Understanding Reforge Learning Course Tiers
📌 In this article: how Reforge courses are organized by experience level, what each level means, and how to choose.
The short version
Most Reforge courses fit a level, and the level is usually in the course name: Foundations, Mastering, Strategy, or Leadership. Each course lists a recommended experience level, so you can pick the one that matches where you are today.
No course is a prerequisite for any other. You can start anywhere.
The four levels
| Level | Who it's for | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | People new to a discipline or building core skills | Product Foundations for the AI Era, Growth Foundations, AI Foundations |
| Mastering | Practitioners who know the basics and want to go deep on one skill, lever, or business model | Mastering Product Management, Mastering Retention & Engagement, Mastering Experimentation |
| Strategy | Senior practitioners and leaders making decisions about direction and priorities | Product Strategy, Growth Strategy, Marketing Strategy |
| Leadership | People who lead teams or are moving into leadership | Product Leadership, Growth Leadership, Marketing Leadership, Engineering Leadership |
Recommended experience, by discipline
Experience levels are recommendations, not requirements.
Product
- Under 3 years: Product Foundations for the AI Era
- 3+ years: Mastering Product Management
- 6+ years: Product Strategy
- 8+ years, with direct reports: Product Leadership
Growth
- New to growth: Growth Foundations
- 3+ years: Mastering Retention & Engagement
- 6+ years: Growth Strategy
- Current or aspiring growth leaders: Growth Leadership
Marketing, Engineering, and AI
These are organized a little differently. Marketing groups courses by channel skills, applied roles, and strategy and leadership. AI courses are grouped by what you want to do with AI. Engineering is a smaller category. See each category's guide below.
Builder courses don't follow levels
Builder courses are focused skill courses for product builders at any level, such as Mastering Storytelling, Mastering Product Analytics, and Design Foundations. Pick one based on the gap you want to close.
Names don't tell the whole story
A course's level is a good starting point, but always check its Best for and Not for details. For example, Technical Foundations is built for non-technical PMs, and Mastering Growth Engineering is written for an explicitly technical audience.
How to choose your level
- "I'm still learning how this role works." → Foundations
- "I'm good at this and want to level up a specific skill." → Mastering
- "I'm deciding where we should focus and why." → Strategy
- "I'm responsible for a team and its results." → Leadership
Find the right course in your category
- Product Courses: Which One Is Right for You?
- Growth Courses: Which One Is Right for You?
- Marketing Courses: Which One Is Right for You?
- Engineering Courses: Which One Is Right for You?
- AI Courses: Which One Is Right for You?
- Builder Courses: Which One Is Right for You?
FAQ
Do I have to start with Foundations?
No. If you've worked in a discipline for several years, Foundations may be more basic than you need.
Can I take a course above my experience level?
Yes, since experience levels are recommendations. Courses at a higher level assume you have the background, so they may feel like a stretch.
Can I take courses outside my function?
Yes. Many members take courses in adjacent areas to work better with cross-functional partners.