Toward Development of a Non-Credit Professional Education Certificate in Gerontology

The expected growth of the older adult population both nationally and locally over the next decade has prompted a need for more professionals who are trained in gerontology. Budget restraints and time constraints have directed professionals in need of training toward short term training which is relevant to working with older adult clientele. A national trend towards non-credit certification offers a new opportunity for expanding the offerings of the Gerontology Center. A national and Utah-wide search was conducted to determine the type of classes that are available, their time constraints and cost. The proposed non-credit professional development certificate is based on the outcome of this search, adult education theories, and consultation with the Division of Academic Outreach and Continuing Education at the University of Utah.