5 Ways For Financial Professionals To Get CE
- Obtain an Advanced Degree
- Get Official Certification
- Take Individual Courses
- Branch Out Into Other Subjects
- Look Into Career Development Resources
Finance professionals are often required to undertake continuing education (CE). Even if CE is not required to obtain or keep licensure, it is beneficial for success in nearly every position. These are the options financial professionals have for continuing their education throughout their careers.
1. Obtain An Advanced Degree
Advanced degrees are one of the most obvious options for continuing education. A professional who only holds a bachelor’s degree can get a master’s degree. A master’s degree holder can go back to school for a PhD. This is not the right solution for everyone but it can be a way to become qualified for new positions. This can be through promotion or for other roles outside a company. Some companies require financial employees to have advanced degrees for certain positions and may even pay at least some of the tuition as an employee benefit.
2. Get Official Certification
There are a number of official certifications available for finance professionals. Accountants can obtain the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation. Other financial professionals can become a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP). A CTP demonstrates professional knowledge and competency in financial matters. Financial advisors can earn the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation which can increase their job outlook and professional image with clients. Financial professionals who obtain these certifications are often required to abide by codes of ethics put in place by the issuing organizations. The costs to become certified may be paid by employers in some cases.
3. Take Individual Courses
If earning a new degree is not relevant to a situation, taking individual courses is a great alternative. These courses can be offered online from qualified professionals or organizations. They can also be taught in-person or online through colleges and universities. Courses taught by accredited organizations are usually given more weight than courses offered by other sources, although they can all be useful. Courses can focus on specific financial subjects such as:
- financing construction
- financial markets
- technology-related financial topics and more
4. Branch Out Into Other Subjects
Financial professionals often need to understand other aspects of business to do their jobs most effectively. Other useful subjects include:
- marketing
- human resources
- management and more
Industry-specific knowledge about the field in which the professional works is also a good investment. Writing is a good skill to improve for financial professionals of all kinds. It’s essential for those who wish to publish their work. Publishing things like articles, books and blog posts on money-related matters counts towards CE credits according to the Association for Financial Professionals.
5. Look Into Career Development Resources
Financial professionals are also well-served by learning about other areas of career development. Doing so will make them more versatile employees who can get the most out of their careers. Examples of career development topics that are worth learning about include:
- time management
- resume building
- networking
- other key skills
These can be learned from:
- various courses
- webinars
- books
- mentors
- other sources
There are numerous career advice blogs and websites offering helpful information to employees no matter their role or their field.
Learning new theories, techniques and information is necessary for professionals of all kinds. For those working in the financial field, CE is usually necessary to maintain legally-mandated licenses required for work. There are many options for finance professionals to engage in continuing education efforts.
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