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Online Course Instructor Application Form Template

Find and vet the right instructors for your online learning platform. This application form collects everything you need to evaluate a prospective instructor — their subject expertise, proposed course outline, teaching background, and links to existing content — so your team can make informed decisions quickly.

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Free for non-commercial projects, with unlimited forms and responses.

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The starting point

About this template

An online course instructor application form is the first filter in building a quality e-learning catalog. Whether you run an open marketplace like Udemy or a curated platform with high editorial standards, the application form is where you set the bar. Collecting structured information upfront — subject expertise, course proposal, credentials, and sample work — lets your team review candidates consistently and at scale, without back-and-forth email exchanges.

More about this template

This template is designed to surface the information that actually predicts instructor success online: prior content creation experience, the specificity of the proposed course outline, and the depth of their professional background in the subject. A vague course title and a thin bio are early signals; a detailed module outline and a sample video tell you far more. By asking for all of it in one form, you establish a professional standard before the first conversation.

formformform makes it easy to deploy this form on your instructor recruitment page and manage incoming applications from a central dashboard. You get notified on every submission, can export applications to a spreadsheet for batch review, and can update the form fields as your platform's focus evolves — all without touching a line of code.

11 fields to make your own8 required in this starting form

Make it fit your workflow.

Use your own copy to change labels, remove questions and add the details you need. Try the preview alongside this guide to see what respondents will be asked.

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The questions, explained

Fields in this template

Review the starting questions and choices. You can change them in your own copy.

  • Short answerRequired

    Full Name

    Jane Smith

  • Email addressRequired

    Email Address

    jane@example.com

  • Phone numberOptional

    Phone Number

    (555) 123-4567

  • Short answerOptional

    LinkedIn Profile or Personal Website

    https://linkedin.com/in/yourprofile

  • DropdownRequired

    Subject Area of Expertise

    12 choices
    • Technology & Programming
    • Business & Entrepreneurship
    • Design & Creative Arts
    • Marketing & Communications
    • Data Science & Analytics
    • Health & Wellness
    • Finance & Accounting
    • Language Learning
    • Education & Teaching
    • Personal Development
    • Science & Engineering
    • Other
  • Short answerRequired

    Proposed Course Title

    e.g. Advanced Python for Data Engineers

  • Long answerRequired

    Course Description and Outline

    Briefly describe your course, who it's for, what learners will achieve, and a high-level module or lesson outline.

  • Long answerRequired

    Teaching Experience and Credentials

    Describe your relevant professional experience, degrees, certifications, and any prior teaching or training roles.

  • Single choiceRequired

    Have you created online content before?

    2 choices
    • Yes — I have published online courses or content previously
    • No — this would be my first online course
  • Short answerOptional

    Link to Sample Content (if available)

    YouTube, Vimeo, or course platform URL

  • DropdownRequired

    Expected Course Length

    5 choices
    • Short (under 2 hours)
    • Medium (2–5 hours)
    • Long (5–10 hours)
    • Comprehensive (10+ hours)
    • Ongoing / subscription-based
Where it fits

Who uses this template

Suggested uses, and why this starting point can help. Adapt the questions to your own process.

Online course marketplace platforms

Evaluates entrepreneurs and executives proposing business strategy and startup courses for a professional development marketplace.

Corporate learning and development teams building internal content

Identifies internal employees with deep expertise to create eLearning modules for the company's LMS library.

Universities expanding their online course catalog

Reviews portfolio quality, software proficiency, and teaching approach for illustrators and designers proposing creative courses.

Professional associations creating member education programs

Screens certified teachers and child development specialists proposing parent education or early literacy online programs.

EdTech startups building subject-matter expert networks

Identifies internal employees with deep expertise to create eLearning modules for the company's LMS library.

Subscription learning platforms

Use this as a starting point when you need the same essential information from each person. Review the questions against your process before sharing your copy. Review “Have you created online content before?” in particular and adapt it to the detail you need.

Community colleges hiring adjunct online instructors

Collect a consistent starting point for review, so the next conversation can focus on suitability and missing details rather than repeating basic questions. Review “Link to Sample Content (if available)” in particular and adapt it to the detail you need.

Bootcamp operators expanding their curriculum

Use this as a starting point when you need the same essential information from each person. Review the questions against your process before sharing your copy. Review “Expected Course Length” in particular and adapt it to the detail you need.

What's included

Subject area categorization for routing applications to the right reviewer
Structured course outline field captures the proposal in one place
Teaching credentials field separates academic and professional experience
Prior online content flag identifies experienced content creators
Sample content link for immediate quality assessment
Expected course length helps with platform planning and revenue forecasting
Email notification on every new application
Embeds on instructor recruitment landing pages

How to create an online course instructor application form

  1. 1

    Click 'Use this template' to set up this form in your free formformform account with all application fields pre-built.

  2. 2

    Update the 'Subject Area of Expertise' dropdown to match your platform's specific topic categories.

  3. 3

    Add any platform-specific requirements — minimum follower count, required audio/video equipment, revenue share agreement acknowledgment.

  4. 4

    Set your team's notification email so applications reach the right reviewer immediately.

  5. 5

    Add a confirmation message that sets expectations on review timeline and next steps.

  6. 6

    Embed the form on your 'Become an Instructor' landing page or share the direct link in your instructor recruitment outreach.

Best practices for your online course instructor application form

Ask for a course outline, not just a title

a one-sentence pitch tells you almost nothing; a rough module breakdown reveals how organized and prepared the applicant is.

Request sample content links

watching 5 minutes of an applicant's existing video is more informative than any written description of their teaching style.

Use the subject area dropdown for routing

assign applications to subject-matter reviewers automatically based on the category selected.

Separate professional credentials from teaching experience

someone can be a world-class practitioner and a poor teacher; evaluate both dimensions independently.

Set expectations in the confirmation message

tell applicants exactly how long review takes and what the next step looks like to reduce follow-up inquiries.

Review the proposed course length against your catalog gaps

a market saturated with beginner content but starved for advanced material is a signal worth acting on.

15 form ideas you can build with this template

Tech Skills Platform Instructor Application

Screens software engineers and developers applying to teach programming courses, requiring a GitHub profile and sample code repository.

Wellness and Fitness Online Instructor Application

Vets yoga, pilates, and fitness coaches applying to record video class series for a subscription wellness platform.

Business Coaching Platform Instructor Recruitment

Evaluates entrepreneurs and executives proposing business strategy and startup courses for a professional development marketplace.

Language Tutoring Platform Teacher Application

Assesses native speaker credentials, teaching methodology, and language certification for online language tutors.

Corporate L&D Subject Matter Expert Application

Identifies internal employees with deep expertise to create eLearning modules for the company's LMS library.

Art and Design Online Instructor Application

Reviews portfolio quality, software proficiency, and teaching approach for illustrators and designers proposing creative courses.

Medical Education Online Instructor Application

Verifies clinical credentials and CME accreditation eligibility for physicians proposing continuing medical education content.

Finance Certification Prep Instructor Application

Screens CFP, CFA, or CPA exam prep instructors for their pass-rate track record and exam domain coverage plan.

Real Estate License Prep Instructor Application

Evaluates active licensees and brokers proposing state-specific pre-licensing or CE courses for an online real estate school.

Culinary Arts Online Instructor Application

Reviews professional chef credentials, proposed cuisine specialty, and demonstration video quality for a cooking platform.

Music and Audio Production Instructor Application

Assesses DAW proficiency, discography, and teaching methodology for producers applying to create online music courses.

Early Childhood Education Online Instructor Application

Screens certified teachers and child development specialists proposing parent education or early literacy online programs.

Cybersecurity Training Instructor Application

Reviews penetration testing credentials, relevant certifications (CEH, OSCP), and proposed lab environment design.

Photography and Videography Instructor Application

Evaluates portfolio, camera equipment, and proposed shooting style or post-production technique for visual arts learners.

High School Test Prep Instructor Application

Screens SAT, ACT, and AP exam tutors for subject expertise, score improvement track record, and student testimonials.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add a file upload field for applicants to attach a CV or course outline document?

formformform's current field types include short text, long text, dropdowns, and radio buttons. For document uploads, you can ask applicants to provide a link to a Google Doc, PDF URL, or shared Drive folder in a short text field.

How do I review all the instructor applications in one place?

All submissions appear in your formformform dashboard in chronological order. You can also export all responses as a CSV and import them into your own CRM or review spreadsheet.

Can I use this form to recruit instructors for a corporate LMS, not just a public platform?

Absolutely. This form works equally well for internal subject-matter expert identification — just relabel 'Platform' references to your internal program name and adjust the subject area options to your organization's skill categories.

What happens after someone submits an application?

You receive an instant email notification with all their application details. You can also set a custom confirmation message to let applicants know their submission was received and outline the review process.

Can I add a question about revenue share or payment model agreement?

Yes. You can add a checkbox field with a statement like 'I understand and agree to the platform's instructor revenue share terms' to capture acknowledgment as part of the application.

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Free for non-commercial projects, with unlimited forms and responses.

Use this template