The Talent Development Body of Knowledge

The Definitive Resource for the Talent Development Profession
The TDBoK™ Guide: Talent Development Body of Knowledge, second edition, is a comprehensive collection of TD concepts, definitions, methodologies, and examples that lays the foundation and guiding principles for those who develop talent in the workplace. Created by the Association for Talent Development (ATD), this reference sets the gold standard for the learning and talent development profession. The first iteration of the TDBok was made available in 2020 through an ATD subscription product. ATD is delighted to present this updated and revised edition in book format.

Grounded in and offering a deep dive of ATD's Talent Development Capability Model, the TDBoK Guide goes beyond the core foundational aspects of training and development and supports the approach that-to be most effective—TD professionals need to develop personal and professional capabilities to impact organizational capability.

Covering the TD field’s 23 key disciplines (or capability areas), the TDBoK Guide is divided into three sections that align with the Capability Model’s three domains-personal, professional, and organizational. This second edition—developed by ATD in partnership with industry expert Elaine Biech—includes comprehensive updates based on feedback from the field, more than 100 subject matter expert contributors, and curated perspectives from thousands of publications.

For those preparing to obtain certifications offered by ATD—ATD CI’s certification programs, the Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD), or the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD)—the TDBoK Guide also serves as a helpful resource for exam preparation.

ATD’s TDBoK Guide is the differentiator for the field—a resource that every TD professional needs to grow in their careers, today and in the future.