Developing Continuing Professional Education Programs

This guide highlights the many forces driving professionals to seek continuing education: rapidly changing information; new technological developments; mandated credit to maintain licenses and professional certification; emerging professions struggling to define their competencies; and development changes in adults that affect career practices. In developing programs for professionals, common themes run across settings and groups. The guide focuses on these similarities and helps experienced continuing professional education (CPE) planners. CPE begins at the point when formal education ends and professional practice starts. Seven topics important to the CPE planner are addressed: (1) professionals as learners; (2) professionals in society; (3) providers of CPE; (4) regulation of professions and implications for CPE; (5) a planning framework; (6) competencies of a CPE planner; and (7) useful tools for planning. The guide contains 42 references and 7 appendices: (1) needs assessment methods; (2) learning objectives; (3) categories of instructional format; (4) seating arrangements; (5) sample evaluation questions; (6) building a program budget; and (7) timetable for program development activities. (NLA)