Beat the Continuing
Ed Bluesby
Diane Sadler, ACC
Activities Unlimited
Ever since it was founded,
NCCAP has helped assure that its
membership maintains high professional
standards. An important part of this
quality assurance is the renewal
requirement that all members engage in 30
clock hours of continuing education over
a period of two years.
How we view this requirement
will color our approach to the ongoing
project.
I would suggest we look at
this as an opportunity and not as an
obstacle to renewing our certification.
With that positive attitude, we can begin
to strive to “be all that we can
be,” as the old Navy slogan goes.
Plan in advance to try to
balance your educational credits to
include different areas of the NCCAP
“Body of Knowledge” which can
be accessed online at (http://www.nccap.org)
After you have looked at this, take some
time to do an inventory of your own
special talents and skills and your
knowledge.
How well are these serving
you? Review your job description and the
duties you are actually performing.
Identify strengths and weaknesses. Plan
to build on your strengths and look for
classes that will help you grow and
stretch and enhance the creative
individual that you already are!
Read new books such as
“Another Country: Navigating the
Emotional Terrain of Our Elders” by
Mary Pipher, Ph.D., and present an
overview of the information for a short
inservice or for a family night program.
Credit is also given when articles or
book reviews we write are published in
state or national activity newsletters or
professional journals.
When there are no community
colleges nearby, look for local
opportunities such as a hospice course or
night classes in photography or art at
the high school.
Also heed the suggestion of
Kathy Hughes to look for educational
opportunities online but make sure they
are pre-approved before enrolling.
Last, but not least, join
your local, regional and state and
national activity organizations! Solicit
the understanding and financial support
of your administrator by letting him/her
know the importance of these
organizations as providers of continuing
education opportunities. It is crucial
that administration know your continued
certification depends on you attending
meetings where programs can provide one
or two hours of credit. It is crucial
that administration supports your
attendance at state and/or national
conventions where you can receive as many
as 15 to 17 hours of credit. (If you are
a workshop presenter, you receive double
the credit given to students for that
session.)
Let administrators know that
it will be a great investment of time and
money to send you to conventions and
workshops because you will return with
renewed zest, enhanced job skills and a
storehouse of new ideas for programming
with your residents. When you return,
share your appreciation and your
enthusiasm with “the boss.” A
handwritten thank you note will impress!
File your signed copy of
attendance certificate with
administration or personnel. Make a copy
for NCCAP and put the original with your
own records.
Here is another practical
tip. If you itemize on your tax return
and you have paid for all or some
educational and travel expenses yourself,
you can deduct the cost of books,
subscriptions to professional magazines
and your professional certification and
membership fees. Keep receipts and
records to back up your claims.
All practicalities aside,
let’s start now to think about the
new things we want to learn because we
are so fortunate to be called to a career
where we are mandated to grow. Continuing
education is definitely an
opportunity—not an obstacle—as
we seek to renew our certification as
activity professionals. Go for it with
zest! NN
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