If your organization runs online training with more than one instructor, you’ve probably hit a wall. Most WordPress LMS setups assume a single teacher per course. But what happens when you need two subject matter experts collaborating on the same curriculum, or when a guest instructor needs to handle a specific module?
TutorLMS makes this possible, and with the right setup, it’s surprisingly straightforward.
We’ve configured multi-instructor environments for clients ranging from professional training companies to ministry education platforms. Here’s how to get it done right the first time.
What Multi-Instructor Mode Actually Does
TutorLMS Pro includes a feature that lets you assign multiple instructors to a single course. Each instructor gets their own dashboard access, can manage lessons and quizzes within their assigned sections, and shows up on the course listing page with their profile.
This changes how permissions work behind the scenes. Each instructor can edit course content, view enrolled student progress for that course, and manage their own lesson materials without needing full admin access to your WordPress site.
For organizations running certification programs or multi-department training, this is a game-changer. You give each expert control over their piece without worrying about someone accidentally breaking the site.
Prerequisites Before You Start
You’ll need TutorLMS Pro. The free version doesn’t support multi-instructor functionality. Make sure your license is active and the plugin is updated to the latest version. Older builds had some quirks with instructor permissions that have since been resolved.
Each instructor also needs a WordPress user account on your site. They don’t need to be administrators. In fact, they shouldn’t be. TutorLMS creates its own “Instructor” role that gives them exactly the access they need and nothing more.
If you’re managing a site with sensitive content or client data, this separation of roles matters. A lot.
Enabling Multi-Instructor Mode
Start by navigating to TutorLMS > Settings > General in your WordPress dashboard. Look for the option labeled “Enable Multi Instructor” and toggle it on. Save your settings.
That single toggle opens up the instructor assignment panel on every course. Without it, you’ll only see one instructor field when editing a course, and you might spend twenty minutes searching for a feature that technically exists but isn’t turned on yet. We’ve seen it happen more than once.
Once enabled, go to any course editor. You’ll now see an “Instructors” section where you can search for and add WordPress users who have the Instructor role.
Setting Up Instructor Accounts the Right Way
Here’s where most people rush and create problems for themselves later.
Go to Users > Add New in WordPress. Create the account with a strong password, and set the role to “Instructor.” TutorLMS recognizes this role automatically and grants the appropriate permissions.
Each instructor should complete their TutorLMS profile. This includes a bio, profile photo, and any relevant credentials. This information displays on the course page. Students see it. It builds credibility. Blank instructor profiles make your training program look unfinished.
If an instructor already has a WordPress account with a different role like Subscriber or Editor, you can change their role to Instructor. Just be aware that this removes their previous role permissions. WordPress only allows one role per user by default, so plan accordingly.
Assigning Multiple Instructors to a Course
Open the course you want to share between instructors. Scroll down to the Instructors meta box. Type the name or email of the instructor you want to add, select them from the dropdown, and save the course.
You can add as many instructors as you need. Each one will see the course in their personal dashboard and can edit content within it.
One thing to note: the first instructor listed is considered the “primary” instructor. Their name and photo appear most prominently on the course page. If instructor hierarchy or billing matters to your organization, pay attention to the order.
Rearranging instructors is as simple as dragging them into the order you want within the meta box. Small detail, but it matters when your training program has a lead instructor and supporting experts.
Managing Permissions and Content Boundaries
TutorLMS gives all assigned instructors equal editing access to the course by default. There’s no built-in way to restrict one instructor to Module 3 while another handles Module 5. Every instructor on the course can edit every lesson.
For most organizations, this works fine. Instructors are professionals. They know their sections.
But if you need hard boundaries, say in a compliance training environment, establish clear internal guidelines about who edits what. We recommend documenting this in a simple shared spreadsheet or project management tool. Module 1-3 belongs to Instructor A, Module 4-6 belongs to Instructor B. Low-tech, but reliable.
For more granular permission control, WordPress user role plugins can extend what TutorLMS offers. But honestly, for 90% of multi-instructor setups, clear communication beats complex technical restrictions.
Common Mistakes to Watch For
The biggest mistake we see is forgetting to enable multi-instructor mode before creating courses. If you build out an entire curriculum first, then flip the toggle, existing courses won’t automatically show the instructor panel until you edit and re-save them. Not a disaster, but annoying when you have fifty courses.
Second: creating instructor accounts as Administrators. This gives them full access to your entire WordPress installation. Plugins, settings, other users, everything. Unless you want your guest chemistry instructor to have the ability to deactivate your security plugin, use the Instructor role.
Third: not testing the instructor experience before going live. Log in as one of the instructor accounts. See what the dashboard looks like. Try editing a lesson. Try viewing student progress. Five minutes of testing prevents embarrassing support tickets later.
When You Need Help
If your LMS setup is more complex (custom enrollment workflows, WooCommerce integration for paid courses, or connecting TutorLMS to your existing CRM), it’s worth bringing in a team that has done it before.
At NorthMac Services, we build and maintain WordPress sites for organizations that depend on them daily. If you’re running a training platform and need it to work right the first time, get in touch. We’ll make sure your instructors can focus on teaching instead of troubleshooting.
