Bogus Online Schools and Certificates 

By Danni R.

When It Comes To Vocational Training Consumer Beware!

Everybody who has goals in life knows that they need education and training to achieve them. However, busy people with full-time jobs, at-home moms, and those living in remote areas don't always have the time, or the resources to go back to school to begin their new career path. Instead, they seek out web-based courses that are held entirely online to supplement their education, or get their vocational training hoping to start a better life.

Many wouldn't think twice about taking a medical assisting, medical laboratory technology, and surgical technology programs held completely online.However, when it comes to vocational training, especially in the healthcare industry where theory combined with hands on clinical skills are a must prospecive online learners in medical assisting programs must be reminded to think twice.

Awareness and Caution

Awareness and caution is always good policy to make the right choices when it comes to online education. Just because a program offers a certificate, diploma, or degree for a fee (via PayPal) doesn't automatically mean it is the right program to learn the trait, or worse: legit.

A Warning about Diploma Mills!!!

Vocational education prepares learners for careers that are based in manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic occupations or vocations. It is sometimes referred to as technical education, as the learner directly develops expertise in a particular group of techniques or technology. If a website promises vocational training completely online to earn a diploma, or degree in just 6-8 weeks, or become a healthcare professional ready to hit the workforce without additional training, or an internship -- then consumer beware!

Definitions:

1. Accreditation mill. "Accreditation mill" means an entity that is created to give the appearance that certain substandard schools or institutions of higher education are legitimately accredited organizations, that is not recognized by any authorized state, professional or national agency and that has few, if any, standards for quality.

2. Diploma mill. "Diploma mill" means an institution of higher
education operating without accreditation or supervision of a state or a nationally recognized professional agency and granting diplomas that are either fraudulent or, because of lack of proper standards, worthless.

3. Bogus Certificates. A paper imprinted "Certificate of Completion or Award of Excellence" in gold letters suitable for framing from a diploma mill or gray area program online - which is not worth the paper it is printed on.