Therapeutic massage therapy is one of the many branches of the healing arts. A practitioner of massage therapy uses the hands to massage the body into deep relaxation allowing the release of tension. This also stimulates blood circulation, soothes sore muscles and eases injuries. Those seeking a career in this healing art must first become certified through an accredited program to become licensed in their state of practice. After that, they must take massage continuing education classes to retain their license.
As regulations and guidelines on massage therapy differ from state to state, massage continuing education classes can allow practitioners to stay informed of these regulations as well as any new changes in state and local guidelines that may affect their practice. Although there is a national license that can be obtained for massage therapists, a certain numbers of massage continuing education hours must still be documented with the state in which the therapist practices. Local ordinances, if any, will also need to be followed in order for a massage therapist to practice legally.
The following are examples of points of study that one may find in massage continuing education classes:
* Boundary training: developing a scope of practice that sets boundaries between the healer and the patient
* Ethics: managing clinical dilemmas, reporting abuse, insurance billing
* Licensing: state and local regulations requirements
* Ergonomics: proper techniques and proper equipment
* Shoulder rehabilitation: working with shoulder injuries, sports medicine/massage
* Upper body anatomy: recognizing major muscle groups and structure, tendons and range of movement
Massage continuing education classes are credited in hours and reported to the state board by the accredited program attended by the massage therapist. This ensures that the practitioner is in keeping with the rules and regulations set forth in their state of practice. A massage therapist who is not in keeping with the requirements of their state will have their license to practice terminated.
Massage continuing education classes can be found online and are provided through many accredited and reputable schools and organizations. Online courses provide opportunities for those who practice massage therapy to maintain their licenses with the state board of their residence without having to log their hours in a traditional classroom setting. As the pace of online classes are set by the student, this can be a choice option for the busy professional who wishes to honor licensing requirements without losing time from an already full schedule. Many states also offer the ability to renew a massage therapy license online, allowing the immediate recognition of the therapist�s right to practice.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Massage Continuing Education Classes
Insurance: Continuing Education to Maintain a License
Whether selling health/life policies or auto/home policies, those in the field of insurance sales must stay current with any and all of the guidelines and regulations of their practice in order to maintain their license, making insurance continuing education classes a must!
The world of insurance is a billion dollar industry that is heavily regulated by federal and state agencies. The average person relies on their agent to be able to discern and translate through all the confusing jargon and details. In order to keep up with these regulations and to help understand any new guidelines that may come along, agents regularly attend insurance continuing education programs. This not only helps an agent maintain their license but to also allows the agent to remain sensitive to the needs of current and incoming clients. An insurance agent with a current license will be aware of any new guidelines or laws that may have been passed and the effect they will have on the insured.
Requirements in an insurance continuing education program will vary by specialty. Those selling health/life insurance will have different requirements than those who sell home/auto insurance policies. Those who provide flood insurance have even more specific requirements. The requirements in a program will also vary from state to state based on a variety of factors, including natural catastrophes that the area may be prone to. Regular attendance of insurance continuing education programs will allow an agent to stay on top of their game and serve their clients interest and needs with ease.
The credits in an insurance continuing education program are measured in hours that are then recorded by the state through a continuing education vendor who helps electronically record and update a licensees required hours. This protects the consumer by making sure they have a capable insurance agent that is practicing within the confines of the law. An agent who does not meet the hourly requirements will have their license revoked by the state.
Insurance agents must also renew their licenses periodically. When the time comes for a renewal on a license, it is not uncommon for those in the industry to also seek out an insurance continuing education program online. There are many accredited programs that meet the requirements on state and federal levels. The required hours are once again logged by an education vendor that will report to the state under the licensees name. The ease and flexibility of these online programs allow for the agent to earn the required hours without having to take time away from their busy practice.
The Online Continuing Education Program
As more and more adults seek to further their education and careers, colleges and universities find great value in offering online continuing education programs. The busy life of the working adult, which likely includes balancing a family, makes it difficult to attend daily classes requiring traditional lectures or lab hours. The courses in an online continuing education program allow the working student to keep their busy schedule and not have to worry about other schedules that may clash.
In recent years, the number of colleges and universities offering online continuing education programs has exploded, making the availability of accredited and reputable programs quite plentiful. In some cases, students are able to design their own degree program. Mostly, it is the cost of the program that attracts many. With no housing costs/meal programs to worry about, online continuing education programs are much less costly than a traditional college curriculum.
An online continuing education program not only provides the convenience that allows the student to not have to worry about keeping up with a college�s schedule for the semester, it means the door to education is only one internet connection away! This does away with the expenses of travel time and/or relocation on the part of the student and means classes can be attended wherever there is an internet connection. This can also be of benefit to those who are not comfortable in a classroom setting, those who require extra time due to language challenges or even those who require a faster pace than can be offered in a traditional daily curriculum.
Many online continuing education programs having no set times for their courses. This allows the student the benefit of flexibility, attending classes in the hours available to them and completing assignments at their own pace. For the adult who has not been in an educational program for some time, it is very helpful to be able to control the learning environment. Working when there is time and where they are comfortable- on the assignments they have time for- is a very attractive option for the student who is balancing a career as well as family life.
With the attractive merits of availability, flexibility and cost, working adults also are drawn to the fact that this type of program will not interrupt their career should they decide to return to college. There will be no need to quit, take time off or ask for a reduction of hours. In fact, it may even help to further a person in their career if the coursework they choose complements their current occupation. The majority of working adults who return to college do so for this reason.
Pharmacist Continuing Education Classes
A pharmacist distributes medicines that are prescribed by doctors and provides information to the consumer about their use. Those in the field of pharmacology are in an occupation that requires a good set of ethics and attention to detail. They are required to understand the chemical, biological, and physical composition of the drugs they distribute and often advise on side effects and drug interactions. A pharmacist also gives advice on diet, exercise or medical equipment. In addition to filling prescriptions, pharmacists also fill out and file third-party paperwork and insurance forms.
Those looking to enter the world of pharmacology will find they must first graduate from an accredited program to earn a license in their state of practice. They must also regularly attend pharmacist continuing education classes to meet state requirements and maintain their license. Many times, it is the employer of the pharmacist, such as a retail drugstore or hospital that will provide these pharmacists continuing education classes. These classes help the pharmacist to stay informed of any new aspects arising in the world of pharmacology. It is very necessary for pharmacists to keep up with any changes in state laws or insurance guidelines.
Often, these pharmacist continuing education classes are given in the form of seminars or lectures. However, there is an option to take pharmacist continuing education classes online. These classes are often provided through reputable and accredited schools or other organizations. They help the pharmacist to further their professional development as well as meet the necessary requirements for maintaining a license in their state of practice.
The following are examples of topics in pharmacist continuing education classes:
* Medical math: medical calculations
* Current trends of prescription rug monitoring: prescription drug abuse and how to avoid being scammed
* Oral therapy for type 2 diabetes: class and dosing strengths
* Medicare modernization: structure and operations of
* Pharmacy law: handling the changing and increasing legal duties in pharmacy
As credit hours are completed in the pharmacist continuing education classes, the provider of the continuing education activity will then report to the state of practice. Credit hours are then recorded under the licensee�s name showing that they are in keeping with the requirements of the state pharmacy board. Those who do not meet state requirements will have their license to practice revoked.
Although the process varies from state to state, pharmacists are also given the option of renewing their license online in the state of their practice. This quick and easy method can often have the pharmacist�s license recognized by the state in as little as 1-2 business days.
