For claim professionals, the scenario is always the same: swamped with claims, constantly on the road, barely keeping up with demands. And yet another demand lurks on the horizon: mandatory continuing education.

Indeed, for many, the certification deadline may be just ahead. They will need to travel and sit through one or more classes, all off the clock. Then, there is the nuisance of getting paperwork to state insurance departments by deadlines. In the meantime, they still are juggling demands of work.

In the last few years, more and more insurance professionals have turned to online resources for fulfilling some or all of their CE requirements. Today, approximately 25 percent of all professional training is conducted online. Its acceptance and application, particularly in the insurance arena, is growing.

Online Advantages

For those in the business of processing claims, work time is simply not their own. They cannot predict workloads or where they will be on any given day. When CE obligations roll around, therefore, it is difficult to commit to dates, drop everything, and pull themselves away for a day or more of class time.

Conversely, online training is always at the ready. With a laptop and an Internet connection (standard tools of the claim trade), adjusters are already equipped to take advantage of the online option. Plus, state insurance departments readily approve traditional as well as online courses.

Adjusters in 12 states now are required to fulfill CE credits, and some online providers answer this need with specially tailored courses. For adjusters in the other 38 states, easy access to job-specific, updated information can prove useful, too. Even in the absence of a state mandate, CE can help keep adjusters cognizant of the latest developments in their field.

Online training accommodates the time constraints faced by claim professionals in many ways:

Immediate Entry Let's say that a sudden lull occurs in claim activity and an adjuster has a window of opportunity in his schedule. With online learning, he can log onto a provider and start class right away. There is no need to register in advance or wait for class dates to roll around.
Paced Learning Even if interruptions arise while studying, online CE is flexible. Adjusters can jump in and out of course work any time. They simply save their sessions and return at their convenience to continue learning.
24-hour Access More likely, however, work life remains frenetic. Adjusters do not have to worry about clearing the decks for a weekday, 9-to-5 class. Online CE is available any time that they are free. If they prefer to train in the evening, after the children are asleep, or on quiet Sunday afternoons, that is entirely possible.
Last-minute Availability Even if adjusters never get breathers and find that their CE deadlines are only weeks away, online resources can help. Classes are never full and a course is always ready to begin. In addition, most providers will report exam results within 24 hours of completion.
Same-day Completion For adjusters who need to earn credits right away, it is possible to complete courses and take exams all in a single day.
Retakes What if an adjuster fails the exam the first time around? In the world of traditional training, this means re-registering, more time off the job, etc. With online CE, some sites extend unlimited retakes. The adjuster simply reviews the material at his convenience and retakes the exam when ready.

How it Works

State-specific CE courses now are easily accessible via the world's largest marketplace, the Internet. Simply enter the web address of a reputable provider and follow the instructions.

The first step is to register. Adjusters will need to supply basic information about themselves, their business affiliation, and payment method. They will receive an identification code and password for future use.

Next, it is time to choose courses from the site's course catalogue, which lists what is available for each state and how many credits can be earned. Before registering, adjusters should shop around and compare credits. Not all sites offer the same amount for the same courses.

Sites vary in their presentation of material. Courses usually feature a combination of on-screen text, audio instruction, interactive materials, and reference documents that can be printed. Sites allow users to move backward and forward through the information, and may offer summary questions for review.

Finally, take the tests. Learning and testing can be done all in the same session, or users can return to courses as often as they like before testing. The site will provide notice of passes and fails.

Not all online providers are created equal. There are gradations of support and return on the training-dollar investment. Some items to investigate include state approvals, credits per course, and user-friendliness.

Adjusters also should check for claim-specific curriculum. Beyond state requirements, does the site allow searches by license type? Does the site spell out specifically what each state requires in study hours and content? Does it list courses that fulfill individual requirements?

One way to judge course quality is by finding out who prepared the course content. What are the authors' credentials? Is content all produced by the same subject-matter generalists, or are authors considered experts in their fields? Aside from the vendor's own literature, who says that the site is credible? Look for unsolicited testimonials, industry-publication reviews, and third-party awards. A great CE site is willing to back up its promise of quality with a money-back guarantee.

To gauge the learning experience, take sample courses. Look for a variety of techniques including narration, graphics, video, and interactive features that can reinforce retention. Is the site easy to navigate? Can users stop and return mid-session?

The site's method of tracking credits also is important. Does the vendor facilitate tracking? Is it possible to set up personal accounts and enter course and exam data. Better still, will the vendor allow the recording of credits from all sources. Some may allow users to consolidate CE data going back several years and from different sources. This is a great way to build a single, online CE transcript.

In states that permit online reporting, will the site take responsibility for automatically notifying the state of exam results? This can be especially helpful, cutting out a step for busy claim professionals.

In the insurance business, the obligation for continuing education never goes away. Now, at least adjusters can minimize its impact on their schedules. Consider taking your next CE class online and see how you like it. Getting credits when the training is on your terms may prove to be ideal for a fast-paced work life.

Bruce MacMillian is president and CEO of CEU.com. He can be reached at bmacmillian@ceu.com.

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Continuing Education Without Continuing Headaches

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