Level 2 Implementation Support Specialist Certification
The Level 2 Implementation Support Specialist certificate is our advanced level certification for professionals who are aiming to practice implementation support beyond the foundations.
This certification covers special topics in depth, focusing on adaptations, context, and sustainability.
It also covers the relational dynamics of implementation, such as trust, power, engagement, motivation, managing complexity, and the ability to provide ad hoc support.
The Level 2 certification builds on the foundational knowledge and skills developed in Level 1 to help you uncover more nuanced and informed approaches for delivering high-quality implementation support.
Who the Level 2 certification is for
The Level 2 Certification is designed for changemakers who are ready to take the next step in their implementation support practice.
If you’re looking to strengthen your skills, grow your confidence, and advance your career, this certification can help you deepen your expertise and expand your impact.
Level 2 focuses on the relational aspects of creating change, while also helping you build advanced skills for navigating more challenging areas of implementation, including context, readiness, adaptations, sustainability, and scale.
It’s especially relevant if you’re supporting multiple initiatives, working across teams or systems, or helping others navigate these kinds of challenges.
By building both relational and technical skills, Level 2 can help you support more meaningful progress — helping initiatives move forward in ways that are thoughtful, practical, and more likely to create lasting change.
Once you’ve earned the Level 1 certification, you’re eligible to progress to the Level 2 certification.
We recommend pursuing Level 2 if you’ve previously worked in an implementation support role and/or you’re currently providing implementation support consultation/guidance across multiple initiatives.
Learning Objectives
These learning objectives are directly linked to TCI’s Implementation Support Core Competencies and Functions,
which were developed to describe and highlight the unique skills of implementation support practitioners.
Support the development of multi-level and/or complex initiatives rooted in theories, models, frameworks, and approaches and accounting for flexibility, resilience, and agility.
Play a more systemic convening role, bringing people together and/or brokering more relationships across the system.
Deeply understand how mental models are influencing implementation and understand the nature of power dynamics and systems change.
Have a deeper understanding of context assessments and the relatedness of barriers and facilitators across multiple levels of implementation and across the lifespan of implementation.
Inspire people who move the work forward along with organizations, communities, and systems at large.
Foster agency and ownership, showing up as a co-leader with positive relational energy, and focusing on leveraging facilitators.
Support implementation teams to plan for adaptations at scale and to anticipate the impact of adaptations on effectiveness.
Support implementation teams to navigate and persevere through more complex, system-level, or adaptive challenges.
Make increasingly complex decisions around implementation cycles.
Act as an agent of sustainability, spread, and scale.
Benefits of becoming certified
TCI’s Certificate Program is the first of its kind for implementation support specialists — and the number of certified professionals in this role continues to grow, reflecting the increasing demand for this skillset.
The Implementation Support Specialist certification is a great opportunity to:
Strengthen your ability to apply implementation science in complex, real-world settings
Build confidence in leading and supporting implementation efforts
Demonstrate your expertise to employers, partners, and clients
Differentiate yourself in a growing and competitive field
After completing the Level 2 certification process, you’ll receive a Level 2 Implementation Support Specialist digital certificate and badge.
Plus, you’ll have the option to be featured in our global directory of Certified Implementation Support Specialists.
Level 2 certification process at a glance
Looking for more details? Jump to the certification process overview.
Assignments
Evaluation
Revision
Assessment
Evaluation
Revision
Assessment
Evaluation
Revision
& Badge
Assignments
Evaluation
Revision
Assessment
Evaluation
Revision
Assessment
Evaluation
Revision
& Badge
Flexible certification timeline
The Level 2 certification is designed to be flexible, allowing you to progress at a pace that fits your existing commitments.
After completing the four Level 2 courses, we estimate it will take a minimum of 5–6 months to complete the assessment and evaluation phases. When you complete these components is up to you.
All components are virtual, which means you can complete this certification from anywhere in the world.
Pricing
The Level 2 Certification is available through two options to support different learning needs and professional development funding structures.
Choose the Full Package if you want course access and assessments bundled together.
Choose Assessments Only if you prefer to take the Level 2 courses separately before deciding when to begin the certification process.
(All Courses + Assessments)
- 1-year access to each Level 2 course:
- Extended course access after submitting all assignments
- Level 2 Assessments & Evaluations
- Extended course access after submitting all assignments
- Level 2 Assessments & Evaluations
- 1-year access to each Level 2 course:
- Extended course access after submitting all assignments
- Level 2 Assessments & Evaluations
- Extended course access after submitting all assignments
- Level 2 Assessments & Evaluations
- 30% for full-time students
- 70% off for Indigenous peoples and organizations or for individuals in low- and middle-income countries as defined by the World Bank
Note: Fees do not include applicable sales tax. All sales are final and non-refundable.
Applications open in August!
Ready to get started? Applications for Level 2 Certification will open in August 2026, but all four Level 2 courses are available now!
Whether you’re beginning the Level 2 courses or continuing your progress, choose the course that feels most relevant to your work right now.
Get one step closer to becoming certified by working through course content and assignments before applications open.
What to expect after you apply
After submitting your application form, we’ll follow up with details about the Level 2 certification process based on your Level 1 certification results.
You’ll then confirm you’d like to move forward and begin your Level 2 certification journey!
Overview of the Level 2 certification process
Phase 1: Courses & Assignments
First, you’ll complete the four Level 2 courses (or any you haven’t completed yet!), along with their assignments.
Two of the Level 2 courses are more relational and introspective (Cultivating Trust and Navigating Power and Hidden Curriculum: Igniting Change From the Middle), and two are more technical (Embracing Complexity and Context at Scale).
You can take the courses in any order, but we recommend starting with the course that best addresses the challenges you’re facing right now.
We’ll evaluate your assignments as you complete each course.
If any course assignments don’t meet the required quality level, you’ll be asked to revise and resubmit your responses or answer follow-up questions.
Note: Each course includes 1 year of access. After submitting your last course’s set of assignments, you’ll receive extended access to all Level 2 courses to support revisions and completion of later assessment components.
➡️ After successfully completing this phase, you’ll move on to the written assessment.
Phase 2: Written Assessment
The written assessment includes scenario-based questions covering content from all four Level 2 courses. It’s designed to assess your ability to apply content to scenarios and support different types of initiatives and implementation teams.
If any of your assessment responses are graded as “needs improvement”, you’ll be asked to either revise and resubmit your responses or answer follow-up questions.
➡️ After successfully completing this phase, you’ll book a date to complete the practical assessment.
Phase 3: Practical Assessment
The practical assessment is a timed, online simulation where you take on the role of a facilitator and respond to prompts in real time.
You’ll be asked a series of questions that cover content from both levels of the certification with the intention of challenging your knowledge and ability to provide ad hoc support.
You can complete the practical assessment at a time that’s convenient for you, and your video responses will be recorded for evaluation.
Phase 4: Digital Certificate & Badge
Congrats! After successfully completing Phases 1-3 of the Level 2 certification, we'll ask you to complete a form to confirm your details for your certificate and your global directory of certified professionals listing (optional). Once we receive your details, your digital certificate and badge will be issued within 6 weeks.
Important to know
You’ll have up to 3 rounds of revisions for Phases 1 & 2.
The Level 2 certification is designed to support deeper learning and practical application. Because the process is more in-depth and requires a high level of applied work, some participants may require more than one attempt to complete it successfully. If needed, a new assessment attempt can be taken, with the full assessment fee applying.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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The Level 2 certification is ideal for you if you have experience supporting implementation and are currently supporting spread and scale or providing implementation support/guidance for multiple initiatives.
Still not sure? Reach out to us!
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You can progress to the Level 2 certification after obtaining the Level 1 certification.
We recommend proceeding to Level 2 if you’ve previously worked in implementation support and are now in a role supporting spread and scale and/or providing implementation support consultation/guidance across multiple initiatives.
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As with the Level 1 certification, teams are welcome to proceed through the course content together; however, all assessment components and evaluation phases, including course assignments, must be completed individually.
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The Level 2 certification is designed to be flexible, allowing participants to progress at a pace that fits their schedules.
For Phase 1 – Courses & Assignments, the time commitment varies, but we estimate each module takes 4-8 hours to complete, which includes time spent on assignments. Each course includes:
- Cultivating Trust and Navigating Power — 9 modules and 8 assignments
- Hidden Curriculum: Igniting Change From the Middle — 7 modules and 7 assignments
- Embracing Complexity — 6 modules and 6 assignments
- Context at Scale — 8 modules and 8 assignments
While you can enroll in all four Level 2 courses at once, we recommend enrolling in only one or two at a time, depending on your capacity, to ensure you make the most of your 1-year access periods.
After completing the four Level 2 courses, we estimate it will take a minimum of 5–6 months to complete the assessment and evaluation phases. When you complete these components is up to you.
Have any questions?
Contact us.
Note: The certification process and requirements may change over time. However, once you obtain the certificate, it will remain valid even if the criteria are updated.