How to choose the right marine surveying professional development course for you (and guidance on what to watch out for) ...

Has your chosen education provider achieved an internationally recognised standard? Today, it seems easy to get duped by seductive marketing, and one International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) member is urging others to do their due diligence when signing up for a marine surveying professional development course.

A few years ago, the member in question decided to add another specialisation to their skillset at significant expense. Once they had chosen their course, they looked into the provider, saying: “I was getting fairly decent correspondence from whoever was on the other end, but once I paid my money it all pretty much stopped. They did give me the course and dumped the whole thing on me. Then I started going through the course and it wasn’t exactly much of a challenge.”

While completing the course, our member found the content rather simplistic, and it included out-of-date regulations. They added: “You can see from the feedback you get from education providers and if there’s any question at all that it’s not legitimate, it’s probably not.

“I spoke to them about the course before I started signing up. The initial effort seemed pretty legit, but as it progressed it got worse and worse.

“The worst thing about it is probably the marketing bling. It’s so easy these days and anyone with any decent skill and time on their hands can pump this stuff out endlessly on social media. Social media has been the bane of our existence, and it suckers us all in.”

Finding valuable and trustworthy courses can be tricky. That’s why we’ve come up with the following important advice below.

Why is CPD important?

With ever-changing and stiffening safety regulations within international marine industries, continuous professional development is crucial for honing your expertise and progressing your career further. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) can help you to reflect, review, and document your learning journey and to develop and update your professional knowledge and skillset.

It can also:

– provide an overview of your professional development to date;

– remind you of your achievements and how far you’ve progressed;

– uncover gaps in your skills and capabilities and open further development needs, and;

– demonstrate your professional standing and currency to clients and industry peers.

IIMS is the only worldwide professional body to award qualifications in marine surveying, so we know a thing or two about providing high-quality CPD opportunities.

Your career goals and aspirations

First things first, you need to think about what you’re looking to accomplish. Are you looking to improve and expand your knowledge in a specific area? Fill in a skills gap? Perhaps you need to fulfil your professional membership CPD requirements.

You also have to think about how you want to study. Do you prefer a classroom environment where you can discuss points with others face-to-face, or does your busy schedule mean that distance learning allows you the flexibility to study at your own pace? Can you commit to a full-time course, or keep on top of a part-time programme alongside your job? Maybe a simple lecture, seminar or workshop is all it’ll take? Knowing the answers to these questions will help.

Training and learning with the IIMS can be the start of your ‘through-life pathway’ in the marine surveying profession. You study with the IIMS and get your career started, do CPD with the IIMS, get mentored by the organisation and grow in your chosen area of surveying. No other organisation can offer this, and that is what sets the IIMS education programme apart from others.

Research the course provider

Next you should look into the training and education provider. Does it have a good reputation? Do they have any student testimonials, or can you find any personal recommendations from colleagues and peers within the boating, shipping and surveying industries?

Finding out whether the course or company has any internationally accepted accreditation by a well-known body can help ensure you get the best training possible. (This is a good opportunity to showcase how IIMS has been awarded the globally recognised ISO 9001 standard for training in marine surveying).

Another good idea would be to see how well the company communicates with students. How quickly do they respond (if at all)? Are they helpful, or once the money has been paid do they become evasive and less communicative? What kind of student support services do they provide (if any)? Think about the provider’s overall transparency when researching them. Read our ‘What to watch out for’ section below to see which questions to ask before starting your course.

Research the course content

Now it’s time to focus on the course itself. Research the course details such as how it will be taught, what topics/units it will cover, entry requirements, and course duration. How up-to-date is the course content? Also, check what type and level of qualification you’d receive at the end, i.e. is it accredited by a recognised awarding body? Would you receive a certificate of attendance or an official Level 4/5 diploma qualification? Find out who will be teaching you. Are the course tutors industry experts at the top of their game and what kind of qualifications and relevant experience do they have?

How the course is assessed is something you need to consider. Will course assignments and theory-based exams help you gain the skills you need, or would a hands-on practical approach be more suitable? All of these should help you decide which course is right for you.

Of course, you’ll also want to know what costs are involved so you can make sure you’re making a valuable investment. How much does the course cost? Do you have the option to buy a single unit if you don’t have the time or desire to complete the full qualification? Are there any other costs you’ll have to factor in, e.g. travel expenses, course materials, examination fees, etc. Knowing how to pay for the course is important. Does the provider give the option for staged payment plans? It’s also worth understanding their cancellation policy (if any).

What to watch out for

There’s no harm in taking a second look before paying for a course. It’s your money after all.

– Watch out for their answers. Communication is key. But this is a two-way street. Make sure you ask all the questions you want to know about the course before signing up. It’s worth asking which authorities you can present the qualification to knowing it will be recognised and where else it is accepted. If they don’t know, your suspicions should be aroused.

– Watch out for the marketing bling. Don’t solely judge a provider by their social media presence (this goes both ways). Contact past students to find out what their experience was like. Exploring the provider’s website can also be a good indicator on the quality of their courses and support. Read the ‘About Us’ page. Are there multiple typos as is sometimes the case? Do the images not load? Is the site difficult to navigate? Does it look unprofessional? These should set alarm bells ringing.

– Watch out for the provider’s accreditations and memberships. We’ve said this before, but checking up on them can help reassure you that the qualification you’ll gain is up to industry standards and will be accepted. IIMS, for one, does not accept a number of certificates when they are presented to support a new membership application because of the poor-quality training offered by the provider.

– Is the course provider making you a substantially discounted offer based on the original cost? If so, question why this is the case and be suspicious. Does giving away course material at a cheap cost devalue the content and importance of the qualification?

In conclusion

IIMS Chief Executive Officer, Mike Schwarz, has the last word.

He said, “Over the years, IIMS has been an ethical provider of education and training for marine surveyors, both for new as well as experienced surveyors. IIMS was the first organisation to develop a marine surveying distance learning education programme, set at first-year university Level 4/5, some 20 years ago. Many education providers have followed, some good and some frankly rotten.

“IIMS has gone out of its way to gain the internationally acclaimed ISO 9001 accreditation for ‘Training in Marine Surveying’, because we believe it to be important. Our distance learning Professional Qualifications programme is an award winner too, coupled with our acclaimed training events held internationally throughout the year. This shows our commitment to the industry and demonstrates that we take the provision of education and training seriously enough to have had our work externally audited by DNV.

“We encourage student feedback and take it seriously and can point to many satisfied students who have learned with the Institute over the years, including a future President to be! How we handle, care for and communicate with our students is of great importance. We provide ongoing contact through to the end of the course and way beyond if desired.

“Our significant investment in a state-of-the-art student portal, which makes studying intuitive and pleasurable, is testament to our ongoing commitment as a major provider of quality marine surveyor training. You won’t see ‘marketing bling’, as mentioned earlier in this article, from IIMS – just an honest and transparent overview of our credentials and prowess as an educator in marine surveying.

“Becoming a marine surveyor is not an easy task. The job is multi-faceted, and demanding, requiring the ability to expertly and forensically examine vessels and cargoes, and then compile a comprehensive report. That knowledge and those skills can only be taught by surveyors who are at the top of their profession.”

For more information about the IIMS education programme and Professional Qualifications visit https://bit.ly/3CU3hHY.