In 2010, the National Board (NBBI) Training Department embarked on a significant journey to become an accredited provider of continuing education. Fifteen years later, we proudly reflect on our 13th year of accreditation and a program that continues to grow stronger.
But what does that mean for our learners?
Inspectors, supervisors, and certificate holders understand the importance of a quality program and the audit process. A strong quality program lays the foundation for producing reliable outcomes, ensuring clear procedures are followed and continuously reviewed. NBBI’s training accreditation operates on the same principle – except, in our case, the “product” is education.
Before pursuing accreditation, we lacked a structured internal quality program for our training. While our instructor-led courses had Bodies of Knowledge and Candidate Handbooks aligned with credentialing, there were no formalized processes for developing or delivering training content.
Frankly, it wasn’t until we examined our program through the lens of accreditation that we realized what we were missing.
That’s not to say we weren’t already doing many things correctly that were essential for accreditation. For example:
- We implemented a custom document management system for instructional materials, requiring secondary reviews and curriculum writer input before classroom use.
- We began transitioning exams into the training department to align test objectives with training topics. This was necessary to ensure continuity between training topics and exam objectives.
- Our inspection room was rapidly filling with equipment to offer hands-on learning opportunities.
However, one critical element had been overlooked: the learners themselves.
Through research into adult learning principles, we recognized that not all adults learn in the same way. Beyond traditional lectures, we needed to incorporate diverse teaching methods, such as small group workshops, hands-on activities, video demonstrations, question- and-answer sessions, and interactive exercises. To receive accreditation status, we had to take a closer look at how we were teaching, so that is exactly what we did.
We examined every course with a fresh perspective, asking, “What is the best delivery method for teaching this material?” We began incorporating varied learning methods into each course, tracking these changes, and gathering feedback from learners through surveys to refine our approach.
Another area of focus was how we provided feedback to our learners throughout a class. Were quizzes and homework review sessions built into the agenda to allow the instructors enough time to provide solid feedback? Did we need to find time for question-and-answer sessions on specific topics? Where could we offer more singular interaction with the instructors? Again, we were already doing many of these, but we had no process or procedure that required it to be done.
Accreditation also required a deeper investment in staff development. While our instructors brought decades of industry experience, we wanted to equip them with the tools to become strong educators. We had already added a curriculum writer and developer to assist in material development and to launch our online program. We launched a “train the trainer” program, requiring staff to participate in ongoing professional development. Department-wide training sessions now cover topics like presentation skills, exam writing, and instructional techniques.
After nearly two years of development, we submitted our Training Department Quality Program to the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). In May 2012, following an extensive review and an on-site audit, we earned accreditation as a provider of continuing education.
This allowed us to issue Continuing Education Units (CEUs), which are recognized by educational organizations and institutions across 19 countries. More importantly, it affirmed that our training program meets the highest standards – delivering quality education tailored to the needs of industry professionals.
Today, our commitment to quality training remains. Accreditation is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing improvement process renewed every five years.
Accreditation also is more than a credential – it’s a promise to our learners that we are dedicated to their success.