February 2004

Company Profile

CCE credits in cyberspace: Easy and affordable

submitted by The Continuing Education University

Thanks to The Continuing Education University (The CEU), the days when a doctor of chiropractic had to close his or her practice and travel to a distant city seeking continuing education credits for license renewal are over.

This leading provider of online distance learning for D.C.s and other health care professionals has developed an easy‑to‑use interactive website that allows doctors to begin and complete courses at their own pace and on their own schedule. All chiropractic courses for state license renewal are sponsored by National Health Sciences University (NUHS).

"I was inspired by the lack of continuing education online," says The CEU's founder Dr. Patrece Frisbee, a chiropractor, acupuncturist and nutritional expert. Located at www.TheCEU.com, the site provides easy access and improved customer service for professionals in chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture and nursing who need enhanced knowledge of specific subject areas or want to satisfy CE requirements for state licensure.

As a working professional herself, Dr. Frisbee has often faced the demands of traveling to a distant site and sitting through the seminar programs needed to obtain re‑licensure credits. For many D.C.s, the process involves not just time, but considerable cost ‑‑ including seminar fees, travel and accommodations, and closing a practice.

"I realized that there were no quality sites to provide what I wanted and needed as a doctor of chiropractic," she recalls.

The roadblocks to moving professional continuing education from the lecture hall to the computer were obvious. But after an accident left her unable to attend traditional live seminars, her resolve strengthened to find a better way of providing continuing education. More and more state licensing boards are now accepting credit for online learning, and those that do ‑‑ approximately 34 states so far ‑‑ have been pleased with the positive response they have received from practitioners.

"I came to the conclusion that the best way to provide the kind and quality of education that I needed was through a new company that could offer the best of our profession's experts coupled with the latest technology for online learning," says Dr. Frisbee.

The CEU currently offers more than 60 online classes totaling 135 credit hours in courses such as 3‑Dimensional Anatomy, Nutrition, Domestic Violence, Homeopathy, and Malpractice and Risk Management, along with certification programs.

D.C.s can access these courses through www.TheCEU.com and begin their learning experience at any time. Conveniently, this intuitive website allows doctors to begin course work, leave at any point for an hour, a day, or a year, and then pick up where return exactly to where they left off. Following completion, the doctor can download and print a certificate suitable for framing to meet license renewal requirements (a simple text format certificate is also available). Course information is permanently stored within the doctor's account for future access at any time.

While many Internet learning portals restrict access after a certain period of time ‑‑ usually the length of a semester ‑‑ The CEU registrants can continue to review purchased courses at no charge indefinitely.

The CEU is also developing special programs and incentives that will allow doctors to access multiple courses at a discounted rate.

All programs are taught by a distinguished faculty composed of credentialed experts in their respective fields. Courses designed for doctors of chiropractic are sponsored by NUHS and, as mentioned before, are accepted for CE credit in 34 states.

While some state chiropractic licensing boards have yet to accept online courses for re‑licensure, a growing number have decided that part ‑‑ if not all ‑‑ of their requirements can be met in this way, often requiring sponsorship by an accredited college like NUHS.

The CEU has secured accreditation for its programs in those states that permit online education. Information about specific requirements and limitations can be obtained from the individual state board (please mention NUHS, as the Boards generally categorize the courses according to university sponsorship) or through the company's website (www.TheCEU.com).

One of the guiding principles of The CEU has been to provide quality education programs in a user‑friendly learning environment. The company has carefully constructed its website to take advantage of cutting edge technology that allows students to easily register on line, and then simply determine by profession and state which courses are specifically approved for their needs, purchase and begin their courses immediately, and then, as mentioned previously, return to where they left off in their study at any time in the future.

Extensive research throughout the field of higher education already exists to show that online education is as effective ‑‑ and for some types of learners much more effective ‑‑ than conventional face‑to‑face lectures. In addition, advances in technology have made it possible to use audio and video, along with incorporating Powerpoint, Flash and other software programs into course presentations.

"The research shows that the most effective approach to learning takes place where there is a variety of presentation methods being used," according to Dr. Frisbee.

Thanks to advancements in technology, virtual chat rooms allow students to address not just their teacher, but fellow students. Conversations can be threaded, with participants replying to each other on a particular topic.

"The statistics say that by 2005, 70% of all continuing education will be done online," she says. "There's a huge need for it in all professions. With chiropractic it's even more so."

Continuing Medical Education (CME) for M.D.s and CE credit for many other professionals will be added to the curriculum in the near future, in addition to the nursing, acupuncture and massage therapy course work that is already available.

Prospective doctors can log on to the website at www.TheCEU.com for a free sample course.