Browse FAQs about the Professional Certification in Education Abroad below. For any additional questions or concerns, email us at [email protected] or call (717) 245-1031 to speak with a Forum staff member. 

Register for the Professional Certification Program

Eligibility

Who is the Professional Certification program intended for?

This program is intended for all colleagues in education abroad who want to certify their knowledge and expertise in applying the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad. This includes experienced administrators, newcomers to the field, faculty who lead study abroad programs, resident directors, onsite faculty and staff, and senior international officers. ​

I’ve been in the field for less than 5 years. Can I become Certified?  ​

Yes! The program provides knowledge of best practices that enhances your application of the Standards to your specific context. A minimum of one year full-time previous employment experience in the education abroad field in a professional, advising, or teaching capacity is recommended but not required.  

I have more than 10 years of experience in education abroad. What is the value of Certification for me?  ​

Forum certification serves as a demonstration and confirmation of your knowledge and expertise in applying the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad to education abroad program development and delivery. Having extensive experience in the field is a plus when completing the program modules. Participation in the program is also a great way to expand your professional network!   

I am an onsite staff or resident director outside of the U.S. Why should I choose to be Certified?  ​

Being certified in the Standards of Good Practice demonstrates to sending partners that you are knowledgeable about internationally accepted best practices in the field and you can apply them. 

I am a Senior International Officer or hold a leadership position in international education. Is Certification appropriate for me?  ​

Senior leaders who achieve Forum certification confirm their highest level of commitment to the field, the Standards, and best practices. Many high-level position descriptions include reference to The Forum Certification as a preferred qualification.  

I am not currently employed in education abroad. Am I still eligible to participate?  ​

Yes! It is recommended, but not required, to have at least one year of previous experience in the field. The program is intended for those who are active in the field, or those with previous experience who are seeking employment in education abroad.   

My work is related to education abroad, but I am not actually in the field. Am I eligible to participate?   ​

If you work in higher education and you have accumulated substantial experience in education abroad curriculum design, credit transfer, program direction, or risk management in your current position, the Professional Certification confirms your ability to apply the Standards of Good Practice effectively and appropriately in your work.  

For example, an employee in a university registrar’s office responsible for determining education abroad course equivalencies and credit transfer might benefit from the program, as would a faculty member who has extensive experience designing and leading short-term education abroad programs. It is recommended, but not required, that participants have the equivalent of at least one year full-time experience directly related to education abroad.  

Why does the program Certify individuals, and not institutions and organizations?  ​

As an institutional membership association, The Forum serves all the individuals that work at its member institutions and organizations. In certifying individuals, The Forum helps to ensure the delivery of quality education abroad programming at the institutions and organizations where those individuals are employed.   

Can I participate if my institution is not a member of The Forum?  ​

The Professional Certification Program is intended for professionals who are active in the education abroad field regardless of Forum membership. However, employees of Forum members enjoy discounted program fees as long as they are employed at a Forum member institution.  

Benefits of Certification

Why should my institution invest in this program?  ​

Institutions and organizations care about the quality of their education abroad offerings. Investing in Certification by the Standards Development Organization for the field of education abroad provides assurance that education abroad staff, faculty, leaders, and on-site personnel are able to contribute to ensuring high quality education abroad programming.

How can I be certain that the program will address my needs and inform my work?  ​

The program is flexible and useful for all types of institutions and organizations. The curriculum is based on the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad, which were deliberately composed to reach the broadest possible audience and the diversity of programs that represent the education abroad field. The assignments are intended to address diverse questions and needs in the field, and often feature outcomes that can be directly applied to your work. The Program’s focus is on the articulation and application of the Standards in a variety of contexts, in particular those relevant to your work.   

What will this Certification do for me professionally?  ​

Previous participants reported a career advancement after completing the program. Additionally, participants shared they benefited from the program by expanding their professional network, deepening their engagement with the field, a legitimization of their expertise by their institution, and being recognized as an expert in best practices. Successfully completing the Certification Program enhances your professional credentials in education abroad and certifies that you have successfully demonstrated the abilities to apply The Forum Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad.   

Application & Cost

Is there an application deadline?

Each modality of the Certification program has a specific registration timeline. Participants can register for the modality that best meets their professional and personal needs. It is recommended that participants register no later than one week prior to the start of the in-person Accelerated Residency, live virtual workshops, or SIT Forum Certification course start date. However, there are registration deadlines for each workshop.  ​

Are there scholarships available?

Yes. The Forum is generously supported by a gift from Sara’s Wish Foundation to support colleagues from HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and other minority serving institutions. Visit the Forum Fellowship page for more information about the scholarship and application timeline.  

I have attended Certification workshops in the past. Can I apply previous attendance to this program?  

Any workshops attended after March 2020 can be applied towards the Professional Certification program. Workshops delivered after March 2020 were developed specifically for the 6th Edition of the Standards of Good Practice. Workshops attended prior to March 2020 are not applicable to the current Professional Certification program.  
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The following credits can be applied towards the cost of the Professional Certification Program:  

• A credit of $175 for each workshop previously paid.  
• A credit of $250 for each Forum Credential completed within three years.  

Workshops

Do I need to attend all of the workshops or can I simply complete the module assignments?  ​

Standards Assignments are based on the specific content that is covered in each corresponding workshop. Although it is not recommended, some participants may feel prepared to complete a Standards Assignment without completing the corresponding workshop.  

Is there a specific order to complete the module assignments?  ​

Module 1 must be completed prior to submitting other Modules. Once Module 1 is successfully completed, participants can submit module assignments in any order. The Culminating Project will be made available once all 6 modules are successfully completed.  ​

Where and when will live workshops be offered?  ​

The Forum offers live workshops virtually and in-person across the U.S. and overseas throughout a calendar year. Visit our events calendar to see the most current schedule. All six workshops are offered at the annual Accelerated Residency in late June.   

Are workshops available online?

All of the Standards of Good Practice workshops are available online and are made available to you upon enrollment in the program. 

Assignments

Why isn’t just attending workshops enough for Forum Certification?

The Professional Certification Program goes well beyond seat time as a measure of outcomes. The specially designed Standards Assignments are exercises that relate to the content of the Standards of Good Practice and provide the means to evaluate your ability to articulate and apply the Standards. The assignments require you to apply what you learn to a variety of education abroad, organizational, and institutional contexts, which provides opportunities for real world application. You will receive specific feedback to the responses you submit for each Standards Assignment from Forum Certification Assessors.  

Who will be assessing my work in this program?  ​

The Standards Assignments are evaluated by certified Forum Certification Assessors who are trained and appointed by The Forum. All Forum Certification Assessors maintain the strictest confidentiality regarding your progress in the program.  

What happens if I don’t “pass” the assignments?  ​

If you do not complete Assignments successfully, you are given specific feedback by the Forum Certification Assessors to assist you in revising your responses to the Standards Assignments. These revised Assignments are resubmitted and evaluated; this process continues until you achieve a successful result on all the assignments.  ​

Time Commitment

How long does the entire Certification program take?  ​

Participants can complete the program within 12 months. The Forum strongly encourages participants to complete within the recommended time frame. Extension can be requested by contacting [email protected].   ​

What is the time commitment for each module?  ​

Each module begins with a 3-4 hour workshop followed by Standards Assignments specific to the topic of the module. On average, it should take 4 hours to complete the Standards Assignments associated with each module.  ​

Recognition & Certification Maintenance

How will I be recognized as a Certified Education Abroad Professional?  ​

When you successfully complete the program, you will receive your digital credential and may use The Forum’s “Certified Professional” Mark in your email signature, CV, LinkedIn, social media page, etc. You will also receive a letter to share with your supervisor or institutional leadership highlighting your achievement. Participants may choose to be highlighted in the weekly Forum News sent to subscribers. Special recognition will also be given at The Forum’s Annual and European Conferences.  

Once Certified, how do I maintain my Certification?

As of June 2024, certification maintenance is no longer required. The Professional Certification curriculum is associated with the most recent edition of the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad. As such, while an earned Professional Certification in Education Abroad has no expiration date, it is considered active until a new edition of the Standards is released. Within one year after the release of a new edition of the Standards, Certified Professionals are required to attend a live webinar, or review a recorded webinar, that will cover the latest edition of the Standards.

If you are a Certified Professional, please ensure your profile is up to date. You will be notified via email when a new edition of the Standards has been released.