivate)
Important
Builds interactive, SCORM-compliant digital learning modules.
Strong -
Assessment design
Important
Creates valid tests and rubrics to evaluate learner competency.
Strong -
Project management (e.g., Asana, Jira)
Important
Manages timelines, SMEs, and deliverables across multiple course builds.
Strong -
Visual design principles (e.g., Figma, Canva)
Useful
Produces clean, accessible layouts and job aids for learners.
Working -
Video scripting and production (e.g., Camtasia)
Useful
Creates engaging instructional videos and software walkthroughs.
Working
An order worth learning it in
A list of ten skills is the same unhelpful answer a catalogue gives, just sorted. This is where to actually start.
Start here
Essential to the role, and reachable from a standing start. Everything below rests on these.
- E-learning authoring tools (e.g., Articulate 360, Captivate)
- Project management (e.g., Asana, Jira)
Then this
The rest of what the role is assessed on. Harder, and it builds on the foundation above.
- Instructional design models (ADDIE, SAM)
- Learning Management Systems (e.g., Moodle, Canvas)
- Needs analysis
- Assessment design
What sets you apart
Not what gets you hired, but what separates doing the job from being trusted with it.
- Visual design principles (e.g., Figma, Canva)
- Video scripting and production (e.g., Camtasia)
You almost certainly have some of this already.
That is the point of starting from the role rather than a course. Upskili checks what you can do, then builds a path across only the gap.
See my path to curriculum developer