Certification & Industry-Specific Learning

1. 1

   Small-business owners have notably more formal education than the adult population, particularly considering they are on average older. However, of the 46 percent of owners with at least a fouryear college degree, less than one-quarter majored in engineering and the physical or life sciences.
   

2. 2

   Forty (40) percent of small-business owners now have 30 years or more of experience in the industry of their current business and another 28 percent have between 20 and 29 years.
   

3. 3

   Forty-nine (49) percent of small employers report that they must possess some type of credential or skill certification to operate their businesses.
   

4. 4

   The place small-business owners most frequently obtain the necessary knowledge and/or skill set to earn their credentials is an apprenticeship or on-the-job-training (27%), followed by formal education (24%). A trade or vocational school program yields credentials for another 11 percent of those needing them. Thirteen (13) percent of owners simply study for initial credentials on their own. Seven (7) percent take specific on-line or face-to-face courses.
   

5. 5

   Fifty-four (54) percent of small employers needing credentials must take periodic continuing education-type courses to retain certification. Still, 42 percent of those who are no longer required to take such courses do so anyway.
   

6. 6

   Sixty-eight (68) percent of small employers are members of a business, trade or professional organization. The most important organization for 64 percent of them offers a business, technical or professional training/education program; 57 percent offer some type of credential.
   

7. 7

   Small-business owners requiring certification are more likely to be a member of at least one trade/business/professional association and much more likely to belong to multiple such groups. They are also more likely to belong to groups where the educational component of the organization is valued.
   

8. 8

   In the last year, two of three small employers attended at least one convention or trade show.
   

9. 9

   Thirty-six (36) percent of all small employers took at least one course that lasted four hours or more on a business-related subject in the last year. The most frequent sponsor of such courses was a business or professional association (36%) followed in frequency by a supplier (26%).
   

10. 10

    The subject of these courses/seminars was most often technical or professional in nature. Topics that have general applicability with the exception of marketing were not of frequent interest.
    

11. 11

    The most common purpose of taking a course/seminar (66%) is to upgrade skills. Another 25 percent took one to get or stay certified while 3 percent did so to resolve a specific problem.
    

12. 12

    Though 30 percent of small employers spent less than an hour in the last 12 months attending or on-line in education and training sessions, the median time spent for the remainder was about 16 hours or two full days.
    

13. 13

    Forty-three (43) percent of owners claim that once a week or more they now go to a Web site(s) to ask a question or have an e-mail conversation about some aspect of their business, excluding the purchase of products or services.
    

14. 14

    Use of the Internet and reading traditional periodicals are re-enforcing means to obtain industryspecific information. Small-business owners who use one tend to use the other.

Volume 12, Issue 2, 2012
ISSN 1534-8326

William J. Dennis, Jr.

• 1Must you or your business have some type of credential or skill certification in order to operate your business as you now do? That does NOT include a basic business license or tax ID.
• 1aWhere did you primarily obtain the necessary knowledge or skills in order to acquire that credential or certification? Was it from:?
• 1bMust you take continuing education-type training or courses every year or two in order to keep your credential or certification?
• 1b1Do you take continuing education-type training or courses every year or two anyway?
• 2How many business, trade or professional organizations are you or the business a member of?
• 2aThink of the ONE organization most important to you. Does it offer a business, technical or professional training or education program, one that helps you upgrade your business or professional knowledge and skills?
• 2a1Is this business, technical or professional education or training program the only reason for your membership in that organization, a very important reason, a reason, not an important reason, or not a reason for your membership?
• 2a2Does this organization offer a credential or certification?
• 2bIn the last 12 months did you attend a convention or trade show sponsored by this organization?
• 2cIn the last 12 months did you attend a convention or trade show on a business-related topic sponsored by any OTHER business organization, private group, or governmental unit?
• 3In the last 12 months, did you attend a convention or trade show on a business-related topic?
• 4As a general rule, do you think that attendance at conventions and trade shows is essential to keep abreast of business and industry developments, helpful, not helpful or a waste of time and money?
• 5What is your highest level of formal education?
• 5aWhat was your primary area of study when earning your highest degree?
• 5bAre you actively pursuing a/another college or university degree at this time?
• 6How many years experience do you have working in your industry as an employee and/or owner?
• 7Excluding purchase of products or services, how often do you go to a Web site to ask a question about some aspect of your business? Would you say you do that about:?
• 8In the last 12 months, have you taken at least one course or seminar in any setting on a subject that related to this business and lasted at least FOUR hours in total?
• 8aThink of the most recent one you took. Was it sponsored by a supplier, a business or professional association, a government organization, or a school or university?
• 8bDid you take it to:?
• 8cWas the course or seminar given face-to-face, over the Internet, or by correspondence?
• 8dDid you pay for the course or seminar or was it free?
• 8eWhich BEST describes the general subject matter for the course or seminar? Was it about:?
• 9Within the last 12 months, about how many hours did you spend attending, or on-line, in an education or training session? An estimate is fine.
• 10About how many business or professional magazines do you currently subscribe to and read at least partially?