United Kingdom · Compliance, quality and safety · Senior (5-8 years)

Senior Ethics Training Specialist

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

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One email: what AI is changing in this job, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

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  • Experience bandSenior (5-8 years)
  • Direct reportsNo direct reports
  • Reports toEthics & Compliance Training Manager
  • UK framework levelUsually a manager, or the deepest specialist in a team

Also advertised as Senior Compliance Learning Designer · Ethics Programme Lead · L&D Specialist (Ethics & Compliance)

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

CICM Level 5 Diploma in Credit and Collections Management Chartered Institute of Credit Management · Level 5 · covers 2 of 10 standards
GQA Level 5 Diploma in the Practice of Process Safety Management GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards
Level 5 Award in Leadership Institute of Sales Professionals · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards
Level 5 Certificate in Professional Sales Institute of Sales Professionals · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards
Level 5 Diploma in Professional Sales Institute of Sales Professionals · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards
Level 6 Certificate in Professional Sales Institute of Sales Professionals · Level 6 · covers 1 of 10 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements CICM Level 5 Diploma in Credit and Collections Management
Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety GQA Level 5 Diploma in the Practice of Process Safety Management
Manage Ethical, Legal and Professional Requirements Level 5 Award in Leadership

The future skills this job leans on

Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Frontier Fluency the next wave, beyond mainstream AI
Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Senior Ethics Training Specialist

3 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements Chartered Institute of Credit Management · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 5
  2. Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 5
  3. Manage Ethical, Legal and Professional Requirements Institute of Sales Professionals · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 5
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Senior Ethics Training Specialist?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • Advanced Data Storytelling for Ethics Insights
  • Gamification & Immersive Learning Design
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Senior Ethics Training Specialist plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

3What this role really is

This job designs and delivers ethics and compliance training on the hardest topics an organisation faces.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

Articulate 360 (Storyline, Rise) Expert

Designing complex, branching scenarios in Storyline with variables and triggers for interactive ethical dilemmas; embedding interactive video and creating engaging, responsive microlearning modules in Rise.

Cornerstone OnDemand / Workday Learning (LMS) Advanced

Configuring custom learning paths, automating assignment rules for specific employee groups, building complex reports and dashboards to track programme effectiveness beyond just completion rates.

ServiceNow GRC / OneTrust Advanced

Correlating training completion data with incident trends, policy exceptions, or audit findings within the GRC platform to measure the real-world impact of training and identify new needs.

Qualtrics / SurveyMonkey Advanced

Designing sophisticated surveys using Kirkpatrick model principles to evaluate training effectiveness at multiple levels, including behavioural change and business results; analysing feedback data to refine programmes.

Power BI / Tableau Intermediate

Connecting various data sources (LMS, GRC, survey data) to create compelling dashboards that visualise training effectiveness, highlight risk areas, and present programme impact to senior leadership.

MS Teams / Confluence / Asana Advanced

Managing the entire training project lifecycle in Asana, from initial TNA to final deployment and evaluation; building and maintaining a comprehensive knowledge base for ethics and compliance training resources in Confluence; collaborating with project teams in Teams.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Training Content & Design Follows templates and guidelines. All new content reviewed by Senior Specialist. Independently designs routine modules. Seeks feedback on novel approaches. Owns end-to-end instructional design for complex programmes. Consults with Legal/SME for content accuracy, but drives learning experience.
Project Timelines & Scope Escalates any potential delays or scope changes to manager. Manages timelines for individual modules. Proposes minor adjustments to manager. Manages timelines and scope for entire workstreams. Recommends significant adjustments and their impact to manager, with proposed solutions.
Vendor Selection (Content Development) No authority. Supports manager in gathering requirements. Researches potential vendors. Provides recommendations to manager. Evaluates vendors, manages relationships for specific projects up to £10K. Recommends preferred vendors to manager for larger engagements.
Training Evaluation Methodology Deploys pre-built surveys. Reports on Level 1 (Reaction) data. Designs Level 1 & 2 evaluations. Proposes methods for Level 3/4 measurement. Designs and implements comprehensive evaluation strategies (Kirkpatrick Levels 1-4) for major programmes. Interprets data and makes recommendations for improvement.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Training Project Delivery Rate
The percentage of new, complex training programmes delivered on time and within the agreed budget.
Target · 90% or higher

Delivered the new global Anti-Bribery & Corruption programme two weeks ahead of schedule and £5K under budget in Q2.

Reduction in Substantiated Hotline Reports (Targeted Areas)
A measurable decrease in confirmed ethics hotline reports directly related to areas where new, targeted training interventions have been deployed.
Target · 15% reduction year-on-year

After launching the new Conflict of Interest module, substantiated COI reports dropped from 12 to 8 in the following 12 months.

Level 2 (Knowledge) Assessment Improvement
The average improvement in knowledge assessment scores for participants before and after completing your training programmes.
Target · 10% improvement year-on-year

Average score on the Data Privacy quiz rose from 72% pre-training to 85% post-training for the Q4 cohort.

Mandatory Training Completion Rate
The percentage of all employees who complete assigned mandatory ethics and compliance training by the deadline.
Target · 99.5% for all mandatory campaigns

Achieved 99.7% completion for the annual Code of Conduct attestation by the 31st December deadline.

Training Quality & Relevance
Learners and business leaders consistently praise the training for being clear, engaging, and directly applicable to their roles.
  • Positive feedback in Level 1 (Reaction) surveys, unsolicited emails from learners, business unit leaders proactively asking you to develop new training for emerging risks, and positive mentions in internal comms or town halls.
Stakeholder Engagement & Influence
You're seen as a trusted expert by senior leaders and business unit heads, who involve you early in discussions about ethical risks and new initiatives.
  • Invited to project steering committees, asked for input on policy changes, senior leaders actively championing your training programmes, and positive comments from Legal and HR about your collaborative approach.
Mentorship & Team Contribution
You actively support and develop junior members of the team, sharing your knowledge and helping them grow.
  • Junior colleagues seek your advice, positive feedback from mentees in 1-to-1s, successful onboarding of new team members, and your active participation in team knowledge-sharing sessions.
Proactive Risk Identification
You don't just react to problems; you actively identify potential ethical blind spots or training gaps before they become major issues.
  • Proposing new training topics based on emerging regulatory trends or internal audit findings, identifying 'grey areas' in existing policies that need clearer guidance, and bringing forward data-driven suggestions for programme improvements.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Making a Real Impact on Culture

You'll feel genuinely satisfied when you see a new training module lead to a measurable drop in a specific type of ethical incident, or when an employee tells you your course helped them make a tough decision. It's about seeing your work change behaviour.

After your new module on gifts and hospitality, the number of questionable expense claims drops by 20% in the next quarter. That's a win.

Solving Complex Behavioural Puzzles

You're energised by figuring out why people aren't following the rules, or why they're struggling with a particular ethical dilemma. You enjoy digging into the 'why' and designing a learning solution that actually addresses the root cause, rather than just patching over symptoms.

Analysing hotline data and realising that a specific business unit consistently struggles with a particular policy, then designing a targeted, engaging intervention that turns the tide.

Continuous Learning and Improvement

You're always keen to learn about new instructional design techniques, the latest in behavioural science, or emerging compliance risks. You'll spend time experimenting with new tools and approaches to make your training more effective, and you're not afraid to try something new if it means better outcomes.

Exploring how gamification could make our data privacy training more memorable, or researching a new microlearning platform to deliver bite-sized content.

What frustrates people
  • Having a perfectly designed training module get delayed for weeks due to last-minute legal reviews.
  • Stakeholders who demand a new training programme without providing clear objectives or resources.
  • Dealing with technical glitches in the LMS that prevent employees from completing their training.
  • The perception that ethics training is just a 'box-ticking' exercise, rather than a critical business function.
What this role does not give you
  • A quiet, predictable routine with no urgent deadlines.
  • Complete creative freedom without any legal or compliance constraints.
  • Immediate, universal adoption of every training initiative without needing to persuade or influence.
  • A role focused purely on 'fun' or 'innovative' learning without the necessary, sometimes dry, compliance elements.

8Who you work with

This role directly influences employee behaviour and ethical decision-making across the entire organisation. Effective training programmes reduce the likelihood of compliance breaches, mitigate legal and reputational risks, and foster a stronger 'speak-up culture'. Your work helps protect our licence to operate and supports our overall commitment to integrity and responsible business practices.

Inside the business
  • Head of Legal
  • Internal Audit team
  • HR Business Partners
  • Business Unit Leaders (e.g., Sales, Operations)
  • Senior Leadership Team (for programme updates)
  • IT Department (for LMS support)
Outside the business
  • External training vendors (e.g., content developers)
  • Regulatory bodies (indirectly, through audit preparation)
  • Industry peer groups (for best practice sharing)

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • Proven experience (5+ years) in instructional design and e-learning development, ideally within a compliance, legal, or highly regulated environment, or equivalent experience.
  • Demonstrable ability to translate complex, often dry, subject matter into engaging, interactive, and memorable learning experiences.
  • Strong project management skills, with a track record of delivering training programmes on time and within budget, even with multiple stakeholders.
  • Experience with Learning Management Systems (LMS) administration and reporting, specifically running complex reports and configuring learning paths.
  • A solid understanding of adult learning principles and how to apply them to drive behavioural change, not just knowledge transfer.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present confidently to both technical and non-technical audiences.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

LMS API Integration & Automation

Manually pulling reports or updating user groups in the LMS is time-consuming. As our training programmes grow, we'll need to automate more of these tasks by integrating the LMS with other systems (like HRIS) via APIs. This frees up your time for more strategic work.

RESTful APIs · Data Exchange Formats (JSON, XML) · Basic Scripting (Python or PowerShell)

  • This month: Explore the API documentation for our current LMS (if available). What data can you pull? What can you push?
  • Next quarter: Take an introductory course on Python or PowerShell scripting, focusing on data manipulation and API calls.
  • Month 4-6: Work with our IT team to identify one small, repetitive LMS admin task that could be automated with a script.
  • Month 7-9: Build and test a simple script to automate that task, proving the time savings.

Quick win: Start by identifying all the manual, repetitive tasks you do in the LMS. Just knowing what they are is the first step to automating them.

AI-Powered Content Curation & Personalisation

With the explosion of content, finding the right ethics training for the right person at the right time is becoming harder. AI can help curate relevant content and even personalise learning paths based on an individual's role, risk profile, and past performance. This moves us away from a 'one-size-fits-all' approach.

Recommender Systems · Learner Profiles & Adaptive Learning · Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Content Tagging

  • This month: Research AI tools that offer content curation or personalisation features for learning platforms.
  • Next quarter: Experiment with using AI (e.g., ChatGPT) to summarise long compliance documents into key learning points for different roles.
  • Month 4-6: Propose a pilot project to your manager for personalising a small part of our ethics training based on a simple risk factor (e.g., role or geography).
  • Month 7-9: Evaluate the pilot's effectiveness in terms of engagement and learning outcomes.

Quick win: Use AI to quickly generate different versions of a training scenario tailored for a Sales team vs. a Finance team, demonstrating the power of personalisation.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attending industry webinars and conferences on instructional design, behavioural ethics, and compliance trends (e.g., Compliance Week, Learning Technologies).
  • Subscribing to relevant professional journals and newsletters to stay updated on best practices and emerging risks.
  • Joining professional networks or communities of practice for L&D or ethics professionals to share insights and learn from peers.
  • Actively seeking out opportunities to mentor junior colleagues and present on training best practices within the department.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

Advanced Data Storytelling for Ethics Insights

We're drowning in data—LMS completion rates, survey results, hotline reports. The challenge isn't collecting it, it's making sense of it and using it to tell a compelling story that influences senior leaders and drives real change. Just showing numbers isn't enough anymore; you need to weave a narrative.

  • Visualisation Best Practices
  • Narrative Structure
  • Audience-Centric Reporting
  • Impact-Focused Metrics

Gamification & Immersive Learning Design

Traditional e-learning can feel dry and unengaging. To truly capture attention and drive deeper learning, especially for complex ethical dilemmas, we need to move towards more interactive, game-like experiences. This is about making learning fun and memorable, not just mandatory.

  • Core Drive Mechanics
  • Branching Narrative & Choice Architecture
  • Feedback Loops & Rewards
  • Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) Basics

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Instructional Design Models (ADDIE, SAM)
  • Adult Learning Theory (Andragogy)
  • Behavioral Science & Nudge Theory
  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
  • Training Needs Analysis (TNA)
  • Ethical Frameworks (Deontology, Utilitarianism, Virtue Ethics)

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Mid-Level Ethics Training Specialist (Internal Promotion)

    2-3 years as an Ethics Training Specialist

    Skills to master

    • You'd need to have truly mastered end-to-end module development, taken ownership of specific training areas, and shown a knack for problem-solving and stakeholder engagement. Basically, you've proven you can deliver reliably and independently.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistently delivering high-quality training modules on time and with minimal supervision.
    • Proactively identifying training needs and proposing solutions, rather than just reacting.
    • Receiving positive feedback from stakeholders on your collaboration and communication skills.
    • Starting to informally mentor or guide newer team members.
  2. 2

    L&D Specialist (from another industry/department)

    3-5 years in a general L&D role, plus 1-2 years focused on compliance/technical training.

    Skills to master

    • You'd bring strong instructional design and e-learning development skills. The key here would be quickly getting up to speed on the nuances of compliance regulations, ethical frameworks, and how to handle sensitive subject matter with discretion and empathy. You'd need to show us you can translate your L&D expertise into our specific context.

    You're ready to move on when

    • A portfolio of diverse e-learning projects, demonstrating advanced authoring tool skills.
    • Experience working with subject matter experts to extract complex information.
    • A clear understanding of adult learning principles and evaluation methodologies.
    • Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and apply new domain-specific knowledge.
  3. 3

    Compliance Officer with L&D Interest

    4-6 years as a Compliance Officer, plus demonstrable interest/experience in training.

    Skills to master

    • You'd already have the deep compliance knowledge and regulatory understanding. You'd need to develop strong instructional design skills, learn our authoring tools, and understand how to structure learning experiences for maximum impact. It's about shifting from 'knowing the rules' to 'teaching the rules effectively'.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Deep knowledge of relevant regulations and internal policies.
    • Experience identifying compliance risks and gaps.
    • A genuine passion for teaching and developing others.
    • Evidence of having delivered informal training or presentations within a compliance context.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to a director role covering ethics and compliance programmes, or a head of learning and development role covering wider training needs.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Senior Ethics Training Specialist is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements, worked against Senior Ethics Training Specialist.

Compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements Level 5

Applied to your work in Senior Ethics Training Specialist

This unit aims to enable learners to understand and apply legal, regulatory, ethical, and social requirements within an organisation. Learners will be able to evaluate operational compliance, review compliance procedures, and report on adherence to these requirements, understanding their responsibilities and potential liabilities.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Senior Ethics Training Specialist
  • Instructional Design Models (ADDIE, SAM)
  • Adult Learning Theory (Andragogy)
  • Behavioral Science & Nudge Theory
  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
  • Training Needs Analysis (TNA)
  • Ethical Frameworks (Deontology, Utilitarianism, Virtue Ethics)
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Senior Ethics Training Specialist is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Lead Ethics Training Designer

    3-5 years as a Senior Ethics Training Specialist

    Level 4 (Lead/Staff)

    • Learning Ecosystem Architecture Thinking about how all learning components (LMS, authoring tools, external content) fit together to create a seamless, effective learning experience.
    • Advanced Learning Analytics Designing and implementing comprehensive learning analytics strategies to measure the true ROI of training programmes.
    • Vendor Management & Contract Negotiation Leading the selection and management of larger external training vendors, including contract negotiation and performance oversight.
  2. Ethics & Compliance Training Manager

    4-6 years as a Senior Ethics Training Specialist (or Lead Designer)

    Level 5 (Principal/Manager)

    • Programme Portfolio Management Overseeing the entire portfolio of ethics training programmes, ensuring alignment with organisational risk and strategy.
    • Executive Communication Presenting programme strategy and impact to C-suite leaders and potentially the Board, articulating the value of ethics training in business terms.
    • HRIS Integration Strategy Architecting integrations between the LMS and HR Information Systems (e.g., Workday HCM) to streamline data flow and reporting.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be honest, designing impactful ethics training takes time. A lot of time. But what if you could cut down on the grunt work and focus more on the strategic, creative parts? That's where AI comes in. We're not talking about replacing you; we're talking about giving you a seriously powerful assistant.

Our department is big on using smart tools to make our lives easier and our work more effective. We believe that by embracing AI, you can streamline repetitive tasks, get to insights faster, and ultimately deliver even better ethics training programmes. Imagine having more time to really dig into behavioural science or craft that perfect, nuanced scenario.

Content Generation Accelerator

Use generative AI to churn out initial drafts of realistic, industry-specific case studies and ethical dilemmas for your scenario-based training. The AI can whip up multiple variations in minutes, giving you a fantastic starting point to refine and validate, rather than staring at a blank page. It's like having a brainstorming partner who never sleeps.

Feedback Synthesis Engine

Ever stared at thousands of lines of open-ended text feedback from training surveys, trying to make sense of it all? Feed that raw data into an AI model, and it'll instantly identify and categorise key themes, sentiment (positive, negative, neutral), and actionable suggestions. You'll get to the 'so what?' much faster, letting you focus on improving, not just reading.

Regulatory Radar

Stay ahead of the curve without drowning in legal updates. Set up an AI-powered alert system to monitor global regulatory bodies like the DOJ or SFO for new guidance, enforcement actions, and policy changes. The AI provides concise summaries, highlighting potential impacts on your existing training content. It's like having a dedicated research assistant constantly scanning the horizon.

Multilingual Course Localizer

Deploying training across our international offices can be a headache, especially with translations. Use AI to perform the initial translation and voice-over scripting for your courses across multiple languages. A human translator then reviews and refines the AI's output, cutting down localisation project timelines by 40-60%. More global reach, less manual effort.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Senior Ethics Training Specialist?

Common routes in include Mid-Level Ethics Training Specialist (Internal Promotion) (2-3 years as an Ethics Training Specialist), L&D Specialist (from another industry/department) (3-5 years in a general L&D role, plus 1-2 years focused on compliance/technical training.) and Compliance Officer with L&D Interest (4-6 years as a Compliance Officer, plus demonstrable interest/experience in training.). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Senior Ethics Training Specialist progress to?

This role can lead on to Lead Ethics Training Designer (3-5 years as a Senior Ethics Training Specialist) and Ethics & Compliance Training Manager (4-6 years as a Senior Ethics Training Specialist (or Lead Designer)), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Senior Ethics Training Specialist?

Increasingly, Advanced Data Storytelling for Ethics Insights and Gamification & Immersive Learning Design. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 5

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

More jobs in compliance, quality and safety

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

The skills built here, including instructional design, behavioural science, compliance knowledge and stakeholder management, transfer to other regulated industries such as financial services, pharmaceuticals or energy. They also suit ethics consulting work with external clients. Making complex topics clear and engaging is a skill in demand across sectors.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my Senior Ethics Training Specialist plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.