Society of Certified Senior Advisors - Frequently Asked Questions

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CSA Continuing Education

CSA Disclosure Statement

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Ethics Requirement Every Three Years

CE Courses and Professional Conferences

Do CE courses provided by other organizations count for CSA CE credits?
Do professional conferences count for CSA CE ethics credit?
How do I know if my state has approved the CSA CE ethics courses for Life and Health insurance CE?
How can I find the number of Life and Health insurance or Ethics CE hours I will receive in my state?
Can I get print copies of the CSA CE ethics courses to study them off-line?
What is the fee that is charged to me when I order a CSA CE ethics course?
There are a number of courses listed in WebCE's Course Catalog. Which ones are eligible for CSA CE credit?

Volunteering for Seniors

Group Presentations

General Questions

What is the CSA CE Program?
CSA CE is a requirement to recertify your SCSA membership every three years. It was originally established in 2004 by SCSA. Starting in 2008, the independent SCSA Certification Council oversees the CSA CE requirement. [Top]
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 helps CSAs increase their expertise in understanding and relating with seniors in a way that sets them apart from their competitors.

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. In 2008, the SCSA Certification Council also determined, after considering the scope of issues facing seniors and the frequency at which information is updated and expanded, that CSAs should recertify every three years. [Top]
When did the program start?
January 1, 2004. [Top]
What does the CSA CE Program involve?
The CSA CE Program involves continuing education through a variety of ways, including ethics education on topics directly related to seniors' needs, CE conferences on topics related to seniors, and hands-on volunteer work for organizations and causes that serve seniors. http://www.csa.us/CSA-CE-Requirements.aspx [Top]
What am I required to do?
You must complete 18 CSA CE credits every three years in order to recertify your SCSA membership for the fourth year. Three of these 18 credits must be in ethics, and must be earned by completing the online module The CSA's Role, Rules and Responsibilities (the CSA Code of Professional Responsibility) for each three-year period. For CSAs who designated prior to 2004: your three-year period starts in 2004 in your anniversary month, and you have until the end of your anniversary month in 2007 to complete 18 CSA CE credits. For example: a CSA who was designated in May 2004 has until May 31, 2007 to earn 18 CSA CE credits. [Top]
Is there any cost to me?
Tuition for the CSA CE ethics courses is offered to members at no charge. CSA CE ethics courses (except for the Critical Issues in Aging series)are approved for CFP, CPE, PACE and in many states for Life and Health (L&H) Insurance CE. Members may request this additional CE credit. An administrative fee will be charged to register you for additional CE, and state filing fees may apply. [Top]
How do I register for the CSA CE ethics courses?
You may register for the CSA CE ethics courses at WebCE’s Web site: http://csa.webce.com. [Top]
Where will I take the CSA CE ethics courses?
On the Internet - at the same Web site where you registered for them: http://csa.webce.com. You’ll be able to complete the courses when and where you want, so they fit into your schedule. You also have the option to print or order the course as a "book." [Top]
How many CSA CE credits does each CSA CE ethics course give?
Each of the following optional CSA CE ethics courses offered online at WebCE earns six CSA CE credits: Ethics in Selling to Seniors, Maximizing Integrity in Decisions with Seniors, and Effective and Ethical Communication with Seniors. In addition, you may earn 3 CSA CE credits for each of the three optional Critical Issues In Aging courses for a total of 9 credits. You may choose to complete a course all at one time, or take a course in sections of time. Also, you may re-test as many times as you like. As another option, you may also take CE courses from other providers for CSA CE credit, as long as these courses meet the criteria for CSA CE credit. To see the criteria, click on: http://www.csa.us/CSA-CE-Requirements.aspx

You may register for any of the optional CSA CE ethics courses, including Critical Issues In Aging, at www.csa.webce.com

The SCSA Certification Council places a special value and focus on the importance of ethics in working effectively with seniors and encourages CSAs to seek out CE courses related to ethics. Because of the Council's strong belief in the value of continuing exposure to ethical concepts and principles, CSAs may repeat any SCSA ethics course for CSA CE credit. Ethics courses may not be repeated within the same 3-year recertification cycle. [Top]
Can I earn Life and Health insurance CE for the CSA CE ethics courses– or CFP, CPE and PACE credits?
Yes, with the exception of the Critical Issues in Aging series. [Top]
What do the CSA CE ethics courses cover?
The CSA CE ethics courses cover real-to-life situations that illustrate the challenges of making ethical decisions, as well as selling and communicating ethically, when serving seniors. The Critical Issues in Aging courses discuss some of the ethical aspects of topics introduced in the CSA Course, such as advance directives, reverse mortgages and caregiving.[Top]
How will I be graded for my CSA CE ethics courses?
Grading for the CSA CE ethics classes is pass/fail. A passing score is 70% or more correct answers. Each ethics class has a multiple-choice online exam. The Critical Issues in Aging courses each have a short, open book quiz, passing score 100%. In all cases, you will receive your grade online, immediately after you complete your test or quiz.[Top]
If I don’t receive a passing score on my test or quiz, how soon can I re-test?
You may re-test online as soon as you wish. [Top]
Why is there a volunteering aspect to the CSA CE Program?
Volunteering expands the CSA’s first-hand knowledge of the challenges seniors face, and the number and type of organizations that are available to assist seniors. This knowledge and experience enhances the CSA’s ability to advise senior clients. [Top]
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

You may also do a keyword search on the Internet through Google, Yahoo or other search engine. Use keywords such as senior, center, volunteer and the name of your city and/or state. [Top]
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 satisfaction and fulfillment of giving of your self, time and talents. [Top]
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 directly with seniors or in support of seniors, it counts. [Top]
How many CSA CE credits will volunteer work for senior-service organizations 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. The maximum number of credits allowed for volunteering is 9.[Top]
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. We 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.) [Top]

Ethics Requirement Every Three Years

What is the ethics requirement every three years?
The ethics requirement for all members is 3 CSA CE ethics credits every three years. To meet this requirement, CSAs must complete The CSA's Role, Rules and Responsibilities online module during each three-year recertification cycle. This module covers the CSA Code of Professional Responsibility and SCSA Membership Rules; and has an open book quiz, passing score 100%. You may retake the quiz as often as you like until you successfully pass it. There is no additional charge for this module. [Top]
Can I substitute another ethics CE course for this requirement?
No. You may not substitute other ethics CE courses for this requirement.[Top]

CE Courses and Professional Conferences

Do CE courses provided by other organizations count for CSA CE credits?
Yes. Click on http://www.csa.us/CourseProviders.aspx to see a description of these courses and organizations. [Top]
Do professional conferences count for CSA CE credit?
Yes, click on http://www.csa.us/CourseProviders.aspx to see a description of the conferences that are eligible for CSA CE credit.[Top]
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. [Top]
How can I find the number of Life and Health insurance or Ethics CE hours I will receive in my state for a CSA CE ethics course?
Go to www.csa.webce.com and click "Yes" to request L&H CE. This will display WebCE’s Course Catalog. The number of CE hours will be listed with the CSA CE course for L&H and Ethics, if applicable. [Top]
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. Additional fees for books and shipping will apply. [Top]
What is the fee that is charged to me when I order a CSA CE ethics course?
The CSA CE ethics courses are free of any fees when the courses are taken for CSA CE credit only. If you want to also receive state Life and Health insurance CE and/or state Ethics 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 from WebCE. [Top]
There are a number of courses listed in WebCE's Course Catalog. Which ones are eligible for CSA CE credit?
Any of the courses in the WebCE catalog that meet the CSA CE criteria listed at http://www.csa.us/CSA-CE-Requirements.aspx are eligible for CSA CE credit.[Top]

Volunteering for Seniors

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. 100. [Top]
Is volunteering required to earn CSA CE credit?
No. Volunteering for seniors is not required. You may choose to earn CSA CE credits in a number of ways. To see a list of your CSA CE options, click: http://www.csa.us/CSA-CE-Requirements.aspx.[Top]
Am I required to report my volunteering hours to SCSA?
No, but SCSA randomly audits members’ volunteering records. You must document the following information:
• Name of the senior-service organization or community cause
• 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.) [Top]
Must I have the senior organization sign off on my volunteer work?
No. You must only document the information listed in Question 3 above.[Top]

Group Presentations

How do I get CSA CE credit for presentations I make to groups?
Fill out a request form for pre-approval of your presentation and email or fax it to the SCSA Certification Manager, Janice Moore, at , fax 303-757-7677. Attach a topic outline of your presentation and any other relevant materials to your e-mail. Your request will be reviewed by the SCSA Certification Council within 7 - 14 days and Janice will email you a reply immediately after the Council's review. [Top]
How much CSA CE credit is allowed for group presentations?
You will receive 1 CE credit for each presentation to a different audience, up to a maximum of 6 CSA CE credits in each 3-year recertification period. The maximum of 6 CSA CE credits applies whether the presentations are on the same topic or multiple topics. [Top]