Issue 7 - June 2003

A non-traditional route to continuous education
Distance-learning CEUs and you
By Paul Powers, DC

The school bells didn’t stop ringing when you graduated from chiropractic college. Chiropractors must take continuing education courses as a requirement of relicensure in 48 states. Traditionally, that has meant that you had to travel to participate in onsite classroom instruction. Increasingly, however, you have the opportunity to obtain credit hours through distance-based learning.

Distance learning is either synchronous or asynchronous. Synchronous courses allow real-time interaction between the instructor and student, as well as between student. Teleseminars in which instructors and students are on a telephone conference call at the same time or are located in an Internet chat room are examples.

Asynchronous distance learning occurs when the student can access coursework at any time, without accessing the instructor or other students as the course is being taught.

A better option?
Which is better – face-to-face learning or distance-based learning? The Comparative Research Annotated Bibliography on Technology for Distance Education compiled by Thomas Russell at North Carolina State University suggests no significant difference. Another study has demonstrated that students learning via Internet courses actually scored higher on tests as compared to their counterparts who learned the same material in a traditional classroom.

DR’s & Distance learning
Medical doctors may obtain all of their continuing education requirements by way of distance-based learning. Distance-based learning for chiropractic physicians is newer, but is gaining acceptance by the state chiropractic regulatory boards.

The state boards of chiropractic examiners (in several states they are multidisciplinary State Boards) regulate continuing education requirements, which are legislatively mandated.

Some state chiropractic boards accept only traditional live classroom hours. But many chiropractic boards have applied the same test for approval of distance based learning programs that they do for traditional live programs, such as:

• The course must be sponsored by a chiropractic college or university that has standing with the CCE (Council on Chiropractic Education);

• The instructor must be on the postgraduate faculty;

• The topic or educational objectives must be consistent with the board rules; and

• The course must issue a certificate of completion.

Choosing a program
Some people are auditory learners and absorb information better in lecture format, while others are visual learners and absorb information better by reading. If you assess your learning style and decide it is appropriate for distance-based learning, you will find that this type of continuing education offers a number of benefits:

• Cost. Distance-based learning programs generally involve a lower cost by eliminating travel and the need to take time away from office and family.

• Time. Many distance based learning courses can be taken in smaller, more convenient time increments, rather than taking 12 hours all at once over two days.

• Information retention. Considering that the attention span of the average student drops considerable during a two-day, 12-hour program, the opportunity to take continuing education courses in increments of one hour certainly can lead to greater retention of the material presented.

Here are some things to consider when choosing a program:

• Topics. Look for areas of interest, keeping in mind the requirements your state may have in certain topic areas.

• Format. A variety of formats make the distance based learning program more appealing and you may choose one that meets your learning needs.

• Hours. The number of hours should meet your individual needs.

• Board approval. Be sure that the distance based learning program is approved for the type of credit you need in your state.

Will you have access to the instructor? How? The requirements for continuing education by state are listed on the next few pages, including whether or not online hours are accepted.

Paul Powers, DC, a graduate of National College of Chiropractic, has been in practice for 16 years. He has taught continuing education courses for 12 years. Dr. Powers is also the site editor of ChiroCredit.com, sponsored by the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic. He can be contacted through www.chirocredit.com.