Training Video Script Templates + Examples
Create engaging training videos in 140+ languages.
Writing an effective employee training video script is a skill that most of us were never taught.
Years ago, I taught writing to university students. At the start of each term, I'd ask everyone to introduce themselves and share something they practiced (a musical instrument, a sport, something else entirely). And then, I'd cover the course syllabus, explaining how writing, much like the hobbies shared, requires repeated practice and feedback to improve.
The good news is, you no longer have to spend hours staring at a blank screen, cleverly adapting and condensing content into a training video script. Instead, you can use AI.
But don't worry, if you truly want to write your script from scratch, I'm also including some templates and best practices to jumpstart the process.
How to start a training video script
To start writing a training video script, you need to do one thing first. And yes, it involves writing (but it’s really easy). You need to complete this sentence:
This video is for [specific role] who currently [context or gap]. After watching, [specific role] should be able to [observable action] so that [business outcome].
Effective training video scripts are grounded in learning design. (So promise me you've already conducted a needs analysis, okay?) That means you know your audience, the performance gap they're facing, and how addressing it will impact something the business cares about. It also means including a learning objective, what learners should be able to do.
Finally, it means distributing the cognitive load between auditory and visual pathways: you don't need to narrate everything you show, and you don't need to show everything you narrate. Draft your script accordingly.
Write a training video script with AI
Yes, you can use AI to draft your training video script. Paste the objective sentence you just wrote into either of the two options below to get a first draft: a free AI script generator or an LLM approved by your company.
Option 1: Use an AI script generator
Use a free AI script generator: open the link, copy and paste the objective sentence you wrote down above, select a tone of voice and output language, and hit generate. Voilà, a first draft.
If you’re wondering, here’s what I used in the example above to get this output.
This video is for new hires who currently don't know the company's expense reporting process or what's reimbursable. After watching, new hires should be able to submit a correctly completed expense report within the approved tool so that finance teams don't have to chase corrections and reimbursements are processed on time.
Option 2: Prompt an LLM with CIDI
If you're looking for a more collaborative approach to writing a script, you can use an LLM approved by your company to write a draft. Then, write a structured prompt with the objective sentence you drafted above.
One framework for writing structured prompts is CIDI:
- Context: Give the LLM a role and enough information to understand the scope of the task.
- Instructions: Provide step-by-step instructions of how you want the task to be performed.
- Details: Include any constraints that will guide the style or quality of the script.
- Input: Attach any relevant materials the LLM should reference.
I've drafted an example of a CIDI prompt below so that you can customize it for yourself.
No matter which option you choose, treat the output as a first draft. Take the time to revise the script. I recommend reading aloud (or having a Google Doc read to you) to catch any awkward sentence structures or word choice that feels off.
Give the LLM feedback, ask what it could do better, and have it revise.
Write a training video script with a template
If you'd rather start from a template, choose the one that matches your training type: universal, onboarding, leadership, or safety. Each is as prescriptive as you want it to be, and includes a completed example based on a specific scenario and learning objective. (Not sure which to pick? See how to choose below.)
The templates are linked in the headers (e.g., "Universal"), so click on them to open.
Universal
This template is use-case agnostic. Use it if you're unsure what type of training video you want to create, or if your use case isn't listed below.
Employee onboarding
Whether you're looking to welcome new hires, introduce them to your company culture, or offer them role-specific onboarding, this template can adapt to your onboarding video needs.
Leadership training
If you're trying to design a scenario-based training video, this template can help you draft one with decision points and feedback embedded.
Safety
When our clients are making training videos on safety topics, they're usually building off of an SOP. That's why this template is structured around a procedure or protocol, with a scenario and decision point built in to show the consequence of getting it wrong.
How to choose a training video script template
Start with what the learner needs to do after watching. If you're still unsure, the Universal template is the safest starting point.
No matter which path you choose to script your training video, remember: it doesn't need to be perfect to get started.
Share whatever you have with Synthesia's free AI video generator, whether that's a rough draft or just your objective sentence, and our AI Assistant will generate a first draft of the video. You can edit your script alongside the scenes.
Amy Vidor, PhD, is the Learning and Development Evangelist at Synthesia, where she researches learning trends and helps organizations apply AI at scale. With 15 years of experience, she has advised companies, governments, and universities on skills.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write a training video script?
Begin by writing your objective sentence: one sentence that describes who the video is for, the knowledge or skill gap they have, what they should be able to do after watching, and why it matters to the business (which is also how you'll evaluate the training video). Then, draft the script based on that sentence, either with AI, a template, or the old-fashioned way, by hand.
How do you structure a training video?
Training videos are most effective when they have the following structure: a hook that explains why the training matters, what learners should be able to do differently after the video, the learning itself (how they will get there), and how to apply what they've learned.
How long should a training video script be?
Training video scripts are best when they're under 900 words, or about 6 minutes of narration (one minute of narration is about 150 words). Viewers begin to disengage from training videos longer than that.
A good rule of thumb is one learning objective per training video. If you're finding your script is too long, consider splitting it into a training video series.
What's the difference between a training video script and a regular video script?
A training video script is built around a learning objective and performance outcome, whereas a regular video script can be creative or focused on persuasion. Training video scripts are designed to share knowledge or develop skills, while a regular video script may simply aim to entertain.
Can I use AI to write a training video script?
Yes, you can use a free script generator, like Synthesia's AI script generator, or a company-approved LLM to write a training video script. Remember, any output should be treated as a draft that you revise before finalizing.
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