Are all the continuing education programs approved?
Every independent study program listed on the DH Special Services site is approved through the National Certification Council of Activity Professionals (NCCAP). They can be used for your renewal CE hours. If you are certified by another certifying body – check with them to determine if the hours would be applicable toward that certification.
Do I have to be employed in a care community to take the course?
No, anyone can complete these programs – paid staff, volunteers, family members. If the topic is of interest or relevant to your life, feel free to sign up.
What materials are provided with the class?
Many of the programs are based on hard copy books. If so, these books are mailed to you. Other classes have materials available online. You can download the materials to your device and keep them.
How are the course materials sent to me?
If the program is based on a hard copy book, it is mailed to you via USPS priority mail. If the materials are stored online, they will be sent via a google classroom link.
How long do I have to complete the course?
There are no deadlines for course completion, but it is not good practice to allow completion to go beyond one year of obtaining the course.
If I already have the hard copy book that the course is based on – can I have a discount?
Yes, if you already own the book, course materials can be emailed to you. The cost of the book and postage would be discounted from the overall course fee.
How do I receive my certificate of completion?
All courses have a pre-test and a post-test, while some also have worksheets. Once those course documents are submitted to DH Special services, a scanned copy of the certificate will be emailed to you. A hard copy of the certificate will be sent via USPS.
How many continuing education hours can I gain from the courses?
Each course is approved for a different amount of hours. The approved hours are noted in the title of the course listing as well as the course description.
Some of the course materials are located in a Google Classroom – What is Google Classroom?
The Google Classroom is where some of the class materials are stored. The documents can be downloaded to your device and printed out.
Do I need a Gmail account to access the Google Classroom?
The Google Classroom can be accessed by most personal emails, not just Gmail. A work email may have difficulty accessing the classroom.
How do I submit coursework?
Completed coursework can be sent as PDF or word attachments via email or sent via USPS.
What do I do if I have questions?
The instructor is accessible via phone, text or email. All questions are answered quickly.
Can I share the program with a peer?
More than one person can complete the course but there is a fee for each additional participant. Email DH Special Services for rates for secondary participants.
Will I be certified when I complete the course?
The individual courses do not certify you. They provide information on a particular topic. You can apply the ce hours toward your existing NCCAP certification.