While the demand for bite-sized information remains high, what are your options if you’re ready for the main course?

OEHS professionals studying to obtain a credential or who want to deepen their knowledge within a specific area can benefit from longer-form, instructor-led online training.

These types of courses aren’t new, but as we grow more accustomed to managing our day-to-day virtually, spending a half or full day on training online has proven not only convenient, but effective.

Virtual professional development courses (PDCs) are a great example of this trend in action. This autumn, AIHA University will host a week of virtual PDCs from Nov. 8 through 12 covering core OEHS topics like exposure assessment, risk assessment, leadership, ethics, and strategies for building an EHS business case.

Here are just some of the benefits of attending a virtual PDC:

Deepen Your Knowledge

If you want to take your general understanding of a topic further or are deciding where to specialize, these courses are for you. Erin Breece, AIHA’s Program Director of Education, explains, “Professional development courses have remained popular with professionals who are interested in expanding their skill set. At the end of the day, attendees leave with practical tools they can use in their day-to-day work.”

Get Interactive

Virtual PDCs go beyond your traditional webinar format, offering attendees the chance to get involved via group exercises and discussion, in addition to live demonstration from OEHS industry experts.

We asked some of this year’s Virtual PDC Week instructors how they plan to keep attendees engaged in a virtual setting. Georgi Popov, QEP, CSP, ARM, SMS, CMC, FAIHA, shared, “I would characterize the course delivery option as ‘virtual live’ mode. There is no big difference between an in-person live class and virtual live class. We will cover the same course materials. Discussion, interactive exercises, and group activities are all part of the course. We will also provide an interactive Excel-based tool.”

Save Time and Money

This one’s obvious, but we have to say it. Taking your training online means less time traveling, and less money spent while out and about. When faced with a packed schedule, it’s much more doable to clear your calendar for just half a day or even one day.

At just $200 for a half-day course at the member rate, you won’t break the bank either. To add even more value, AIHA provides a recording of the course to all attendees so they can play back portions they’d like to revisit.

The flexibility and convenience of attending a course online is undeniable. And as virtual delivery methods continuously improve, it’s clear that online learning is here to stay.

If you’re interested in learning more about the new courses added to AIHA University’s Virtual PDC Week, visit us here.