By Bonnie Prater
WSIA Training Coordinator

September 2009

Hello Members!

In my last column, I covered the Fall training programs pretty extensively so I won’t do that again this month. I do want to let you know that the Upcoming Training Programs and Conferences webpage has been updated so a visit to the following link should help you plan what you want to attend this program year.  http://www.wsiassn.org/public/training_programs_upcoming.html

There is another new addition to our website…a Training Flow Chart.  This chart shows the course offerings in the order we recommend they be taken.  I hope this is a helpful tool.  Here is a link to the flow chart for your convenience: http://www.wsiassn.org/documents/Training_Path_Flowchart_Aug09.pdf

I am in the process of developing four additional advanced webinars which will be held between February and June.  Most of the topics/presenters are set, but if you have any ideas for topics or presenters, please send me an email at bonnie.prater@wsiassn.org.

Lastly, I get a lot of emails from members regarding continuing education credits for certified claims administrators.  Just in case there are others with the same questions, here are a few key points that should eliminate some confusion:

Q:  How are courses approved for credits?

A:  Courses are reviewed and awarded credit by the Curriculum Review Committee.  The Committee meets on the first Thursday of each month to review submissions.  Submissions must be received by the Department by the 20th of the month prior to the meeting in order to be timely.  The Committee members review the submission according to set criteria and come to agreement regarding the number and type of credits to be awarded.  We are usually notified of the credits awarded about two weeks after the meeting.  That information is then posted on the Department’s website.  (Sometimes it is posted before we are informed).   Here is a link to the Accredited Courses table:    http://www.lni.wa.gov/ClaimsIns/Files/SelfIns/AccreditedCourses.xls

Q:  Why aren’t all the training programs and conferences approved for credit in advance of the event?

A:  We do try but this is difficult given submission requirements and the time frames involved.  All the course materials (slides, handouts, agenda, speaker bios, etc.) have to be included with the CEC submission and it must be at the Department by the 20th of the month prior to the Curriculum Committee meeting.  So in order to have the credit information a month in advance of the event, the materials would have to be in final form and delivered to the Department almost 2 months in advance of the event.  This is almost impossible unless it is a well-established class with few changes because the materials are rarely in their final forms that far in advance of an event.  This is even more difficult with conferences because of the number of presenters and the fact that we rarely get the materials until a couple weeks before the event. We do our best but advance credit awards are difficult to obtain.

Q:  Can you estimate the number of credits a course will receive?

A:  No

Q:  Where do I find the course ID number assigned to a CEC approved course?

A:  These are noted on the Department’s Accredited Courses spreadsheet (see link in the first answer, above).

Q:  What form do I use to submit my CECs prior to my certification expiration date?

A:  Use the Self-Insurance Continuing Education Report of Course Completion form which is on the Department’s website.  Here is a link to the form:         http://www.lni.wa.gov/FormPub/Detail.asp?DocID=2265

Hope this information is helpful.  Take care.

That’s all for now…until October…

Bonnie Prater

WSIA Training Coordinator

bonnie.prater@wsiassn.org

Posted 8 September 2009

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