Center on
Aging Studies
at the University of Missouri-Kansas City
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the differences among certification, credentialing, and certificate?
Why a certificate in gerontology and not a degree?
Do I have to have a degree to enroll?
What does the practicum entail?
Do you have to be in a degree program?
What can I do after I get a gerontology certificate?
No trend in the last 100 years has had greater impact on the nature of social and political life than the dramatic demographic shifts reflected in the following:
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The population of persons aged 65 and over increased from 3 million in 1900 to 33.2 million in 1994. This will reach 50 million by 2020. |
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The average life expectancy increased from 47 in 1900 to 76 in 1995. |
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In 1900 fewer than 1 in 10 persons is over 55 years, now 1 in 5 is over 55 years. |
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The median age of the U.S. population increased from 18 years in 1900, to 28 years in 1970, to 33 in 1990, and is expected to peak at 43 years in 2040. |
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Missouri and Kansas rank among states having the highest proportion of elderly. |
The implications for higher education
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A large-scale need for persons educated and trained to provide health and social services for the older population. |
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Increasing need for continuing education programs to update knowledge and skills for those already working with older people. Projected trends of careers as longevity increases will require further education. |
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Age sensitivity must increase as our population of late entry, re-entry, graduate, and continuing-education students grows. All students will need a heightened awareness of the implications of our aging population. |
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The evolution of public policy related to aging is dependent on the education and research from the institutions of higher learning. |
WHAT
IS A GERONTOLOGIST?
Literally the word translates from the Greek as the study of (logy) elders
(gero). In our current usage it refers to someone engaged in the study
of aging processes and individuals as they grow from middle age through
later life. It includes the study of physical, mental, and social changes
in older people as they age, the investigation of the changes in society
resulting from our aging population, and the application of this knowledge
to policies and programs. Because of the multidisciplinary focus of gerontology,
professionals from many different fields call themselves "gerontologists."
Geriatrics is a more specific term that refers to the study of health and disease in later life and the health care of older persons. It applies to such fields as medicine, dentistry, nursing, and pharmacy. Physicians, for example, may specialize in geriatric medicine.
WHAT
ARE THE DIFFERENCES AMONG CERTIFICATION, CREDENTIALING, AND CERTIFICATE?
Sometimes, people confuse a certificate with the terms, certifying or
credentialing that are used in some professions.
Credentials commonly refer to the initials that appear behind one's name. These represent one's educational attainment or licensure, such as Social Work, Registered Nurse or Masters of Arts. Credentialing acknowledges a title, some credit or testimonial showing that a person is entitled to credit or the right to exercise an official power. One example is a nursing home administrator. In Kansas, for example, an individual wishing to become a licensed administrator must fulfill 480 contact hours with prescriptive criteria and objectives in a nursing home to be an eligible applicant for the licensure examination. Once the hours are fulfilled and the exam passed the state and national standards, the individual is licensed and then has the right to serve as an administrator. Updating that knowledge base and skills is also part of maintaining that credential and is done through continuing education.
Certification implies a process where there is a training or education through which one develops skills and a specific body of knowledge. This often culminates in an examination, after passing which an individual is awarded a credential, license, and usually the right or privilege to deliver a specific service or use particular skills. These rights are maintained by required hours of continuing education in that specific field of study and oversight and licensure through a credentialing board or governing body, usually at the state level.
A certificate may be used to prove that a course of study has been completed. In our case a certificate is awarded to individuals who complete 18 hours of course work and practicum experience within the gerontology program. It is NOT the equivalent of a "certification" process. There is NO licensure or culminating examination given by the university, state or a national governing or credentialing body. There is no subsequent required continuing education. So while at the conclusion of the Gerontology Certificate Program you have gained specialized knowledge and there are examinations within these courses, one is NOT a "certified" gerontologist. Rather, one has a gerontology certificate.
WHY A
CERTIFICATE IN GERONTOLOGY AND NOT A DEGREE?
UMKC, like many other colleges and universities across the US, offers
a certificate in gerontology. Our course of study follows standards and
guidelines developed by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education
for certificate programs. Gerontology is a multidisciplinary profession.
One must have vehicle within which to serve older adults. A degree in
gerontology focuses on information about older adults. Degree tracks such
as pharmacy, nursing, law, administration, business, dental hygiene provide
expertise and skills through which to practice gerontology and in combination
with gerontology, afford appropriate and effective means and approaches
to use in serving older adults.
WHO ARE
OUR STUDENTS?
There are more non-traditional than traditional students in our program.
Many have been in the work force for many years in different capacities
and are looking to make a career change or to focus on older adults within
their current careers. There are still a significant number of younger
students beginning their college experience who take gerontology
courses to constitute a minor, and obtain the certificate. Our students
range in age from their early twenties to their seventies.
Our students are quite varied in their backgrounds. They have worked in such occupations as artist, nurse assistant, restaurant owner, nursing home administrator, minister, career counselor, musician, surgical nurse, bookkeeper, dancer, IRS agent, teacher, banker, telephone repair, retail sales, construction, voluntary health service, insurance broker, lawyer, physical and occupational therapist. Most of our students are in degree-seeking programs such as pharmacy, nursing, dental hygiene, business, public administration, sociology, psychology, law, biology, English, and communications. They use their gerontology classes as electives and collectively earn a minor. There are usually as many undergraduates as there are those in the graduate certificate track.
(Please see "In Our Students' Words.")
HOW DO I ENROLL?
To better understand the program, students should make an appointment
with the manager of the Gerontology Certificate Program,
Liz Kendall, (816)235-2186. At that time
students may fill out an enrollment form (also with in the web site at
www.umkc.edu/cas/forms ).
Also within this interview, students may discuss their interests, class
selection options, and other questions pertaining to their gerontology
studies. Enrolling in classes may be done through Continuing Education.
If one is seeking a degree, students must complete a UMKC Admissions Application.
(Please see UMKC Home Page).
DO
I HAVE TO HAVE A DEGREE TO ENROLL?
No, students may take classes and complete the 18 hours of study as a
free-standing certificate by enrolling through Continuing Education. Students
then take the course as an undergraduate and upon completion, receive
an undergraduate certificate. If one already has an undergraduate degree,
then one may register for graduate classes and be credited with a graduate
certificate. Students may take classes as non-credit classes, but are
encouraged to take credited classes for future application to degree programs.
(Please see Forms).
WHAT
DOES THE PRACTICUM ENTAIL?
Placement in a community setting or project which focuses on older adults
provides a capstone experience for students. Through 180 hours of field
work, students are able to observe and practice classroom learning, test
new career ventures, and begin to develop relationships within the aging
network. Settings include hospices, nursing homes, assisted living centers,
adult day care services, managed care organizations, bioethics center,
acute care facilities, case management agencies, business, Area Agencies
on Aging, nonprofit agencies, university research projects, and senior
centers. As much as possible students' interests and expertise are matched
with practicum settings. (Please see Practicum
site for further explanation).
DO
YOU HAVE TO BE IN A DEGREE PROGRAM?
No, one may take the certificate as a free-standing certificate and enroll
through Continuing Education. Most of our students are in degree programs
WHAT CAN I DO AFTER I GET A GERONTOLOGY CERTIFICATE?
Obtaining a Gerontology Certificate does not guarantee a job opportunity
in the aging field. However, you will have the foundation for one of the
fastest growing fields and much needed expertise as society follows the
trend of its dramatically aging numbers. The aging field is very diverse
with multidisciplinary opportunities such as health professional, educator,
researcher, and service provider. Settings include community, human service
and religious organizations, health and long term care institutions, government
agencies, retirement communities, academic and research settings, business,
industry, and professional organizations. Workers in aging organizations
report great satisfaction in their opportunities to make a difference
in their communities where they have the chance to positively influence
legislation and policies that affect the lives of older adults. (Please
refer to www.aghe.org or Careers in
Aging: Consider the Possibilities published by the Association for Gerontology
in Higher Education for more information. The latter is available at the
Center on Aging Studies in hard copy.)
IN OUR STUDENTS' WORDS: under construction
Kim Collins came to the Gerontology Certificate Program via an MBA at UMKC's Bloch School of Business. She had served the elderly since 1976, first as a nursing assistant and then as a Nursing Home Administrator. She had returned to school to complete her degree after two years of administration.
Donna Foulk came to us as she was completing her undergraduate degree and integrated her genontological studies into her degree track. She created her field experience out of weekly bingo nights where she observed and often became part of many of the older adult lives. She is currently beginning her second year of her anthropological studies at the University of Kentucky.
Kelli Loeb came to us as she finished her undergraduate degree in Communication Studies. She incorporated her aging studies into her degree track.
Linda McEwen
