1. Board Oversight, Roles, and Responsibilities
Clarifies director duties and accountability
Director Professionalism®
A modern governance foundation built for today’s boardroom priorities.
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Director Development Framework
Webinars
About the Course
Modernized for Today’s Boardroom
The refreshed Director Professionalism® course represents a strategic modernization of NACD’s flagship foundational governance education. The program has been streamlined from 15 to 10 integrated modules and reoriented around practical, board-level oversight responsibilities aligned to today’s governance environment—strategy, risk, culture, audit, ethics, human capital, and stakeholder engagement.
Director Professionalism
Corporate Members
$995
Individual Members
$2,995
Nonmembers
$3,995
This course earns 15 NACD credits toward NACD Directorship Certification/Board Leadership Fellowship.
Learn More About Director Professionalism + NACD Directorship Certification bundles.
See the full Code of Conduct.
Director Professionalism
Nonmembers
Director Professionalism Course: $3,995
NACD Members
Log In for Member-Only Pricing >
This course earns 15 NACD credits toward NACD Directorship Certification/Board Leadership Fellowship.
Learn More About Director Professionalism + NACD Directorship Certification bundles.
See the full Code of Conduct.
The Results of the Course
The 10 Program Modules
2. Board Structure, Operations, and Committees
Explores effective board and committee design
3. Board Culture
Examines trust, dynamics, and decision-making
Financial Oversight
Builds confidence in financial review and performance
5. Board Oversight of Strategy and M&A
Focuses on strategic alignment and transaction oversight
6. Risk Oversight
Strengthens enterprise risk monitoring and governance
7. Compliance and Ethics Oversight
Integrates ethical leadership and regulatory responsibility
8. External and Internal Audit Oversight
Covers assurance, controls, and audit relationships
9. Compensation and Human Capital Oversight
Addresses executive pay, talent strategy, and succession
10. Shareholder Engagement
Navigates investor relations and evolving expectations
Learning Outcomes
What You’ll Be Ready to Do in the Boardroom: Completing Director Professionalism gives participants the confidence to contribute meaningfully to board and committee discussions, strengthen strategic oversight, interpret financial and nonfinancial performance, and navigate enterprise risk, compliance, ethics, and stakeholder expectations with sound governance judgment.
About the Program
A Modern, Self-Paced Governance Foundation: Director Professionalism is a modernized, on-demand course organized into 10 streamlined modules that reflect today’s boardroom priorities, including strategy, risk, audit, culture, compensation, and shareholder engagement. Content is delivered by NACD’s faculty of directors and governance experts and reinforced through clear objectives, knowledge checks, and practical takeaways. Participants receive 180 days of access, allowing flexibility to complete the course on their own schedule.
Why Take This Course
Built for Today’s Governance Expectations: Board oversight has become more complex, interconnected, and scrutinized. This course goes beyond traditional governance fundamentals to focus on practical oversight responsibilities aligned with modern risks and opportunities, equipping directors at all stages to strengthen board effectiveness, support long-term value creation, and lead with confidence in today’s evolving governance environment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Payment and Cancellation Policy
NACD will refund the fee paid by User for the Course(s) only if there is a material defect or technical problem causing a prolonged delay in completion of the course(s). A refund will be paid only if NACD has been promptly notified of the material defect or technical problem and it has not been rectified within 48 hours of such notification. A written refund request should be submitted by electronic mail addressed to Registration@NACDonline.org.
A Modern Governance Foundation
Director Professionalism
Enroll in Director Professionalism to build the oversight skills, confidence, and governance fluency today’s boards expect.
By registering for an NACD or NACD Chapter Network event, you agree to the following Code of Conduct.
| NACD and the NACD Chapter Network organizations (NACD) are non-partisan, nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing directors with the opportunity to discuss timely governance oversight practices. The views of the speakers and audience are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of NACD. |