CEcD/EDP Certification Planner

Certification candidates need a way to organize months of preparation. Lighthearts built a study planner that brings pathways, practice, and progress together.

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EDP and CEcD preparation app with certification planning, study, and podcast tools

The need

Economic-development professionals preparing for CEcD and EDP credentials needed a way to organize several months of study and see where to focus next.

The people it serves: Economic development professionals preparing for Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP) credentialing.

The challenge

Economic development certification candidates face expansive study requirements across multiple core disciplines with minimal tools for structured progress tracking, active recall, or essay practice.

Lighthearts’ solution

Lighthearts designed and built a study workspace that organizes certification pathways, reading, flashcards, essay and oral practice, review cycles, and progress around a candidate’s preparation.

Translate requirements into a pathway

The planner connects study materials and core domains with an organized preparation path and visible progress.

Put practice beside the material

Flashcards, essay drafting, and oral-exam outlines give candidates ways to use what they’ve studied in the same workspace.

Make review repeatable

Progress tracking and adaptive review help candidates revisit material across a longer preparation period.

Execution and delivery

Lighthearts developed the product concept, learning workflow, interface, and study tools, and incorporates candidate feedback into continued development. The planner is in a private pilot with professional-development candidates.

Current status

Private pilot in active use among professional development candidates.

Lighthearts’ role

Lighthearts' responsibilities for this project include:

Product concept & UX architecture
Frontend platform engineering
Curriculum workflow structure
User feedback integration

See the work

Certification planner setup for choosing a credential and target test date — Candidates can choose a credential, set a target test date, and build a study plan around the time they actually have available.

Have a recurring problem that needs a useful tool?

Start with the people, the task, and what’s getting in the way. Lighthearts can help shape the solution.

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This independent product isn't affiliated with or endorsed by the International Economic Development Council.

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