If you have yet to read the Certification and Diploma courses (Part
1), please make sure to read it first. The certificates and diploma courses here
are referring to the private education institutes (PEIs) and private companies offering
certifications or diplomas that involve psychology/counselling knowledge.
Based on my past experience in researching about degrees, I
have become very wary especially it comes to certificates or diplomas, based on those issues already mentioned in Part 1. Thoughts that come to mind are often
about whether the courses can serve their purpose to provide the essential
information to the participants, and also probably help them in the future
careers. From my observation, a lot of courses often provide information (and
only information), with no real applied knowledge and/or any possible way
for the students to move forward in their careers, which is not really useful
for one’s education and career and probably a waste of money.
Here’s a 5 questions I would advise everyone to ask the
organisation/s or yourself before you sign up and enrol for the courses:
1)
Accreditation
According to Oxford dictionary, accreditation
is “(of a person, organization, or course of study) officially recognized or
authorized.”
Some private education institutes (PEIs) and private
companies might have mentioned that their certificates/diplomas are accredited.
The question that you should ask is:
Question 1: Which organisation, association or society is
accrediting the course?
For local diplomas and certifications, we need to check if
they are accredited by the major associations and societies that oversee
psychology, counselling, and social work in Singapore, i.e. Singapore
Psychological Society (SPS), Singapore Association for Counselling, and
Singapore Association of Social Workers. For the training pathways for
psychology, counselling and social work, please see: https://sgpsychstuff.blogspot.com/2016/09/training-pathways-psychology-counselling-socialwork.html
Do note that as of March 2020, Singapore Psychological
Society (SPS) do not accredit any psychology courses, diplomas, and
degrees. Hence if any trainers or sales executive promote their courses as
accredited or recognised by SPS (unless organised directly by SPS), it is false
advertising and I would advise you to write in to feedback@singaporepsychologicalsociety.org.
2)
Credibility of Trainers and
Lecturers
Question 2: Who are the trainer/lecturers, and their
credentials and experience?
It is always good to know who are conducting the trainings
and classes, and whether they have the knowledge and experience to conduct the
classes. I would recommend that you ask the organisations about the trainers,
and Google and LinkedIn are your “best friends” to do some basic search of the
trainers’ backgrounds.
It would be recommended that to check that the trainers have
completed at least postgraduate training in psychology or counselling, and years
of experience working in the relevant fields. We hear of courses conducted by
psychology undergraduate students and people who have done 3 days certification
courses doing courses. OMG!!! You wouldn’t want a medical student or unlicensed
doctor to treat you or to do an medical procedure, right?
'Dressed like a professor doesn't mean you are a real professor!'
3) Credentials progression
Question 3: Does the diploma allow you to move up to a
degree in psychology?
Some PEIs offer a psychology degree, other than only
diplomas, which are awarded from their respective overseas universities. Taking
the diploma and degree from the same PEI will allow some consistency in terms
of the modules that you take. But again, make sure that the degree is permitted
by CPE and accredited by Australian and British Psychology Societies! This was
previously mentioned in this post: https://sgpsychstuff.blogspot.com/2012/09/diplomas-offered-by-peis.html
4) Career Progression
Question 4: Does the certificate or diploma allow you to
progress in your career?
If you are starting your reply to this question with “I
think…”, it is obviously certain that you are not sure, and I would advise you
not to enrol in the course for the moment. ALWAYS check if the
certificate or diploma is accredited (as explained above) and recognised
by the industry or company that you are planning to work in. this is where
networking is so important. Make sure to check with those already in the
industry or your company if the certificate or diploma will be useful to help
you in your career.
Before I did my counselling framework certification, I also
did my own checks and inquiring before I decided to go through the
certification process from 2016 to 2018. I managed to change my job position in
2020 as a result of it! Read more about it here: https://sgpsychstuff.blogspot.com/2014/04/sgpsychstuds-reflections-psychology-career.html
5) Interest and Learning
Question/s 5: Why are you doing the course? What purpose
does it serve you, other than educational and career purposes?
Assuming you are not doing the courses for your education or
career purposes, then why are you doing the certificate or diploma? A common
answer some might gave is “for interest and self-learning”. Well done for
supporting Singapore government’s push for lifelong learning! However, how do
you know that the course is going to fulfil the learning that you wish to
achieve?
My recommendations:
- Do self-evaluation on your reasons/motivations for doing the course and objectives from doing the course (which is what you want to learn).
- Get the brochure and read the course objectives. All courses should have course/learning objectives. If the course brochure is missing, put down the brochure!
- Speak to the trainers, rather than the sales executives, on the course objectives, or what is going to be covered in the course. It is always best to hear it directly from the horse’s mouth.
- Just make sure you check the first two questions of accreditation and credibility as well!
- If what you are really getting is what you want, then it might be okay for you to do the course?
'Well, maybe something more realistic rather than a butterfly?'
Disclaimer: These recommended questions and guidance are
based on the personal and professional knowledge of SG Psych Stuff. Ultimately,
to enrol in which certificate/diploma course is purely of your own choice and
your decision, and SG Psych Stuff will not be liable for such decision of
enrolment or non-enrolment made, even if the abovementioned questions and guidance
aligned with your thought processes and decision making.
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