Continuing education is made for those people who wish to continue further studies related to their professions. It allows the professionals to secure a new license and continue to keep it. For those individuals who did not continue their education, they can also continue with their studies with different continuing education programs.
Continuing education is usually available in a school or division of continuing education. These schools are recognized as a university or school extension. Continuing education is thought on both conventional classroom and distance learning way. A combination of these two methods can be utilized as a systematic way of continuing education course. For most individuals, continuing education is also a significant way of achieving their dreams, updating their skills, and knowledge and earning the degree they missed during the earlier years of their life.
Importance of Continuing Education in the Workplace
- Continuing education allows an individual to add new skills in their resume, which makes them more desirable for possible employers or even your current employer. In a competitive job market, a higher level of expertise can make you stand out among jobseekers. And if you want or you need to change your careers, an additional education is important.
- A workforce with more skills is more productive. Skills and education are seen as important elements when it comes to being employed. Employers are now looking for both skilled and educated workers.
- Continuing education helps employers to keep better and competitive employees. Companies are hiring employees who further pursue their education.
- Sometimes, a person’s desire to further pursue his or her education is not motivated by professional ambitions or money. Perhaps, that person wants to have a new pastime or hone an existing one or maybe satisfy the intellectual curiosity or achieve a personal goal.
You must also be aware that pursuing a continuing education can add to your financial burden. So, it is essential that you weigh the advantages and disadvantages before investing on it.
Continuing Education vs. Traditional Education
Learning from formal schooling are basic skills which can help an individual to start working, however, they are not enough to further their careers, particularly in this rapid changes and technology advancements.
- Students who are continuing their education are working professionals who wanted to enhance their intellectual ability while working. The tendency to associate the lessons they learned to their work is one characteristic that distinguishes a student who is continuing his or her education.
- Instructors have appropriate and proper knowledge and experience so that they can address the concerns of their special students.
- Students who participate in continuing education are selective when choosing their courses. They tend to choose courses that are related and relevant to their work.
Possible Ways of Financing Your Continuing Education:
- Submit a FAFSA to check if you qualify for a federal student aid.
- Check with the financial aid department in your college to find out of there are any scholarships provided to non-traditional students.
- See if your employer reimburses expenses for continuing education.
- If you are laid off, you can collect severance payments and unemployment benefits if you are pursuing educational classes.
