ESD Credentialing for ESD Professionals

Show the World Your Expertise

What is an ESD Professional Credential?

Generally, a credential is a comprehensive process of verifying and validating qualifications, skills, and professional background. Industry credentials ensure practitioners meet specific standards of competency, ethics, and safety. A credential is gained through passing an examination given by an independent industry association or institution.

The Credentials granted by the International Association of ESD Professionals (IAESDP) promote common, well-recognized, global standards of professionalism and competence for the empowerment self-defense industry. Achieving a Credential from the Association signals that your work is in alignment with the principles of ESD and you have demonstrated professional competence, a commitment to social change and violence prevention, and high standards of ethical practice.

The IAESDP follows the definitions, guidelines, and requirements set forth by the National Commission for Credentialing Agencies (NCCA) and those set forth by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This means that the Association Credentialing and Accreditation programs are not specific to a particular certificate, education, or training program or any one type of ESD teaching methodology (Impact, ESD Global, NWMAF, El Halev, etc.). The Credential and Accreditation programs with the IAESDP are (and MUST be) inclusive of all programs, and the processes followed are standardized and developed and regulated by a Committee that is independent from the IAESDP. (The Association provides support to the Committee and administers tests to the industry.)

The Credentialing Program has been developed through research, consultation, and engagement with professionals in the worldwide ESD community, following best practices for exam development. The Association has established standards that crosses borders, align with diverse cultures, and effectively serve organizations of all types and sizes.

Two Credential Exams

Currently the IAESDP offers two options to get your credentials:

The ESD Professional Credential, for experienced ESD professionals. The Empowerment Self-Defense Professional or "ESDP" is for instructors or others in ESD-related work who have at least two years of training and experience.

The ESD Associate Credential, for new ESD instructors. The Empowerment Self-Defense Associate or "ESDA" is for instructors who have recently completed an ESD training program and/or just become certified in ESD.

Are you ready to take a Credential Exam? Which one?

The Association recognizes that ESD instructors have a variety of personal and career experiences; a wide range of skills, knowledge, and abilities; and have outlooks formed by varying international and cultural contexts. For these reasons the Association does not require any specific course of study, certificate or education program, or require adherence to any one ESD methodology for eligibility.

If you are a newly certified ESD instructor, have recently completed a training course, and have little to no teaching experience, you are likely ready to take the ESD Associate Exam.

If you have been teaching and training for at least two years, have a clear understanding of ESD principles and practices, have some sort of ESD education, and have experience teaching ESD to groups, you are likely ready to take the ESD Professional Exam.

If you are a martial arts instructor or other ESD-aligned education provider who teaches with empowerment and trauma-informed methods, select the option which best fits with your experience level.

For more detailed information about each exam, review the Credential Handbook or meet with the credential program manager at credentials@esdprofessionals.org.

Exam Information & Dates

The IAESDP offers the Credentialing Exam 4 times per year. We recommend that you apply to take the exam as early as possible.

Applications Now Open

You can now apply for the February 2026 Exam

Exam dates are February 10-24, 2026

Note: Exam sessions are now 2 week windows to accommodate everyone's busy schedules.

Apply by December 31, 2025 and receive a FREE individual membership to the Association!

The exam period is for the ESD Professional AND the ESD Associate Exams. Use the same application to apply for either exam.

Apply Now

Credentialing Exam Fees

The Association offers a tiered fee structure designed to meet the needs and realities of 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 scholarships, partner sponsorships, and bulk discounts for organizations (credentials@esdprofessionals.org).

ESD Professional Exam Fees

All prices in USD. Incomes / Revenues are in Annual amounts and ranges. See currency conversion here
Become a member to save 20% on exam fees and gain all the other benefits of Association Membership (20% off for members noted in parentheses).

Tier 6: $60 ($48) – Individual Income Below $10,000 / Organization Revenue Below $25,000
Tier 5: $100 ($80) – Individual Income $10,000-$20,000 / Organization Revenue $25,000-$50,000
Tier 4: $160 ($128) – Individual Income $20,000-$30,000 / Organization Revenue $50,000-$75,000
Tier 3: $240 ($192) – Individual Income $30,000-$40,000 / Organization Revenue $75,000-$100,000
Tier 2: $320 ($256) – Individual Income $40,000-$50,000 / Organization Revenue $100,000-$150,000
Tier 1: $400 ($320) – Individual Income: Above $50,000 / Organization Revenue Above $150,000

ESD Associate Exam Fees

Tier 6: $35 ($28) – Individual Income Below $10,000 / Organization Revenue Below $25,000
Tier 5: $65 ($52) – Individual Income $10,000-$20,000 / Organization Revenue $25,000-$50,000
Tier 4: $110 ($88) – Individual Income $20,000-$30,000 / Organization Revenue $50,000-$75,000
Tier 3: $160 ($128) – Individual Income $30,000-$40,000 / Organization Revenue $75,000-$100,000
Tier 2: $210 ($168) – Individual Income $40,000-$50,000 / Organization Revenue $100,000-$150,000
Tier 1: $275 ($220) – Individual Income: Above $50,000 / Organization Revenue Above $150,000

Application Process

Before filling out the application, gather the following:

Your professional (ESD-related) curriculum vitae or resume.
Your professional (ESD-related) biography. This biography should be written in third person and under 250 words. It should include your name, country, and could include occupation, achievements, ESD training, etc. This biography will be used publicly by the Association.
Your headshot. Please ensure the photograph is front-facing. This headshot will be used publicly by the Association.
Optional: An action pose of you doing or teaching ESD. Please ensure the only visible face is your own. This will be used publicly by the Association.
A recent (within 2 years) background check for United States-based instructors. If you don't have this yet, you may complete one before taking the exam. Go to this website: BackgroundReport.com/self and choose the "Check Yourself" option. Select "Basic". No need for those outside of the US.
Recommendations:
- For the ESD Professional Exam Application Only: Reach out to two people to provide you with character references. Provide them with the following link: https://www.esdprofessionals.org/credentialing-recommendation-form/
- Note: We need the recommendation forms filled out by BOTH your references NO LATER THAN the due date listed.

Before filling out the application, please read the following:

Complete the Application by the due date listed.

Application Acceptance & Exam Results

You will receive an email approving your application or asking for additional information. Please provide the asked-for additional information as soon as possible to not delay your application process.
You will receive an invoice to provide payment. Please pay BEFORE you take the exam.
A few days before the exam, you will be asked to take a simple systems test to ensure your computer and operating system are compatible with the software and to teach you how to use the software.
Once the Exam Period opens, take the Exam at a time convenient to you (see your acceptance and exam link emails for dates, times, and session information).
Grading
- Your ESD Professional Exam will be graded by Credentialed ESD Professionals (your peers) in the four to six weeks after the exam.
- Your ESD Associate Exam is graded by the system.
You will be emailed your test results. The exam is graded pass / fail.