With the explosion in knowledge and the demand for better trained professionals, many health care and mental health care professionals seek continuing education opportunities to better serve their patients and clients.
Psychologists, counselors, social workers, physicians, nurses, as well as related professionals often find that they need to broaden their base of expertise, to receive certification in a particular specialty, or to get recertified.
To meet this growing need, numerous certification programs have sprung for such specialties as hypnotherapy, grief therapy, legal nurse consulting, forensic nursing, stress management,
and even spiritual counseling. Before you invest your valuable time and money, how can you evaluate any particular program? How can you be sure that it is a recognized, quality program that meets your needs? Here are some recommended ways to check.
1. Investigate the quality of the institution itself. Do a Google search or other web search with the name of the institution in quotation marks. See what kind of hits you get. Does its name appear with other known entities, e.g., academic institutions, professional organizations, conferences, government websites, news media, etc? Make note of any forums where it may be discussed. Is it listed in any recognized publication as a provider of continuing education?
2. Verify any institutional affiliations. If the institute claims, for example, to be recognized by relevant bodies, you can generally verify that by an email or call to the latter as misuse of logos does happen.
3. Check out the faculty. Who is doing the teaching? What kind of professional education do they have? Do they have the highest recognized degrees or certification in that field? Where do the faculty work, e.g., at reputable medical centers or institutions? Do internet searches on the persons you plan to study with--and look for the same kind of data as above. Look for any of their publications as well.
4. Ask for references and recommendations. Ask for contact data of prior graduates who have received certification who would be willing to share their opinion about the instruction, benefits, and so on. You might also ask persons in the field that you already know if they have any knowledge of the institute(s) you are considering.
5. How long has it been operating? While new institutes may offer excellent programs, you do want to make sure that the one you choose has been in operation long enough to show the stability necessary to finish any program you start and to give you continued recognition afterward.
6. Ask how the education is delivered. Make sure that the courses are offered in a format that works for you. Some may be internet based, others may be teleconferences. Ask about class size, homework, required materials, etc.
7. Be smart about money. Make sure you know the total price of everything necessary for an individual course or for certification before you start. Payment should be through normal channels (e.g., credit card information via secure internet sites or fax, checks sent to domestic address payable to the institution, etc.). Ask about any satisfaction-money back guarantees—how do they actually work?
When you find an institute that passes your inspection, you are more likely to have a valuable educational experience that contributes to your professional expertise.
