Designing for Implementation

An accessible way to design interventions using implementation science

This course is closed for enrollment.

A comprehensive 6-week online course on designing interventions using implementation science

There is a field dedicated to studying how best to implement and sustain new innovations called implementation science that is complementary to other approaches such as change management and quality improvement. But learning about implementation science, particularly how to apply it to your own work can be daunting. Most people want easy-to-follow guidance on how to use the best practices from implementation science to inform their own projects and work.


Change is hard. Learning about implementation science can help.

Our mission at The Center for Implementation is to accelerate the application of implementation science to improve outcomes. Designing for Implementation is our self-paced 6-week online course that comprehensively guides you through the process of designing interventions using best practices and approaches in implementation science.

In this intensive course, you will:

  • Understand how to apply key process models, theories, and frameworks to your design and planning efforts.
  • Learn how to clearly define you problem, and how to build an effective implementation intervention to target this problem.
  • Gain insight on how to build interventions with sustainability in mind.
  • Develop an implementation evaluation plan.
  • Apply what you have learned to your own work, so that you can see the impact of your learning right away.

Access to a wide range of resources, all for a low cost

Enrolling in Designing for Implementation gives you access to online video modules, readings and resources, activities, a workbook, and assignments that enable you to apply the content to your own work.

Designing for Implementation is the only comprehensive online course for professionals in health, public health, mental health, and social services to apply implementation science in practice to develop interventions using implementation science theories, models, and frameworks.


"The Center for Implementation has helped us to root our processes in the theories, models and frameworks that underlie Implementation Science. This support has given us the knowledge and skills to integrate academic knowledge with real-world experience. The Center for Implementation has helped us connect research with real life as we move towards reaching our Knowledge Mobilization goals."

Susan Brown, Director of Research Coordination and Research-Practice Integration, Research Institute for Aging

This course is closed for enrollment.

Course Timelines


October 5, 2020 - Enrollment opens (gain immediate access to content)

February 1, 2021 - Last day to submit assignments in order to receive a certificate

October 1, 2021 - Access to the instructional videos via the online platform ends

Note: your downloadable workbook contains the theories, models, and frameworks covered in the course; suggested readings and additional resources; and all activities.

Your Instructor


The Center for Implementation
The Center for Implementation

At The Center for Implementation (TCI), we constantly update our content based on new research, ideas, and experiences. Because of this, our course videos may feature a version of a resource or language that, while current at the time of filming, has since been updated.


TCI was founded in 2018 and has been growing rapidly ever since. Our mission and moral imperative are to train, support, and empower professionals in using evidence-informed approaches to maximize their impact.

We prioritize an entrepreneurial and values-based approach that embraces equity, empathy, creativity, and collaboration. Our vision is to see millions of changemakers worldwide actively applying best practices in implementation science to their initiatives. Learn more about us and what we do.


Overview of Course Curriculum

(Click here to access a downloadable version)

Week 1: Fundamentals of applying implementation science

    • Revisiting implementation theories, models, and frameworks
    • Process models
    • Understanding the problem

Week 2: Defining the WHAT

    • Roles in the implementation system
    • Defining the change
    • Defining components of sustainability

Week 3: Understanding barriers and facilitators

    • Theories of change
    • Conducting a barriers and facilitators assessment
    • Characteristics of the intervention
    • Individual barriers and facilitators to change
    • Contextual barriers and facilitators

Week 4: Selecting implementation strategies

    • How to select implementation strategies
    • Evidence for implementation strategies
    • How to operationalize implementation strategies

Week 5: Evaluating implementation efforts

    • Types of evaluation
    • Evaluation frameworks
    • Building a logic model

Week 6: Planning for implementation, spread, and scale

    • Selecting an implementation process model
    • Implementation considerations


Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
Course enrollment opens on October 5, 2020. Once enrolled you will have until February 1, 2021 to complete the assignments and receive a certificate.
Do I receive a certificate?
Participants who complete all online modules and the 6 assignments by March 1, 2021 will receive a certificate.
How long will I have access to course materials?
Participants will continue to have access to all online content until Oct 1, 2021 and always have copies of the workbooks (which includes all of the theories, models, and frameworks; suggested  readings and additional readings; and the activities). Therefore, the only element participants will lose access to on Oct 1, 2021 is the online videos.
When will the course be available again?
Designing for Implementation will be available every October. Therefore, the next time it will be offered again is October 2020.
Is the course completely online and asynchronous?
Yes, the entire course is online and asynchronous - so it can be completed on your time at your convenience and pace. There are no live webinars, but there are many opportunities to ask questions to course facilitators and other students.
What is the time commitment?
In terms of time commitment, we anticipate it is about 3 hours a week. Each week there is approximately 1 hour of videos (split into 3-7 videos), 1 hour of online activities, and 1 hour for the assignment. The assignments are about directly relating the content back to your own work; therefore how much time can be quite variable depending on how much background work you choose to do.
Are there student and LMIC discounts?
Yes, full-time students a receive a 30% discount. People from low- and middle-income countries can reach out to get a significant discount to make the course available to everyone.

"The online course offered through the Center for Implementation is a great resource and primer for anyone wanting to learn more about implementation science. The pace, material and ease of use, made this a highly applicable tool for my current and future work. I would highly recommend this course for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge of knowledge translation or implementation."

Tricia Swartz, Senior Program Manager, Canadian Patient Safety Institute

This course is closed for enrollment.