Don’t Let Continuing Education Become A 800lb Gorilla

Well, being  that I am still sick, holding off on the podcasts and my voice sounds like a bad impression of Al Pacino, I thought I would try and breath some new life into this topic that I posted back in 2009 at an older blog.  I have been getting my CEU’s all squared away for my recert this year and since we just started 2011 I thought it would be a good reminder for some ways to get some credits.

Listen, the best way to meet your continuing education requirements is to stay on top of them. Unfortunately, it isn’t as easy as that. We are at the mercy of instructors who set up CE classes according to their preferences. Which usually means they are held on weekends and during the fall and winter seasons. You really can’t blame them. I mean who wants to sit and teach a class during nice spring and summer months?

Especially when many classes are just repeated subjects on tired powerpoints. So, what is the answer? Well, I posted some suggestions below to help you stay on top of your CEU’s, keep it interesting and not blame the instructors or lack of class availability.

• Try and map out how many CEU’s you need for various certifications you have. Break down the amount, what topics they must be in and the dates they are due.
• Keep on them. Once you have them mapped out, seek out classes. Many CEU announcements aren’t made six months in advance. You will find some great CEU opportunities on short notice. Keep your eyes and ears open and ask around. Word of mouth is often a good way to get in a class.
• Go beyond the cookie cutter classes. You will find yourself much more eager to attend CEU classes if you find ones that cover interesting and out of the box topics. They are out there. It may take a little longer to find these, but once you do, I think you will realize that those people teaching these classes will most likely keep doing so.
• Explore various options. Most regions allow you to acquire CEU other than just attending a class. You can also get them via services online. There are many online CEU services available, giving you a combination of audio, video and reading materials to help you grasp the content. Then you just take a short test and get your credits. Just keep in mind that there will be a limit to how many you can apply. So remember to see the first point about mapping it all out and check with your local agency to see how many you can apply.

I have found that no matter how many CEU classes I’ve been to, I always take away something. Even in topics that I have taken many times. So, remember to start looking at your CEU requirements as soon as your card comes in the mail. Take a class or two each month and seek out topics that interest you yet still meet the standards you need. Even a little extra won’t hurt. You’ll be a better provider for it and find yourself much more relaxed come recert time.