Professional Certification Programs Research Articles

Evaluating access, quality, and equity in online learning: A case study of a MOOC-based blended professional degree program

As massive open online courses (MOOCs) shift toward professional degree and certificate programs, can they become a global on-ramp for increasing access to emerging fields for underrepresented groups? This mixed-methods study addresses this question by examining one of the first MOOC-based blended professional degree programs, which admitted students to an accelerated residential master's program on the basis of performance in MOOCs and a proctored exam. We found that male students and students with master's degrees were more likely to complete the online program and the blended program had more male students and more students with master's degrees than students in the existing residential program. Students who enrolled in the blended graduate program earned higher average grades than students in the residential program earned in their in-person courses (3.86 vs 3.75, p < .01). The findings of this study provide an example of how new online learning models can serve particular niches, but may not address broader equity challenges.

Introduction to Telehealth for Clinical Psychologists: a Novel Course Designed to Improve General Knowledge and Hands-on Expertise with Technology-Based Modalities

Telehealth, or the integration of technology with healthcare services, has been identified as a rapidly developing field with implications for both clinical psychologists and patients. While some on-site trainings, as well as post-doctoral continuing education and professional certificate programs exist, research has identified the importance of formalized technology-focused training throughout one’s graduate school career. Unfortunately, minimal formalized coursework has been recognized for clinical psychology doctoral programs. To remedy this gap, the Introduction to Telehealth for Clinical Psychologists course was designed to enhance general evidence-informed knowledge and provide hands-on experiences with various applicable modalities. The development, instructional techniques, and pilot evaluation of a doctoral-level clinical psychology-focused course are detailed. Pre- to post-class evaluations suggested increases in student self-reported telehealth-related knowledge, as well as high satisfaction. The pilot course may serve as a template for future telehealth courses.

Peace Engineering Consortium: Outcome of the First Global Peace Engineering Conference

Abstract The creation of the Peace Engineering Consortium is an outcome of the First Global Peace Engineering Conference, held November 2018 in Albuquerque NM, USA (www.weef-gedc2018.org). A team of conference participants are collaborating to develop the Peace Engineering Consortium. That is, to define and implement its charter, identify initiatives and preliminary activities, and continue to identify definitions of what Peace Engineering (PEng) – or Engineering for Peace – is. PEng is a call for action, in a new mindset not only for engineering, but for all existing and future disciplines to address global challenges. Current activities are: • Curricula and content – Members are collaborating to define, create and share curricula for undergraduate minors, professional certificate programs and graduate work; Creating experiential laboratories with industry and practitioner partners; Facilitating information exchange and the symmetry of information/knowledge through globally accessible digital libraries; Incorporating engineering diplomacy, diversity and cultural awareness (including the arts, music and language) into the practice for peacebuilding, peacemaking and peacekeeping. • Research and Development - The group is focused on collaborations, both domestic and international, and internal initiatives that advance the state of Peace Engineering. Key areas of focus have been developing metrics, data models, analytics, visualization and prediction. Some key initiatives include developing a modelling and visualizing conflict, Peace Data Standard, and pollution mitigation. • Entrepreneurial and Economic Development – The consortium is pursuing entrepreneurial activities in peace technology. It has been invited to produce a special edition on Peace Engineering and Innovation in the high impact Technological Forecasting and Social Change journal. • Events – In its charter year, the consortium organized a summer institute at The Hague and Peace Engineering workshops in Colombia – both models for future global workshops. • Case Studies – Members are compiling and publishing case studies and collaborating with US National Laboratories, industry, and governments to create scalable Peace Engineering case studies.

Determinants of behavioral intentions towards a professional certification scheme at European level

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of candidates’ perceptions of the attributes of a professional certification scheme based on competences, as well as personal factors, that may influence in the behavioral intentions toward such certification program, i.e. intention to participate in the certification process and willingness to pay for the certificate.Design/methodology/approachBased on a survey of 2,630 professionals about the “Certified Professional” program in eight European countries, the influence of the perceived attributes of the certification program and the personal characteristics of the potential candidates on their behavioral intentions are analyzed.FindingsDifficulty and fairness of the certification process, credibility, innovativeness, international recognition and future usefulness of the professional certificate influence positively on the candidate’s likelihood of applying for being certified and the willingness to pay. Young professionals not holding a university diploma show high probability to participate in the certification process and intention to pay for the certificate.Practical implicationsPromotional efforts to launch a professional certification scheme should concentrate in creating strong associations of the certificate with the notions of international prestige, credibility and usefulness to enhance employability and professional growth. Segmentation criteria to increase communication effectiveness are defined.Originality/valueIn recent years, there has been a proliferation of professional certification programs in competences, and literature has advocated the need to investigate the perceived value of such systems in terms of benefits and barriers perceived by potential applicants for accreditation. The present paper aims at addressing this research gap.

Recertification and Reentry to Practice for Nurse Anesthetists, Phase II: Evaluating Reentry to Anesthesia Practice Using High-Fidelity Simulation Technology

Background Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) who fail to comply with the Continued Professional Certification Program, or those out of practice for an extended time, must recertify with the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists through the Reentry Program (REP). In 2016, high-fidelity simulation was added to the REP to evaluate clinical competence. Purpose The aim of this project was to create and validate a simulation scenario and competency checklist as an objective measure for use with the REP. Methods Using the modified Delphi method, an expert panel of CRNAs evaluated the validity of the simulation scenario and the content validity and reliability of the checklist. Results All 29 survey questions that assessed simulation scenario validity received ≥ 75% agreement from the expert panel, while the overall content validity index for the checklist was 0.958 and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.995. Conclusion The expert panel validated the simulation scenario and competency checklist, which was determined to have excellent content validity and interrater reliability. Standardization and objectivity of the REP for CRNAs are improved with the validated simulation scenario and competency checklist.

An Attempt on the Civil Engineering Talent Cultivation Model for Western Applied Local Colleges and Universities Based on the Professional Certification

Based on the certification of civil engineering, the article takes Guizhou University of engineering science, an application-oriented university in western China, as the research object. Civil engineering talent training mode suitable for the local development in western China has been constructed on the basis of extensive research. Graduation requirements elaboration, curriculum system construction, internship and practical training and teaching staff construction are explained in detail. The research content in this paper is positive to the professional certification and talent training program of civil engineering for western application-oriented universities in China.

A narrative on integrating research and theory into undergraduate accounting curriculum

PurposeThis paper aims to describe an effort to integrate accounting research and theory into an undergraduate accounting education program through the development and delivery of a fourth-year course. Informing ideas for the course design and content are discussed, and feedback from the students and instructor is provided.Design/methodology/approachThis paper takes the form of a commentary and offers the authors’ opinion based on the experience of designing and teaching the course. An in-class survey was conducted in three separate offerings of the course.FindingsStudent response to the course and material was more positive than anticipated, indicating that undergraduate accounting students are receptive to learning about research and theory, even when it is not required for entrance into a professional certification program. Also, many students often went above and beyond the course requirements in the work they submitted. This indicates that there is an appetite for engaging with material that presents accounting as a social phenomenon rather than solely as a technical activity.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the data were collected over multiple years, the survey was conducted at a single university. These findings have implications for the design of undergraduate accounting education programs and, potentially, for addressing the gap between accounting research and practice.Originality/valueThis review contributes to the discourse on integrating research into undergraduate accounting education as recommended by the AAA Pathways Commission. It describes one method of doing so and identifies the literature that informed the approach taken. This paper also contributes to the accounting education literature by providing evidence of student reaction to a course that uses research and theory as a subject matter rather than a pedagogical tool. This evidence may also inform the teaching –research nexus discourse.

Öğretmenlerin otizm spektrum bozukluğu hakkında bilgileri: Türkiye örneği

Teachers’ knowledge and perceptions about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is found to be a critical component for the identification and education of children with ASD. This study examined Turkish general education teachers’ knowledge and perceptions about ASD. A total of 478 general education teachers across four school types participated in the study. Data were collected using an online survey package. Results showed Turkish general education teachers across all school types and grade levels had limited knowledge and perceptions of autism. Findings show that there is an urgent need to develop professional development or certification programs to train teachers to work with children with ASD. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Promote Utility Excellence Through Professional Certification

Operator certification programs have long experienced difficulties in creating reciprocal recognition of certification. Now the Professional Operator certification program presents opportunities for operator certification authorities to improve reciprocity application processing.

Entering the Market for Financial Advice: Insights from Advisors and Financial Planning Students

We are acutely aware of the change in the financial advisory landscape. The industry has moved from a product centric focus to an advice model. Given the change in landscape, financial advisory firms and future advisors may benefit from assessing the marketplace to determine opportunities for successful entry and retention of new talent. Such efforts may help to ensure quality client experiences and increased demand for the profession among future entrants. According to the CFP® Board’s Professional Demographics, there are more CFP® certificants older than age 70 than under the age of 30. This asymmetry causes concern for advisors looking to retire with confidence that their clients will continue to receive high quality services. We seek to add insight by highlighting what motivates current students to enter the field and their perceptions of the industry and their value in it. By covering these topics, we hope to identify opportunities for improvement, momentum, and growth in the financial advice profession. This project uses primary research to determine asymmetries in expectations between various stakeholders in the financial planning industry. The initial focus is to look at the firm’s expectations for new advisors, specifically students graduating with degrees in Personal Financial Planning, and compare them to the expectations students have of firms in their first few years of employment. Considering variation in business models and compensations structures, we seek to identify potential gaps in the expectations between hiring firms and students entering the financial advice market. To understand the differences in expectations, we use survey data collected from individuals currently employed in the financial planning industry and students at various CFP® Board registered Personal Financial Planning programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional certificate programs. Our initial analysis focuses on the expectation gaps between firms and students. In future studies, client and advisor expectations will be examined. We seek to identify where expectation gaps exist in order help firms and universities build better client, employee, and student experiences, ultimately improving the financial planning profession. Potential benefits for firms include improved retention, better recruitment, and increased loyalty of new advisors entering the industry. This research could be used by firms to help align the interests of firms and new talent entering the profession.

The Value Added by Professional Certification of Municipal Finance Officers

Many academics and practitioners value professional training and certification programs as important ways to improve management practice and organizational performance. However, these programs often are among the first cutback targets in times of fiscal stress. Evidence that documents the actual impacts of specialized training and certification on public organizational performance is sparse. This longitudinal panel study examines the effects of a state-mandated Certified Municipal Finance Officer program on cities’ financial management performance and finds that the program had a statistically significant independent impact on the observed reduction in the number of annual outside audit findings. The program’s impact on improved financial management performance underscores the need for scholars to evaluate similar programs, the results from which may help to alter public officials’ cutback calculus and restore public confidence in the public service.

Development of a Professional Certification in Cancer Patient Education.

Patient educators come into the field from diverse professional backgrounds and often lack training in how to teach and develop patient education resources since no formal patient education professional certification program exists. A professional certification program for patient educators would further define the professional scope of practice and reduce variability in performance. The purpose of this study was to (1) determine the level of interest among Canadian cancer patient educators in a patient education professional certification program and (2) determine the competencies to be included in the professional certification program. A 12-item survey was designed by executive members of the Canadian Chapter of the Cancer Patient Education Network. The survey included a list of competencies associated with patient education, and a 4-point Likert scale ranging from "slightly important" to "very important" was used to determine the rank of each competency. The survey was sent to 53 patient educators across Canada. Ninety-two percent of the patient educators are interested in a professional certification program. Patient educators indicated that competencies related to developing patient resources, collaboration, plain language expertise, and health literacy were of most importance. Patient educators support the development of a patient education professional certification program and endorsed the competencies proposed. This information provides the foundation for the creation of a professional certification program for cancer patient educators.

Medical Students' Professional Development as Educators Revealed Through Reflections on Their Teaching Following a Students-as-Teachers Course

ABSTRACTPhenomenon: Teaching is an important part of the tri-partite mission of every medical center. Although teaching often is given lower priority and recognition as opposed to patient care and/or research, this activity for many physicians in academic medicine ranks second to their patient care responsibilities. Medical teacher training has traditionally been aimed at faculty and residents through faculty development initiatives, continuing education for physicians at professional conferences, formalized degree or certificate programs in education, and residents as teachers programs. More recently medical schools have developed medical-students-as-teachers programs, often offered as 4th-year electives, to introduce learners to the theory of teaching and learning with appropriate application in the clinical setting. Data on learner outcomes and students' perceptions and experiences in these programs consist mostly of their satisfaction after completing such a program. In this article we explore 4th-year medical student trainees' experiences and emerging self-concepts as educators during a teaching elective. Approach: The purpose of this project was to explore students' reflections on their experiences in a 4th-year medical students-as-teachers course in their own words through their written self-assessment narratives. We used qualitative content analysis to examine 96 trainees' self-reported, written reflective narratives of how they translated their students-as-teachers course experience into application by applying newly learned educational theories, instructional strategies, and feedback skills while teaching novice peers physical diagnosis skills. Findings: Narratives revealed candid self-assessments and detailed descriptions of their experiences and what they valued most from the course. Content analysis revealed nine key themes: using teaching strategies for adult learning, preparing for class, modeling professionalism, incorporating clinical correlations, exceeding course requirements, giving and receiving feedback, providing mentoring, creating a positive learning climate, and growing as educators. Insights: This study's results reveal how learners perceive and translate their experiences in a teaching course, in terms of incorporating particular knowledge or skills, valuing or displaying certain professional behaviors, and gaining self-awareness and satisfaction from teaching experiences. The findings of this study, specifically major themes from self-assessment narratives, provide us with a better understanding of medical students' developing identities and emerging professional self-concept as educators, specifically as experienced through a combination of formal teaching, and applying education theories and strategies. Findings may be informative from a program evaluation lens but also for faculty development initiatives related to training medical teachers and the larger landscape of the emerging field of Health Professions Education.

Developing the Continued Professional Certification Program for Nurse Anesthetists

Recertification assures the public that a certificant remains competent throughout his or her career and has knowledge and skills beyond those needed at entry into the profession. Health professions address the concept of recertification using many different approaches. In 2008, the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists, or NBCRNA, initiated a recertification redesign, and, in 2016, it launched the continued professional certification program. The initiative included a benchmarking study of the recertification programs of other health and medical professionals and an analysis of the literature to identify credentialing best practices and trends. Surveys and other communications in coordination with the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists solicited input of nurse anesthetists. This article reviews the key findings, trends, and influences for the continued professional certification program and the process the NBCRNA used to create and implement a recertification redesign to support lifelong learning and the expanding role of nurse anesthetists.

Neuropsychology in South Africa

ABSTRACTThis survey forms part of an international research study conducted in 39 countries and is the first to describe the characteristics of individuals engaged in the practice of neuropsychology in South Africa (SA). The purpose was to analyze the characteristics of individuals working in the profession of neuropsychology in order to understand their background, professional training, current work situation, assessment and diagnostic procedures, rehabilitation techniques, teaching responsibilities, and research activities. Ninety-five professionals working in neuropsychology completed an online survey between July and November 2015. The majority of participants were female and the mean age was 46.97 years. The majority of professions working in neuropsychology have a background in psychology, with additional specialized training and supervised clinical practice. Over half work in private practice and are on average satisfied with their work. Participants identified as clinicians primarily work with TBI and ADHD individuals. The main limitation for the use of neuropsychological instruments is the lack of normative data in SA and the main barrier to the field is the lack of academic training programs. There is a need to improve graduate curriculums, enhance existing clinical training, develop professional certification programs, validate existing neuropsychological tests, and create new, culturally relevant instruments.

Professional certification in ecological restoration: improving the practice and the profession

Given increasing investments in ecological restoration around the globe, there is a need to develop standards of practice to improve professional training and encourage the highest quality of performance possible. Although professional certification is a mechanism for promoting and improving the profession, until now certification has not been available to individuals who practice ecological restoration. The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) is launching a professional certification program in early 2017. The program requires professional experience, a knowledge base in five broad subject areas, understanding of the foundations of the profession, and adherence to a code of ethics. The SER certification program will certify both practitioners (Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioners [CERPs]) and practitioners‐in‐training (Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioners‐in‐training [CERPITs]).

Gauging the Impact of Country-Specific Values on the Acceptability of Global Management Accounting Principles

JEL Classification: M40 1. Introduction In 2014, the AICPA and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) published a draft document entitled Global Management Accounting Principles, including the subtitle Effective management accounting: Improving decisions and building successful organisations (AICPA and CIMA, 2014a) The draft was accompanied by a shorter checklist (AICPA and CIMA, 2014b) and a document on essential tools of the Global Management Accountant (AICPA and CIMA, 2013). This publication represents the most significant step to date toward establishing and integrated set of international accounting standards regarding the objectives of management accounting professionals. (Borker D. R., Manuscript) The standards are closely tied to CIMA's professional certification program for the Chartered Global Management Accountant. It should be noted that, with regard to methodology, there is considerable overlap between the professional tools cited in this document and the best practices cited by the Institute of Management Accounts (IMA) in its professional handbooks and teaching materials for the certification Certified Management Accountant. What distinguishes the CIMA/AICPA document is that it develops a set of key concepts and principles that Global Management Accounting Principles (GMAP) in much the way the IASB established concepts and standards for external financial reporting. According to its authors, the purpose of the document is to support top executives and the Board of Directors in benchmarking and improving their management accounting systems, providing a reference for all management accountants to check that they are adding value for their internal and external customers, helping organizations to make better decisions, to respond appropriately to the risks they face and to protect the value they generate. (AICPA and CIMA, 2014a) An underlying theme throughout the document is the key role of management accounting and the management accountant in helping organizations to achieve sustainable success using appropriate and continually refined tools, techniques and diagnostics and people skills to help organizations assess the effectiveness of their management accounting functions and identify areas for improvement. The document describes four global management accounting principles and fourteen Practice Areas of Management Accounting to which principles are applied and for which related skills and tools are required on a comprehensively updated basis. Four Global Management Accounting Principles The four principles, which are noted to be "continuous" rather than "sequential" in nature, are cited below along with their connected subheadings: * Communication provides insight that is influential --strategy development and execution is a conversation --communication is tailored --communication facilitates better decisions * Information is relevant --information is the best available --information is reliable and accessible --information is contextual * Impact on value is analysed --simulations provide insight into options --actions are prioritised by their impact on outcomes * Stewardship builds trust --accountability and credibility --sustainability --integrity and ethics These broad principles, as described in the document, paint a picture of the management accountant as a capable and reliable key analyst, diagnostician and communicator within the organization who is influential in the creation of value for the organization and its many stakeholders. Fourteen Practice Areas 1. Cost transformation and management 2. External reporting 3. Financial strategy 4. Internal control 5. Investment appraisal 6. Management and budgetary control 7. …

Professional Practice Analysis: Validity Evidence for the Continued Professional Certification Examination for Nurse Anesthetists

Introduction This article presents the results of the 2015 professional practice analysis (PPA) conducted by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). The goal of the PPA was to establish and validate a content outline and test specifications for NBCRNA's examination for the continued professional certification (CPC) program. In professional certification test development, a PPA establishes the content validity of an examination and serves as the key evidentiary link between the test and clinical practice. Methods The PPA used survey and rating scale methodologies to collect data on the relative emphasis of various aspects of the nurse anesthesia knowledge domain and competencies. Overall, 726 survey responses were analyzed by a panel with expertise in clinical anesthesia and testing methodology, using conventional statistics and the Rasch rating scale model. Descriptions of how the survey results were used to develop test specifications are also provided. Results The results of the analysis provided strong validity evidence for the content outline and test specifications. Conclusion To a great extent, the responses of the PPA survey exhibited a high-degree endorsement for the knowledge statements included on the outline and thus serve as a basis of content validation for the CPC examination.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERGRATED MODEL FOR AMIL ZAKAT IN MALAYSIA

Amil zakat (zakat collector) is an individual that is responsible in the collection of zakat or tithes. Generally amil is appointed by the state Islamic religious council by which most of them do not have specific background in religious knowledge or in the field of zakat. Nevertheless there were several cases on breach of trust among the current amilwhich affect the credibility and trust of Islamic society towards zakat institutions in Malaysia. The objective of the research is to determine the course and training provided to the zakat collector besides analysed the content of the course and training given to the zakat collector. This research applied the quantitative research methodology which is field study using interviews methods and qualitative using the documentation research in the form of deductive and inductive methods. The finding of the research indicated that there are no specific courses or trainings provided to the amil zakat after their appointment and commissioning. It can be concluded that there is vital need to enhance the role of zakat collector through the effective course and training. The implication of the research is it can improve the weakness of the existing amil zakat management system in each state in Malaysia thus assisting in decreasing and handling of misconduct cases involving amil zakat. Thus it is highly recommended to implementamil professional certification program that consist of 10 specific modules specifically for certified amil which emphasize on the integrity and skills from various aspect such as communication, missionary endeavour, sermon and leadership.

The profession of neuropsychology in Spain: results of a national survey

Objective: To examine the current status of professional neuropsychology in Spain, with particular focus on the areas of professional training, current work situation, evaluation and diagnostic practice, rehabilitation, teaching, and research. Methods: Three hundred and thirty-nine self-identified professionals in neuropsychology from Spain completed an online survey between July and December of 2013. Respondents had an average age of 35.8 years and 77% were women. Results: Ninety-seven percent of the respondents identified as psychologists; 82% of the sample had a master’s degree, and 33% a doctoral degree. The majority (91%) received their neuropsychological training at a graduate level; 88% engaged in neuropsychological evaluation, 59% in rehabilitation, 50% in research, and 40% in teaching. Average number of hours per week dedicated to work in neuropsychology was 29.7, with 28% of the respondents reporting working in hospitals, 17% in not-for-profit rehabilitation centers, 15% in universities, and 14% in private clinics. Clinicians primarily work with individuals with stroke, traumatic brain injury, and dementia. The top perceived barriers to development of neuropsychology in Spain included lack of clinical and academic training opportunities, and negative attitude toward professional collaboration. Conclusions: The field of neuropsychology in Spain is young and rapidly growing. There is a need to regulate professional neuropsychology, improve graduate curricula, enhance existing clinical training, develop professional certification programs, validate and create normative data for existing neuropsychological tests, and create new, culturally relevant instruments.