Continuing education (CE) and credentialing is the non-financial benefit in your employer toolbox that can help you attract and retain workers while improving the quality of your staff.
It has perhaps never been harder to hire health care staff than it is right now. Workers are in short supply, and employers must be competitive to attract and retain the best talent. Wages are an effective tool, but research shows that money alone won’t satisfy employees. Further,few employers have the means to compete for talent on salary and bonuses alone.
Allied health workers want to know their employer is invested in their future and willing to help them grow. Continuing education (CE) and credentialing is the non-financial benefit in your employer toolbox that can help you attract and retain workers while improving the quality of your staff.
What Is Non-financial Compensation?
According to Indeed, non-financial compensation refers to any employee compensation that doesn't involve cash and can include benefits such as:
- Professional development
- Flexible scheduling
- Sponsored memberships, such as to a health club or discount program, or paying for membership in a professional organization
- Recognition, such as awards and celebrations
What CE Is Available for Allied Health Professionals?
CE can take a few different forms depending on a professional’s interests and career goals. Most simply, CE is any additional educational program completed after a professional completes their entry-level education. Continuing education programs can include:
- Additional certification programs
- Certificate programs
- Standalone courses
The Benefits of Offering CE to Employees
CE Helps Allied Health Workers Stay Up to Date with Health Care Advances
Possibly more than most industries, health care is an ever-advancing field with new technologies and techniques emerging all the time. Once your employees complete their secondary education and get certified, how will they stay up to date? Continuing education is the best way for working allied health professionals to stay current on best practices and increase their skills.
Employees Feel More Loyalty and Engagement with Their Employer
Moving from job to job is increasingly common in today’s labor market. Developing engagement with employees is crucial to any good retention strategy. Employees who feel that their employer is invested in their success and career development are more likely to stay because they can envision themselves advancing within your organization, and they want to maximize opportunities for growth and development.
Continuous Learning Makes Employees More Effective
The most immediate benefit of sponsoring CE for your employees is the knowledge and skills they will bring to the job. By upskilling your team, you can allow them to take on more responsibility and trust that they are capable and confident to deliver high-quality care to patients.
CE Opportunities Offered Through AMT
AMT offers CE opportunities that allied health professionals can complete at their convenience, such as:
- STEP CE Articles: Allied health workers can take short exams based on educational articles and receive credits toward upholding their AMT standing
- REACH Certificates: Stackable credentials that represent a professional’s increased scope of skills
- Additional Certifications: Allied health workers can pursue additional certifications through work experience routes, making them even more valuable to you and the patients they serve
Interested in Offering CE to Your Staff?
Check out the AMT Learning Center and browse our catalog of courses and certificates.