What Steps Do I Take to Earn the CSA Designation Through Online Study?

To earn the CSA designation and join a respected international organization of professionals dedicated to serving seniors ethically and effectively, simply follow these steps:

1. Complete the application process for the CSA Designation Program - the:
   • CSA Information Profile
   • Disclosure Questionnaire
     
     The questionnaire is both a screening tool and an acknowledgement of an applicant’s agreement to comply with the CSA Code of Professional Responsibility and SCSA Membership Rules once the designation is earned.
     
2. Be reviewed, evaluated for acceptance, and accepted by SCSA as a student in the CSA Designation Program.
   
3. Complete the four components of the CSA Education.
   
   Component I
   Four online courses with short open book, multiple choice exams (6-10 hours total).
   • The Critical Issues in Aging series -- three courses and exams, ten questions each:

     Health. Supporting Seniors’ Personal Health Care Decisions
     Financial. A New Approach to the Challenge of Financing Longer Life
     Social. Quality Caregiving: Making Ethical Choices Throughout Life

     Purpose: to introduce ethical aspects of topics covered in the CSA Designation Program
     
   • The CSA’s Role, Rules and Responsibilities – one course and exam, 20 questions.

     Purpose: to cover the topics listed below and obtain students' signature on the CSA Code of Professional Responsibility --

     • Definition of the ethical and functional nature of the CSA's role
     • The CSA Code of Professional Responsibility
     • SCSA Membership Rules

   Components II and III
   The CSA textbook, Working with Seniors: Health, Financial, and Social Issues and the Participant Workbook review questions (pre-test), 20-25 hours of pre-class study.

   Component IV
   The CSA Designation Program and Exam.

   The Professional Interview
   Complete a Professional Interview with a professional in a field outside of yours who works directly with seniors, and submit a short written report of it to SCSA (a minimum of 900 words of original text).

4. Acknowledge understanding of and agree to comply with the CSA Code of Professional Responsibility and the SCSA Membership Rules by signing the Acknowledgment and Acceptance Form and submitting it to SCSA.
   
5. Pass the closed book, proctored CSA Designation Exam with a score of 70% or better.
   
6. Be designated a CSA by SCSA.

Important! You must successfully complete all of these steps within six months from your enrollment date (the course expiration date).

Fees

The Online option is currently $1,195.

The Online Plus option, which includes CDs with videos of CSA faculty and PowerPoint presentations, is $1,295.

Tuition for the online programs may be paid in five installments, including an initial down payment of $350. Call us toll-free for details at 800-653-1785.

Our guarantee. We have complete confidence in the value of the CSA Designation Program because we know it works. You can be confident in it as well. If you aren’t satisfied with the CSA Designation Program, we will refund your tuition minus an $85 cancellation fee when you return materials within three months of purchase.