A process that is designed to help with choosing, changing, or leaving a career or academic study.
A collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the options and services required to meet an individual student’s educational needs.
Certificate Program – Occupational/Technical/ Vocational
A technical program for entry-level employment or for upgrading skills and knowledge within an occupation. Certificate programs serve as building blocks and exit points for associate degree programs and vary in length from a few weeks to two years. Some certificates can help prepare you to take accreditation exams or meet state-mandated requirements for continuing education.
Certificate (Educational Certificate)
A credential awarded by a training provider or educational institution based on completion of all requirements for a program of study, including coursework, test or other performance evaluation. Examples of common certificates are nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics.
A credential awarded by a certification body based on an individual successfully completing an exam or practicum that demonstrates he/she has acquired the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform a specific job. The exam can be written, oral, or performance-based. Certifications are typically time-limited and have to be renewed periodically.
Certification Exam Preparation Course
A workshop for adult learners to refresh their technical knowledge and skills in preparation for recertification tests.
A type of education completed outside of the classroom with a patient directly, or in a simulation laboratory designed to teach or reinforce patient assessment and treatment skills.
A two-year college that awards associate degrees in addition to certificates and other adult continuing education courses.
An educational approach, which measures learning rather than time, spent in a classroom, laboratory, or online environment. Students progress through curriculum at their own pace and are evaluated based on mastery of observable skills or competencies.
A measure of the number of students at a given institution who complete their educational coursework and receive a degree.
An hour of scheduled instruction given to students.
Continuing Education Unit (CEU)
A measurement of participation in non-credit professional development activities.
Continuing Professional Education
A program or course designed for individuals who have completed a degree in a professional field (such as, medicine, dentistry, or social work) to obtain additional training in their particular field of study.
A course or subject which must be taken during the same study period as another course or subject.
An instructional subject taught in a designated period and commonly described with a formal number, descriptive title and expected student-learning outcomes. As an award for successful completion, students earn academic credits.
A degree or certificate issued by a third party with authoritative power as proof of an individual’s qualification or competence in a given subject.
A unit of measure representing the equivalent of an hour (50 minutes) of instruction per week over the entire term. It is applied toward the total number of academic credit hours needed to complete the requirements of a degree, diploma, certificate, or other award.
A course that, if successfully completed, can be applied toward the number of courses required for achieving a postsecondary degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
A credit value given to students for what they have learned outside of a traditional classroom, through independent study, non-credit adult courses, work experience, portfolio demonstration, previous licensure or certification, or completion of other learning opportunities (military, government, or professional). Like academic credits, these credits can be applied towards the completion of a degree.
A program of courses fulfilling the requirements for a certificate, diploma, or degree in a particular field of study.