Our industry is constantly changing. New issues and challenges arise every day, so training is essential if we are to stay current and prepare our staffs with the skills they need to perform well.
Many companies aren’t equipped to conduct their own in-house training programs, and some individuals simply don’t have the time or access to attend in-person courses. To meet this need, the NAA Education Institute (NAAEI) has partnered with CallSource and our state and local affiliated apartment associations to build a Learning Management System (LMS) that offers online apartment industry education courses.
The system launched in 2010, and we are seeing an uptick in the number of people taking courses. The system features online education courses that are accessible 24/7 and include course and seminar content from NAAEI, CallSource and local associations. To register for courses, simply visit
www.naahq.org/education and click on “Online Learning” to register for access to the Learning Management System.
Current courses cover topics such as bed bugs, mold, lock bumping, accessibility, fair housing and integrated pest management, as well as new Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT) courses that focus on plumbing, electrical, HVAC and appliance repair. These classes earn the participant Continuing Education Credit (CEC), and certificates can be printed upon completion of the course.
We are developing new courses to keep the content current with industry issues and plan to videotape sessions at the 2012 NAA Education Conference & Exposition to include as part of the NAAEI curriculum. Our state and local associations also have the option of developing their own content that can be shared with other apartment associations.
NAAEI’s Director of Program Delivery, Bridget Dunn, says that the LMS is a great way for associations to build a dynamic and current educational program that adds value to their members. The system also can help affiliates identify local educational needs to shape classroom-delivered education. It’s another way for NAAEI to serve our affiliates and their members.
“Online education significantly reduces the overhead costs of educating employees and increases the ability of members who live too far away from an association to take courses and receive industry training,” Dunn says.
San Diego County Apartment Association Director of Education and Events Michele Champion says the system not only adds value for members but also provides a way for smaller companies to train their employees. Larger companies have found the system useful for training new employees who need to get up to speed quickly. They like that they can fit the courses into their own schedules.
“A lot of people do not want to spend the time to attend in-person classes or they can’t get away from the job site,” she says. “We offer more than 100 in-person seminars, but with this system, our members can take the courses any time that is convenient for them.”
Anyone participating in the LMS has easy access to their designation and training history and can easily monitor continuing education credits, even when moving to another region or company. Champion says companies like this
feature because supervisors can easily track how their employees are doing and identify what additional coursework they might need. Meanwhile, employees use this feature to map out their apartment industry career path and help boost their careers.
NAAEI’s mission is to provide training programs that help members nurture and retain high-quality professionals. The online learning opportunities offered through the LMS are helping us extend our reach by making education and training affordable and available to people on their own terms and schedules.
For information about our online training programs, contact your local apartment association or visit our website at www.naahq.org/education /onlinelearning.
Maureen Lambe, CAE, is Executive Vice President of NAAEI. She can be reached at 703/797-0601 or
maureen@naahq.org.