If you are tracking continuing education for yourself, a firm or membership group, there are many options available, methods to use, and requirements that must be followed. In a profession that is constantly evolving, a periodic review is necessary to ensure each professional doesn’t let their license lapse, lose a certificate or fail a peer review or board audit. Just as important is the need to consider what professional development plan you want for your team to keep them from falling into simply attaining credits for compliance sake. I believe there are four things that can help you accomplish these goals.
Step One: Finding Courses
Finding the right course can be a challenge. You can do live events or online seminars and webinars, even self-study. The options are endless. I prefer live events for the networking and interaction they provide. If spending days and hours in front of a computer is not for you, consider live events. This is a great way to build bridges with other professionals. You could even plan to attend with a friend and share the travel expense or commute together. If cost isn’t a great concern, then you can consider splurging and blend a trip with a vacation. Certain vendors offer exotic locations and are designed to have morning sessions only, allowing attendees to spend the afternoon on their own. At the end of this article, you will see a helpful list of educational providers that have live events.
When attending live events, be sure to avoid events that use paper systems for class content, speaker review and course surveys. Every time we use paper, we must think about storage, future accessibility and the environmental impact. Not to mention hauling around a big binder.
I like the use of event apps that allow me to interact with the attendees and agendas digitally. Many software apps also digital storage for class notes, syllabi, PowerPoints and the CPE certificate, so you have easy and reliable access to information. This provides future review and access to materials for reporting to the governing jurisdiction, the AICPA, NASBA or IRS.
Online webinars are continuing to gain popularity and can be useful because of the variety of course options and flexible location. Self-study courses, while not as engaging, are available as well. Whether you are looking for a specialized study or simply logging CPE hours, the options are endless. If cost is important, you can even find free courses. You will also save on the travel. Make sure to check with software vendors, membership groups, societies and education providers for specific session offerings. I recommend a blend of online webinars and live conferences to get the best education and experience available. Remember, it’s not just about getting the credits - it is ultimately about building your expertise as a professional.
You should be able to connect with your local society, national training organization and educational groups when looking for a course. There are also software products that provide a listing of available courses. The AICPA, CCH and Thomson offer a tremendous number of courses on line and group live courses. However, you need not stop there since software companies like Eventur CPE and Coursera provide cross platform paid and free courses too.
In any case, even for online courses you need to be sure to find a speaker that keeps it interesting. Nothing is worse than being bored for hours, struggling to pay attention. If a speaker is not for you, find another organization. I recommend getting a referral from a colleague and even reviewing some video of the speaker in advance. With as many options as there are, there is a course suited to each of us.
For organizations and firms that provide custom education options, the above guidelines still apply. Be sure to share your resources and findings with your Learning Management, Administrative or HR directors. They value your input and together you share the same goals of excellent professional development.
eventur cpe logo
Remember, it is not CPE for credit sake. It is building a foundation for you and your team of expertise that is evidence in the work you perform.
Check out www.eventur.com for our webinars and CPE/LMS software. Look forward to the continuation of this article coming soon.
Here is a partial list of educational vendors to help you pick the best courses or gather materials for your own classes: AICPA, Scaling New Heights, Accountex, Gear Up, Spidell, Western CPE, National Organizations, State Societies