To register and learn more about the ACRE supplement: https://www.communityinclusion.org/cesacre/

After a rigorous review process that took nearly a year, The Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE) has approved the DirectCourse College of Employment Services (CES) curriculum as an integral part of their training process for employment professionals.

The ACRE certification process allows employment professionals to document their accomplishments and education, develop professionally,, and help improve industry standards.

Karen Flippo is a program director at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She works closely with CES to develop curriculum.

“For the review process we had to provide substantial information to the reviewers on how they could ascertain that they met the competencies that ACRE requires,” Flippo says.

In addition to the online courses, CES created an ACRE supplement for the certification. This includes three webinars, instructor office hours, and field assignments. The supplement allows for interactions between instructors and students, which is different from the self-instruction model that CES normally provides.

“Many people come into our field without formal education, without experience working with people with disabilities,” Flippo observes. “Going through this rigorous training, this is an assurance that people will have the competencies necessary to provide good employment services.”

“Some states have held off buying CES until it was ACRE certified, so there are certain customers eager to sign on,” she says.

Using the College of Employment Services to become ACRE-certified involves 40 to 50 hours of instruction, along with the ACRE supplement, which adds about 20 hours of field assignments and instructor engagement. With this balance of self-instruction and hands-on learning, the new CES ACRE certification lets employment specialists grow professionally and provide the very best services to their clients.

To register and learn more about the ACRE supplement: https://www.communityinclusion.org/cesacre/