Technical teams are expected to learn continuously. New technologies, evolving security requirements, and changing customer needs mean learning isn't something that happens once. It's an ongoing part of the job.

But technical training hasn't always evolved at the same pace.

Many certification programs still rely on a familiar model: several consecutive days of instructor-led training that ask learners to step away from their work, absorb foundational concepts, and complete hands-on exercises all at once. That approach has served the industry well for years, but it's becoming harder to scale as teams grow and schedules become more demanding.

When we looked at our own DigiCert Trust Lifecycle Manager certification program, we realized we had an opportunity to rethink that experience. The goal wasn't simply to modernize the course. It was to make technical training more flexible while preserving the hands-on learning that builds real confidence.

The real challenge is capacity, not certification

Whether you're a DigiCert partner growing your services practice or a customer building in-house expertise, developing technical skills requires time. And time is often the hardest resource to come by.

Engineers are balancing customer deployments, production environments, support responsibilities, and new projects. Pulling them away for several consecutive days of training isn't always realistic, even when everyone agrees certification is valuable.

When we talked to partners, customers, and learners, the ask was consistent: training that fits around the work, not the other way around. That feedback made flexibility a guiding principle in how we redesigned the course.

Not all learning happens the same way

Adopting a new technology involves two kinds of learning:

• Foundational knowledge: Concepts, workflows, and product capabilities best learned independently and at your own pace

• Practical skills: Skills like configuration and troubleshooting that benefit from collaboration with an instructor and peers

Separating those experiences lets each format do what it does best. Learners gain flexibility without sacrificing hands-on guidance.

That principle became the foundation of our Trust Lifecycle Manager certification redesign.

A better model: Blended learning

Beginning in August 2026, the Trust Lifecycle Manager certification experience moves to a blended learning model.

Learners first complete Digital Trust Professional (DTP), our free foundational course that now serves as the prerequisite for all DigiCert certification tracks.

Next, they complete self-paced Trust Lifecycle Manager learning modules through DigiCert University. These modules cover the concepts and workflows needed before attending a live lab.

Once that prerequisite learning is complete, learners can schedule an instructor-led lab session. Because everyone arrives with the same foundational knowledge, instructors can spend more time on practical exercises, real-world scenarios, and troubleshooting instead of introductory material.

The result is a certification experience that gives learners more flexibility while making the live lab more valuable.

What this means for growing teams

For partners, a more flexible certification model makes it easier to develop technical expertise without taking consultants away from customer engagements for extended periods. Teams can onboard new engineers, plan certification goals more effectively, and take advantage of additional lab availability.

Customers benefit in much the same way. Internal teams can build foundational knowledge on their own schedules before participating in focused, instructor-led labs that emphasize practical application.

While the day-to-day responsibilities of partners and customers may differ, the underlying need is the same: building technical expertise in a way that fits around the work that matters most.

Make training work for modern teams

The redesigned Trust Lifecycle Manager certification experience reflects a simple idea: Technical training should fit the way modern teams work. By combining self-paced learning with focused, instructor-led labs, we've created a more flexible path to building practical expertise.

Get the data sheet to see how blended learning gives teams the flexibility they need to build the skills that matter.