Continuing education: how much & what type?

Abstract

A representative sampling of practitioners indicated journal reading, textbooks and informal contact with colleagues as preferred forms of continuing education. Meetings and short courses are widely attended, though some of these can be criticized for lack of relevancy to practice, problem-solving interchange, and ability to assess improving competence. These forms of CE also require considerable expenditure of time and money, and in some areas they are not readily available. The time and money involved probably account for a return to school being unpopular, despite its being acknowledged as one of the best types of CE. Closed circuit TV and videotape may become more widely used as access to them becomes easier. More than half of those surveyed favored mandatory CE requirements being tied to periodic license renewal, a significant shift in attitude compared to only a decade or so ago. The majority opinion appears to be that if we don't take appropriate steps to ensure our competence, some government agency will.