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Training + certifications

by SMworkcafe
10 replies
As most of the people here know that I am not in the IM niche. I am working on an authority site on women's health issues.

After 8 months of hard work I've found an experienced Endocrinologist who has signed an agreement with me to create a training course for women who'd like to learn about a certain skill set. It's a paid course with 30 days money-back guarantee.

Now, I want to take this on to the next level. I want to give out certifications. I want a clinic or hospital to get it approved and put their 'seal of confidence' on my course. I can do the research and gather the list of the health care service providers who'd be interested in my offer but I am not sure about the legalities of this whole process.

Now, here is my question:

Q. Am I being too ambitious or over working this whole thing (I really want to make this work though) or there is some room of improvement within the process?

As always, your response will be greatly appreciated. Let me know if you have further questions.
#certifications #training
  • Profile picture of the author MilesBaker
    I would suggest proving your concept first before you take it to the next level. To start with why not create your own certificate. Then once you've proven your course to be successful you could then have your certificate approved by a clinic or hospital.

    Unless you're thinking the certificate aspect alone is going to be the make or break factor in your sales pitch, I would suggest waiting and implementing it after you've proven your concept with consistent sales.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      Sana,

      No there's nothing wrong with doing a certification of course completion - it's done all the time.

      I think the challenge is to make that certification worth something to the candidate. You have to satisfy the "what's in it for me?" question that will motivate candidates to purchase the course and complete it.

      In order for the certification to be of value, you're going to have to "test" or somehow screen candidates since if everyone that buys the course can get certified it's really not a distinction of any worth.

      For a hospital to recognize and put their seal of approval on it . . . that's going to be a battle that won't be easy. Hospitals are notorious for administrative red tape. Many are owned and operated as part of a network so you may have to get approval beyond just a single hospital. You will have a long road of work ahead and it may not be worth the effort.

      Can you just get some kind of "seal of approval" from your endocrinologist and use that as your "proof" that the course is worth the effort?

      I really believe that going after hospital endorsement is not worth the time, frustration, and effort you will have to spend.

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author SMworkcafe
        Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

        Sana,

        No there's nothing wrong with doing a certification of course completion - it's done all the time.

        I think the challenge is to make that certification worth something to the candidate. You have to satisfy the "what's in it for me?" question that will motivate candidates to purchase the course and complete it.

        In order for the certification to be of value, you're going to have to "test" or somehow screen candidates since if everyone that buys the course can get certified it's really not a distinction of any worth.

        For a hospital to recognize and put their seal of approval on it . . . that's going to be a battle that won't be easy. Hospitals are notorious for administrative red tape. Many are owned and operated as part of a network so you may have to get approval beyond just a single hospital. You will have a long road of work ahead and it may not be worth the effort.

        Can you just get some kind of "seal of approval" from your endocrinologist and use that as your "proof" that the course is worth the effort?

        I really believe that going after hospital endorsement is not worth the time, frustration, and effort you will have to spend.

        Steve
        Steve, thank you so much for such a complete answer.

        You are absolutely right. If I take THAT route, it won't be easy.

        The approval, yes, I would instead take from the same health practitioner with which I've signed an agreement with. Need to ask her first and then form another document relating to the approval part.

        Sometimes, there are times when my mind gets blocked from all sides. It's refreshing to see to-the-point and eye-opening answers from entrepreneurs around here.

        Very grateful to you all!
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        Cheers!

        - Sana.

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      • Profile picture of the author keiran
        Hi Sana, I agree with all the points made here by Steve. Participants have to perceive the value of certification, but are there others that need to perceive the value too? For example, employers of the course participants?

        You are unlikely to be able to convince hospitals to officially approve your course, since there isn't much in it for them. You don't provide any specific information about the purpose of your course, but if it would be considered part of the participants' professional development (CPD) you could look into obtaining accreditation via one of the CPD accreditation organisations. This would provide the external validation to enhance the credibility of your programs.

        All the best

        Keiran
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        • Profile picture of the author Kay King
          However, the major concern for me is understanding the legal aspects of this whole process.
          That's why this forum may not help much. What you are able to do under the laws of your country may be quite different than what I could do here.

          ...and that's a guess on my part as I don't know where you are located.

          There are places where your ideas would work well -but it will depend solely on laws governing accreditation/medical training/education that YOU must adhere to.
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          • Profile picture of the author SMworkcafe
            Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

            That's why this forum may not help much. What you are able to do under the laws of your country may be quite different than what I could do here.

            ...and that's a guess on my part as I don't know where you are located.

            There are places where your ideas would work well -but it will depend solely on laws governing accreditation/medical training/education that YOU must adhere to.
            And I will be adhering the laws accordingly. The whole point was to seek knowledge from people who've gone through the similar path and worked through the process.

            Thank you for the contribution.
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            Cheers!

            - Sana.

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        • Profile picture of the author SMworkcafe
          Originally Posted by keiran View Post

          Hi Sana, I agree with all the points made here by Steve. Participants have to perceive the value of certification, but are there others that need to perceive the value too? For example, employers of the course participants?

          You are unlikely to be able to convince hospitals to officially approve your course, since there isn't much in it for them. You don't provide any specific information about the purpose of your course, but if it would be considered part of the participants' professional development (CPD) you could look into obtaining accreditation via one of the CPD accreditation organisations. This would provide the external validation to enhance the credibility of your programs.

          All the best

          Keiran
          I'll look into it for sure. But I have made my mind as mentioned above.

          Your contribution was helpful.
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          Cheers!

          - Sana.

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    • Profile picture of the author SMworkcafe
      Originally Posted by MilesBaker View Post

      I would suggest proving your concept first before you take it to the next level. To start with why not create your own certificate. Then once you've proven your course to be successful you could then have your certificate approved by a clinic or hospital.

      Unless you're thinking the certificate aspect alone is going to be the make or break factor in your sales pitch, I would suggest waiting and implementing it after you've proven your concept with consistent sales.
      Thank you for your response and you are right.

      When starting out, I had this idea that I'll be giving out certification under my website's name but I had this 'hold a sec' moment, a month ago...

      In a skill set training, people would like to see some accreditation from a health care providing institution rather than a website where the content is not written by M.D/ M.S. or any health practitioner.
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      Cheers!

      - Sana.

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  • Profile picture of the author Regional Warrior
    The best thing to do is to contact the Local Gov Health Dept. there is not one person here on this forum tell you otherwise as this is a medical qualifications and only they can help you.
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    • Profile picture of the author SMworkcafe
      Originally Posted by Regional Warrior View Post

      The best thing to do is to contact the Local Gov Health Dept. there is not one person here on this forum tell you otherwise as this is a medical qualifications and only they can help you.
      Thanks for the response. And, I am in contact with some health practitioners working in the local decentralized health sector. However, the major concern for me is understanding the legal aspects of this whole process.
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      Cheers!

      - Sana.

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