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Frequently Asked Questions
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Following are answers to questions members
have asked since the CSA Continuing Education (CSA CE) program
was announced in CSA Success, February 2004 (Vol. 2, No. 1):
Please note: Additional questions
and answers that were published February 1, 2004, follow this
set of most recent questions.
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| CSA CE Ethics Courses |
| CSA CE Volunteering for Seniors |
CSA CE Ethics Courses
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Do courses
provided by other organizations count for CSA CE credits?
No. Only courses sponsored by SCSA and offered through WebCE
will qualify for CSA CE credits.
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Why don’t
other courses count for CSA CE credit?
The sheer number of CE courses on the market makes it impossible
for us to verify that the quality of their content, which varies
widely, meets SCSA’s specialized requirements. To our knowledge,
no other CE courses have the same focus we do. We are unique
and that is the value of the CSA designation.
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How do
I know if my state has approved the CSA CE ethics courses for
Life and Health insurance CE?
Go to www.csa.webce.com
and click "Yes, I want L&H CE" to display WebCE’s
Course Catalog. If your state has approved the CSA CE course,
it will be listed in the catalog. If the course is not listed
for your state, it is still in the approval process.
- How can I find the number
of Life and Health insurance CE hours I will receive in my state?
Go to www.csa.webce.com
and click "Yes, I want L&H CE" to display WebCE’s
Course Catalog. If the current CSA CE course, Ethics in Selling
to Seniors, has been approved by your state, the number of CE
hours will be listed with the course.
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Can I get
print copies of the CSA CE ethics courses to study them off-line?
Yes. You can print hard copies of the ethics courses on your
own printer, or you may order course "books" from
WebCE. Each course book costs $2, plus a shipping and handling
fee of $7.50. WebCE will invoice you directly.
- What is the fee that is
charged to me when I order a CSA CE ethics course?
The CSA CE ethics courses are completely free of any fees only
if these courses are taken for CSA CE credit. If you want to also
receive Life and Health insurance CE for completing the CSA CE
ethics courses, you will be charged an administrative fee. The
administrative fee is $19.95 per course plus state filing fees,
if any. The administrative fee is the same whether you order a
CSA CE course individually, or as one of a "bundle"
of CE courses. The states with additional filing fees are:
Connecticut • $5 per course
North Carolina • $1 per credit hour
Pennsylvania • $5.75 per course
Massachusetts • 50 cents per credit hour
Maryland • 70 cents per credit hour
New Hampshire • $2 per credit hour
Vermont • 80 cents per credit hour
Michigan • $1 per credit hour
Ohio • $1 per credit hour
West Virginia • $1.75 per credit hour
Please be aware that state fees can change
at any time.
CSA CE Volunteering for Seniors
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There are
a number of courses listed in WebCE's Course Catalog. Which
ones are approved for CSA CE credit?
Currently, the course entitled Ethics in Selling to Seniors
in WebCE's Course Catalog is the only one approved for CSA CE
credit. Two more CSA CE ethics classes are planned to be added
to WebCE's Course Catalog; each of them will be worth 6 CSA
CE credits. You can find a list and description of CSA CE ethics
classes available through WebCE on the "CSA CE Ethics Classes"
page, under CSA Continuing Education on SCSA's home page: www.society-csa.com.
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How do
I know if a volunteering activity qualifies for CSA CE credit?
Please refer to the Volunteering
Guidelines to determine if a volunteer opportunity qualifies
for CSA CE credit. If you still have questions, contact SCSA
at 1-800-653-1785, ext. 203.
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Is it required
to earn CSA CE credit through volunteering for seniors?
No. Volunteering for seniors is not required. You may choose
to complete the entire 18 CSA CE credits by completing the on-line
CSA CE ethics courses through WebCE:
www.csa.webce.com.
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Am
I required to report my volunteering hours to the Society?
No, but SCSA will randomly audit members’ volunteering
records. You must document the following information:
• Name of the senior-service organization
• Name of your contact person (and job title, if any)
• Contact person’s phone number and e-mail address
• Dates and times you performed the volunteer work
• Work you did by writing a short description – one
or two sentences
An easy-to-use tracking form is provided
for this purpose: Record Your
CSA CE Volunteer Hours for Seniors. (This form is a PDF
file. You must have Adobe Acrobat
Reader in order to view this file.)
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Must I
have the organization sign off on my CSA CE volunteer work?
No. You must only document the information listed in Question
10 above.
- What is the CSA CE Program?
CSA CE is a requirement for membership renewal every three years.
- Why did SCSA establish the
CSA CE Program?
Top professional organizations work to continually develop the
abilities and effectiveness of their members. That’s what
the CSA CE Program does. It will help CSAs increase their expertise
in understanding and relating with seniors in a way that sets
them apart from their competitors -- and enhances their prestige
and credibility.
With the CSA CE Program, our members join
the ranks of certified public accountants and financial planners,
doctors, lawyers and other distinguished professionals who must
complete continuing education requirements to renew their certifications
or licenses, signifying they continue to deserve the public’s
trust in their specialized knowledge and skills.
- When does the program start?
January 1, 2004.
- What does the CSA CE Program
involve?
The CSA CE Program is a combination of hands-on volunteer work
for organizations that serve seniors, and on-line CSA CE ethics
classes. Members may choose to complete their entire CSA CE requirement
in CSA CE ethics.
- What am I required to do?
You must complete 18 CSA CE credits every three years in order
to renew your Society membership for the fourth year. Your three-year
period starts in 2004 in your anniversary month, and you have
until the end of your anniversary month in year three to complete
18 CSA CE credits.
For example: starting in 2004, a CSA whose designation
anniversary is May 22 has until May 31, 2007 to earn 18 CSA CE
credits.
- Is there any cost to me?
Tuition for the CSA CE ethics classes is offered to members at
no charge. As CSA CE ethics classes are approved for CFP, CPE,
PACE and Life and Health (L&H) Insurance CE, members may request
CE credit. An administrative fee will be charged by the provider,
WebCE, to register CE.
- How do I register for the
CSA CE ethics classes?
You may register for on-line CSA CE ethics classes at WebCE’s
Web site: http://csa.webce.com.
- Where will I take the ethics
classes?
On the Internet -- at the same Web site where you registered for
the CSA CE ethics classes: http://csa.webce.com.
You’ll be able to complete the classes when and where you
want, so they fit into your schedule.
- How many CSA CE credits
does each ethics class give?
Each ethics class earns six CSA CE credits. You may choose to
complete a class all at one time, or take a class in sections
of time.
- Can I earn Life and Health
insurance CE for the CSA CE ethics classes – or CFP, CPE
and PACE credits?
Yes.
- What do the CSA CE ethics
classes cover?
TThe CSA CE ethics classes cover real-to-life situations that
illustrate the challenges of making ethical decisions, as well
as selling and communicating ethically, when serving the specialized
needs of seniors.
- Why is there a volunteering
aspect to the CSA CE Program?
Volunteering will expand the CSA’s first-hand knowledge of
the challenges seniors face – and the number and type of
organizations that are available to assist them. This knowledge
and experience will enhance the CSA’s ability to advise senior
clients.
- How will I find senior organizations
if I choose to volunteer?
Click on the Internet links below:
• Volunteers of America (VOA) - http://www.voa.org
• Points of Light and Volunteer Center National Network -
http://www.pointsoflight.org
• Volunteer Match - http://www.volunteermatch.org
- Do I have to have prior
approval before selecting a volunteer task?
No. We trust the judgment of CSAs to find worthy organizations
and tasks that serve seniors. However, you are strongly encouraged
to choose opportunities that allow you to help seniors directly.
Remember, your purpose is to increase your awareness and understanding
of seniors’ needs, as you experience the fulfillment of giving
of your self, time and talents.
- I’m currently a volunteer
for my church. We make meals and take them to nursing homes. Will
this activity count toward my CSA CE requirement?
As long as you’re working for an organization as a volunteer
with seniors, it counts.
- How many CSA CE
credits will volunteer work for senior charities give me?
It’s a straight one-to-one ratio. You’ll receive one
hour of CSA CE credit for one hour of volunteer work.
- How will my volunteer
hours be reported?
You must track the number of volunteer hours you work, including
dates, times, names of the senior service organizations and individual
contact names. The Society will randomly audit CSAs’ volunteer
records every year, similar to how other professional organizations
verify their members’ CE activities. An easy-to-use tracking
form is provided at this Web site for your convenience: Record
Your CSA CE Volunteer Hours for Seniors. (This form
is a PDF file. You must have Adobe Acrobat
Reader in order to view this file.)
- How will I be graded
for my CSA CE ethics classes?
Grading is done only for the CSA CE ethics classes on a pass/fail
basis. A passing score is 70% or more correct answers. Each ethics
class has a multiple-choice on-line exam. You will receive your
grade on-line, immediately after you complete your test.
- If I don’t
receive a passing score on my ethics test, how soon can I re-test?
You may re-test on-line as soon as you wish.
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