ESD Credentialing Created by ESD Professionals
Just Like You
What is an ESD Professional Credential?
ESD professionals around the world embrace a shared purpose and core principles. The Association of ESD Professionals was formed, in part, to promote a common, well-recognized, global standard of what constitutes professionalism and competence for empowerment self-defense instructors, curricula development specialists, researchers, advocates, and other ESD professionals. The Association credential (called ESDP which stands for ESD Professional) distinguishes empowerment self-defense from other types of self-defense.
The Credentialing Program was developed through research, consultation, and engagement with the worldwide ESD community following best practices for task analysis and exam development. The Association has established a standard that crosses borders, aligns with diverse cultures, and will effectively serve organizations of all types and sizes. Achieving the ESDP credential from the Association signals that a candidate’s practice is in alignment with the principles of ESD and that they have demonstrated professional competence, a commitment to social change and violence prevention, and high standards of ethical practice.
Are you ready for the Exam?
The Association recognizes that ESD professionals have a variety of personal and career experiences; a variety of skills, knowledge, and abilities; and with outlooks formed by varying international and cultural contexts. For these reasons the Association does not require any particular course of study or duration of experience to be eligible to apply for the Credentialing Exam. However, the Association recommends that candidates have a clear understanding of ESD principles and practices that are normally gained through formal ESD education and with experience teaching ESD.
Recommended Education and Experience
The Association recommends that candidates have at least 100 hours (or 2 years) of ESD training and teaching experience, combined, prior to taking the exam.
Education: The Association recommends that your ESD education involve the supervision or mentorship by suitable experts in the field, supplemented by additional independent study, private practice, or involvement in adjacent fields, as appropriate. Education may be obtained from any individual, organization, institution, or for- or not-for-profit corporation or business which provides ESD instructor training. Martial arts education is not required, though a thorough understanding of physical techniques and their execution is recommended for candidate success.
Experience: It is recommended that you have spent at least 50 hours teaching ESD (direct engagement with participants). This could include assisting an ESD instructor or as the lead or solo instructor in a class or workshop. Experience may be of any sort and carried out in any capacity. It is recommended that you have some experience in managing groups of at least ten students. Instruction experience can be paid or unpaid.
Regardless of the educational source or experience level, we recommend you thoroughly examine the subject matter covered in the Exam and review the Credential Handbook.
Exam Information & Dates
The IAESDP offers the Credentialing Exam 4 times per year and seats to take the exam are limited. We recommend that you apply to take the exam as early as possible.
Applications Now Open
You can now apply for the March 2025 Exam
Exam dates for Period 1 2025 are: March 11-18
Applications are due by February 21, 2025
Other exam periods.
You can apply now for these periods as well, dates to be announced.
Please mark your preferred testing period on the application.
Period 2 2025 in April, May, or June
Period 3 2025 in July, August, or September
Period 4 2025 in October, November, or December
Credentialing Exam Fees
We have created a tiered fee structure designed to meet the needs of our members and ESD Professionals around the world. If you need additional financial assistance, please note your needs in the application. If you have any questions, please contact us to talk about our scholarships and partner sponsorships.
Tier 1
- Annual Income Range: $60,000 USD and above
USD$ 400.00
Tier 2
- Annual Income Range: $40,000 - $60,000 USD
USD$ 320.00
Tier 3
- Annual Income Range: $20,000 - $40,000 USD
USD$ 240.00
Tier 4
- Annual Income Range: $10,000 - $20,000 USD
USD$ 160.00
Tier 5
- Annual Income Range: $5,000 - $10,000 USD
USD$ 100.00
Tier 6
- Annual Income Range: Below $5,000 USD
USD$ 60.00
Supporting our shared mission to End Violence.
In 2022, the Association celebrated the inauguration of our Credentialing Program, which includes a Credentialing Exam, Continuing Education, and Accreditation components.
It is our highest priority in everything that we do to advance the work of ESD professionals—your work—around the world and fortify the ESD profession in service of the mission we all share: preventing and interrupting interpersonal violence.
The Credentialing Program consists of three parts:
Part 1: Credential
- Exam. To become credentialed, qualifying candidates take the Credentialing Exam.
- Credential. Upon successful completion of the Credentialing Exam, the credential candidate receives an ESDP Credential (ESDP stands for ESD Professional).
Part 2: Continuing Education
- Renewal Every Three Years. To stay current, credentials must be renewed every three years.
- Continuing Education. To renew, credentialed professionals take continuing education classes.
Part 3: Accreditation
- Accredited ESD Providers. The continuing education classes can be taken with accredited (qualified) providers of ESD instruction.
- Association Ethics & Business-Oriented Courses. The Association will offer a few continuing education classes on business subjects such as ethics and business management, but most classes will be offered by ESD organizations and individual instructors in the greater ESD community, by those providers who wish to become accredited with the Association.
