Cost of Continuing Education

Cost for Continuing Education

Several people have asked why it is so expensive to do an CEU class on codes.?So, there are some reasons.?In writing this short article I am doing so for all of my counterparts who also provide continuing education credits to Architects, Engineers, Code Officials, contractors ?and others involved in the construction of buildings. ?

If memory serves me correctly, I taught my first code class in 1981.?Over forty years a lot has changed. In the days after I retired, I worked solely under contract through ICC to teach classes and consulting work for architects, owners and in some cases attorneys.

In years past, we did a lot of open enrolment seminars.?So, I would be on the road most of the time between late February and Early November.?Five straight days here.?Five Straight days there.?I have always preferred to do ICC sponsored courses to avoid all the scheduling issues and such and just do what I enjoyed most which is teaching.?It can take a small army to manage any continuing education provider with a significant workload.?Even today I shy away usually do contract teaching for ICC.?I tend to do an occasional class not included in the listing provided by ICC and a class or two towards the end of the year designed for architects and others I do business with.?This is more so the last two years for those who do not like virtual class structures.??

In 2008 and 2009 two things occurred which changed the dynamics of teaching code classes.?One was the elimination of the vast majority of the open enrolment seminars in favor of allowing local chapter sponsorship of classes. The second was economic collapse arising out of the Madoff impact on the stock market and the money supply.?

When ICC began the Preferred Provider Program the fee er year was relatively low.?The one for AIA was higher and still is.?In New Mexico I also have to pay a gross receipts tax on these things which is assessed by the entities I deal with and sent back to the state.?Based on this I pay $7000.00 + or - to these entities simply to give the added credits.?

When a preferred provider sponsors a class there are expenses involved.?These vary across the country but have increased in all areas of the US due to economic pressures of Covid as well as inflationary impact of extreme government expenditures watering down the gross national product value.?Generally, these expenses can be broken down as follows:?

For a three-day class there are typical expenses.

Flight to the location: ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????$1,000.00

Rental Car:?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????$450.00

Hotel:?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????$450.00

Meals: ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????$400.00

Meeting Room Rental (Varies based on size of Group) ???????????????????????????????????$1,800.00

Audio visual equipment and support (Required by some locations) ??????????$450.00

Coffee and other sundry items??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????$500.00

Printing and mailings ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????$800.00

???????????????????????????????????????????????Total ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????$6,850.00

Add to the 18 hours on site teaching time the time in preparing the class power points which.?This is typically four times the period of the class when the instructor is doing a detailed effort and is quick at it.

Suddenly the class time and development time add up to 90 hours.?The class development time may be partially applied when multiple locations and classes with the same curriculum are involved or may be entirely in the one project when a specialty class is requested that has no other request or locations in the foreseeable future.?

By contrast cost incurred on a one-day travel class sponsored by the preferred provider are more like $3,140.00. Again, not including any instructor income. I should note that the further out in advance you plan the lower plane tickets are.?So there are things which can help lower overall cost.?

When sponsored by a group such as a chapter the chapter provided the publicity, the location, ancillary coffee, etc., and sometimes audio-visual equipment unless as I do in many cases care al the projectors, speakers, and such with me.?This cuts the expenses for the instructor.?But notice that these numbers don’t include income for the instructor.?What does he make for his time?

I have toyed with the idea of corporate sponsors.?And if any of them want to propose an alliance I would not be opposed to it.

I mentioned the issue of virtual training.?I like other instructors have done some of this through the pandemic era.?It is a means to and end in difficult times.?However, I and many instructors whom I associate with are not very fond of the idea.?There are several draw backs.?Many students do not have cameras on their computers.?Some who do simply wont turn them on.?In a recent class I made a point of asking direct questions of individuals attending and asked them to turn on their microphones and answer.?Those that did not acknowledge I booted to see how long it would take to check back in and two never did.?Which meant the computer was on and no one was in front of it.?

Others have told me they don’t seem to get the same information out of a virtual class as they do one in person.?Through the pandemic I continued to travel and teach wherever requested for just that reason.?Others have complained that virtual is not any cheaper. In my examination of it this is true in many cases.?There are some classes provided for free by some industry representation.?These are typically shorter classes.?One hour or so.?They provide credit hours, however, it is sometimes difficult to get all of the credit hours needed by some of the people needing those hours.???

I guess the question is for each individual is, what they want and what works for them??

My hope has always been to continue teaching these courses as long as I am breathing and capable.?And obviously will look for the most economic price possible.?I also hope is that this answers a few questions for those taking these classes and help to understand the logistical obstacles and costs incurred.???