The Basics of eLearning for Online Medical Certification
Most health care providers are required to become certified in a number of areas, including Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Life Support (PALS), and CPR, just to name a few. Additionally, these credentials expire at specified intervals (i.e. every two years), and therefore require renewal in order for the nurse or health care provider to remain compliant. This ensures that these professionals stay on top of any and all changes in life support care delivery set forth by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) and the American Heart Association. You can find out the most recent changes here.
Thankfully, technology has facilitated a much easier, faster, more convenient and more cost-effective way to meet these certification requirements. If you’re not yet familiar, here are the basics of eLearning for online medical certification.
A phenomena known as Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs for short, has taken the world by storm by making it possible for almost anyone to obtain an education from anywhere there is an internet connection. For busy medical professionals, this has been a welcome alternative to traditional classroom settings, which are much more rigid, expensive and time-consuming. This kind of distance learning has made achieving certain credentials, such as medical certifications, easier and more accessible than ever before.
In comparison to traditional coursework, online medical certification for ACLS, PALS, BLS and CPR provides much more flexibility. That’s because students have the option of working at their own pace, studying when and where they are most productive and testing at their leisure. Furthermore, some online courses offer the option of untimed and unlimited number of test takes, which is much more favorable than the structured setup of an in-person class.
In addition to understanding what eLearning is and how it relates to medical certifications, it’s also important to know what elements to look for in a quality online program. As with anything else, not all available options are created equal. To ensure that your time, money and efforts are spent wisely, be certain to choose a course that has the following core elements:
Adherence to guidelines.
Before spending a penny on an online course, make certain it is in line with the guidelines your employer has established. Employers in the United States typically require a course that follows AHA and ILCOR guidelines.
Professionally designed and developed.
Simply put, anyone can create an online medical certification course, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the content contained within will be of good quality. For optimum results, courses should be designed and developed by industry experts, preferably by qualified medical professionals.
Dynamic course content.
Taking a class on your own requires a certain degree of self-discipline. It can be difficult to stay focused and committed when the coursework is dry and boring. To keep you on pace and help you learn better, choose an online medical certification program that includes dynamic content, like graphics and other visuals.
If you are in need of any of the above mentioned certifications or renewals, eLearning provides an excellent option to consider. For more information on our available courses, please click here or contact us to discuss how we can help you achieve all of your online education goals.