Education Archives - A Million Lives

May 31, 2021 by Greg Underwood

What You Need to Know About the DBPR Continuing Education Course

In Florida, the license for registered contractors should be renewed by 31st August of every odd-numbered year, and for certified contractors, the license renewal is to be done by 31st August of even-numbered years.

There are two types of licenses that a contractor can have:

Certified licenses

The holder of a certified license can work at any location in Florida as the license is valid throughout the state.

Registered licenses

A registered license is restricted within some local jurisdictions only. The holder of such a license can work only in those cities or counties of Florida from where he is issued a certificate of competency.

Every two years and before the renewal of their license, all contractors have to complete a 14-hour DBPR continuing education (CE) course. This is a state requirement for maintaining their licenses.

For holders of certificate of competencies specifically from Miami-Dade County, there are 16-hour package courses provided by education providers.

About the CE courses

Check for the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) provider ID while choosing an education provider or institute so that you can be assured that DBPR has approved their courses.

Depending on the type of contracting work that you are pursuing, you can choose from the different courses related to electrical services, plumbing, masonry, pool or spa constructions, etc.

Mandatory topics under the CE courses

One-hour lessons on the below topics:

Safety at the workplace
Worker’s compensation
Business practice
Advance building code
Rules and laws
Wind mitigation

A balance of eight-hour general course on any of the above topics and which would be an elaboration of the topic.

In case of a license holder having a license, which is more than one year but less than two years old, he has to put in 7 credit hours of the general course study. But this has to be done before the 31st of August of the renewal year.

If the license is less than one year old, then no CE course is required.

For any certificate of competency holder from Miami Dade county, the CE course of 16 hours should compulsorily include:

1-hour course on Chapter 10 consisting of Miami Dade County code
1-hour course on Construction Lien Law
Balance 14 hours study of any Board-approved course

16 hours package course

As designed by the education providers, the 16-hour package CE course for contractors from Miami Dade consist of:

One-hour courses on

Laws and rules related to Miami Dade Ordinance in chapter 10
Advanced Building code of Florida, updated in 2020
Worker’s compensation
S. 713 Construction Lien Law related to Business Practices

5 hours courses on

Regulations for contractors
Regulations on wind mitigation

2 hours courses on

Photovoltaic systems
Rainwater harvesting
Construction of exterior shell

3 hours course on Construction safety

Post completion of the course, the provider would issue a certificate. The provider would share the certificate with the state government from their end, and you should also save an online copy or take printouts for your records.

March 18, 2021 by Greg Underwood

7 Pillars of Effective Project Management

Effective project management requires knowledge, skills, and tools for successful outcomes. From having a well-thought timeline to working with the right people, it has several requirements. Keep on reading and we’ll talk about some of the most important factors that contribute to successful project management.

A Hybrid Approach

Hybrid project management combines agile and traditional approaches. It is predictive and adaptive. Managers and resources can better adapt to the changing circumstances in every step of the project. The successful execution of this approach, however, requires theoretical and practical foundations. One of the best things you can do is to enroll in university short courses online to improve competency in hybrid project management.

Robust Time Management

Completing a project within a specified timeline is one of the key indicators of its success. An effective project manager knows how to build a realistic schedule. The scope and capacities of the team members are considered in coming up with a timeline. This also involves delegating responsibilities to make sure that the project will be completed as scheduled. More so, it is important to have a contingency plan in case of disruptions to minimize delays.

The Right Technology

Effective project management also requires embracing innovation. Even if it requires significant capital, businesses must invest in state-of-the-art tools to improve project management. Among others, artificial intelligence is one of the most important. It automates repetitive tasks, improves resource allocation, and increases efficiency, among other benefits.

Sufficient Budget

Funding is another major requirement in effective project management. Make sure that you have the necessary financial resources. Also, find a way to save money without compromising outcomes. Make the most out of the budget that you have, but this does not mean that the quality of the project should suffer.

Emotional Intelligence

One of the most commonly ignored facets of project management is emotional intelligence. Social skills, empathy, and self-awareness are some of the crucial aspects of emotional intelligence that are applicable to project management. From conflict resolution to negotiation, there are many ways by which emotions will play a significant role in completing projects.

Proper Communication

Successful project implementations require proper communication. All stakeholders must communicate frequently and effectively. Information exchange is also important for evaluating the project and pointing out potential improvements. More so, it will prevent misunderstandings and will increase the chances that the project will be completed based on the timeline agreed upon.

Competent People

At the end of the day, the success of a project depends on the capabilities of the people working behind such. Having a skilled project manager is useless when other team members do not have the required acumen. It is crucial to assemble the right team, making sure that the members will have significant contributions to the project’s outcome.

In sum, effective project management requires a hybrid approach, sufficient budget, emotional intelligence, and a competent team, among other things.

May 25, 2020 by Greg Underwood

The Best Places to Get a Degree as a Pharmacy Technician

So you’re looking to enter the medical field as a pharmacy technician. Congratulations on choosing a career path that’s both rewarding and offers a great salary and benefits package in most cases! The medical field is always growing, and new jobs are being added on a daily basis all over the country.

Becoming a pharmacy tech will offer you career flexibility, the opportunity for advancement, as well as a sense of accomplishment as you help patients every day. If you want to start your journey,the first thing you need is an associate’s degree or certification.

Here, we’ll discuss the best places to get a degree as a pharmacy tech. Keep reading to expand your choices and make the best decision for your future.

Ultimate Medical Academy

UMA is a web-based university that offers pharmacy tech degrees among many other medical certifications. UMA has a pharmacy technician school that can teach you the skills and practical knowledge necessary to get started as an entry-level pharmacy tech in as little as 18 months!

The program is accredited and comes with 24/7 support, so you’ll never be left without a support team if you have questions. One of the best features of this program is practical experience through internships. You’ll receive 180 hours of hands-on training under the supervision of a certified pharmacist, and this can help set you apart from other applicants when you look for a position at a pharmacy.

UMA has partnered with companies like Walgreens and CVS as well, so if you’re looking for a career path in a retail pharmacy, UMA is your best option.

Central Louisiana Technical Community College

With a graduation rate that’s higher than most other programs, as well as a post-graduate job acquisition rate that stands out among other programs, CLTCC’s pharmacy tech program is among the best in the country. You’ll get excellent training and education in the pharmacy tech field, with a cost that’s affordable (around $2,000 per semester).

This is also one of the quickest pharmacy tech programs out there, with completion in as little as ten months. If you visit CLTCC’s website, you can download the program curriculum, cost sheet, and FAQ sheet.

If you’re coming from out of state, you’ll need to consider living expenses in your cost calculations. However, the college’s website reports that most students completing this program leave with an average of around $8,000 in debt, which is significantly lower than most college degrees.

North Seattle College

Situated in scenic Seattle, Washington, this college offers a quick pharmacy tech program for in-state and out-of-state students. The program boasts an incredible certification rate of 99.6% (this percentage of students pass the exam if they take it). With two different externship sites, you’ll also get a chance to acquire hands-on training during your education, which can drastically increase your job options after graduation.

The college is accredited by the state’s Pharmacy Board, and you’ll get twice as much hands-on training (over 400 hours) as is required by the board. The bottom line? If you want to become a pharmacy tech in the state of Washington, this is the college for you.

The tuition at NSC is $210 per credit for in-state students and $224 for out-of-state students. The program is based on-campus, so no online options are available. You’ll want hands-on training for this kind of degree anyway.

Pickens Technical College

If you’re looking to streamline your entry into the pharmacy tech field, Pickens Tech can get you certified in just five months. You’ll be studying on-campus, and once you graduate, you’ll be able to work in just about any pharmacy environment. At $132 per credit hour, the program is also a bit more affordable than its counterparts, with hands-on training and plenty of scholarships.

The drawback of PTC is that there isn’t a financial aid program available, so you’ll be paying for the certification out-of-pocket. Even so, you can’t go wrong with a program that’s quick, flexible, and partnered with the local community college if you decide to pursue higher education.

The graduation rate for this program falls somewhere around 79%, and you’ll find that the $2,000 tuition for the program is lower than average. If you’ve got five months to spare, you can earn a certification and get started in the medical field right away!

Choosing A Program

Choosing the right program to fit your needs is just as important as knowing exactly what you want to do with your certification once you’ve got it. Remember to take into account not only the tuition costs of the program, but also the graduation rate, any internships or hands-on training offered, and whether or not the college is accredited.

Pharmacy tech certifications are quick and can get you started as an entry-level medical professional in under a years’ time. Get started today towards a career you’ll love!

December 30, 2019 by Greg Underwood

Interested in Becoming an Engineer?

When you’re thinking about career opportunities when you’re a kid, most of the options that you likely come up with are highly inspirational. You may want to be a princess or a mermaid or a detective, for example. Adult careers are generally less fun than we presume they’re going to be, however. But there is one profession that adequately combines the aspirational careers of superhero, scientist, and construction worker all in one: that of being a research and development engineer.

Why are engineers superheroes? Because engineers work tirelessly to ensure that the systems which make our lives possible — from electricity to rail transport to infrastructure — are sturdy, optimized, and evolving as fast as technology will allow them to do so. If you’re interested in becoming an engineer, you’ll be happy to know that there are many different fields which you can turn to for employment, from protecting soil erosion in South Africa to optimizing solar panels in America to engineering superior Slope Stabilization in Canada.

Here, we’ll talk about reasons you might want to become an engineer.

1. You Get To Use Creativity to Solve Problems

When you’re an engineer, you will be expected to use your training to get things done. However, as an engineer, you have the increasingly rare opportunity to ensure that you’re thinking outside of the box to utilize all of your resources in the most cost-efficient way possible. Much of your career, no matter what your field is, will consist of people asking you to get things done economically and efficiently. How you do so will often be up to you!

In fact, one reason to become an engineer is simply because, far more than almost any field other than perhaps medicine, current engineers report a higher usage of the skills they learned in school. Most engineers are actually required to do some form of ongoing education, but one in which the skills gleaned are applicable to their day to day lives. In short, if you become an engineer, you’re likely to spend your days learning and thinking creatively—not a bad proposition!

2. It’s Usually a Varied, Energetic Profession

As opposed to most jobs in modernity, engineers get to live out much of their career without feeling like they’re chained to a desk. Certainly a large part of being an engineer will revolve around calculations and proofs and studies and reports, but after you’ve done the desk work, you’ll have the opportunity to go and work outside or in the lab, putting the paperwork you’ve done to the test.

Often, depending on the specific line of work you do, the engineering profession will require you to travel. If you’re always up for an adventure, then, the engineering profession may be the way to go!

3. You Get a Chance to Keep the Earth Safe

Because engineering is, at its nature, about optimizing processes to best utilize and protect resources, many opportunities for engineering can be found in the environmental sciences. This alone would be a good enough reason to get into these fields, as well as it being a superior tie-in to the oft-dreamed youthful ambition of becoming a superhero.

Many of the natural job opportunities open to engineers are about wind, solar, and other renewable forms of energy. Several other job opportunities lie in ensuring that the natural resources and structures we have built in the past are still safe and usable for everyday purposes. A great example of this is the science of slope stabilization.

Soil erosion is a huge problem that affects the world in at least two ways: through the degradation of topsoil and other surface structures, and through the mobilization of the soil that is whittled off these structures. Fortunately, a team of engineers has come up with a new product that may be able to reverse both of these processes before they cause too much more harm.

Neocells are a man-made resource which, when scattered over the topsoil, assist with the process of slope stabilization and help ensure that degradation doesn’t happen any faster than it naturally can. They help assist with efficient, safe drainage as well as providing a stable and durable protective cover for the topsoil they help cover.

Engineers are coming up with creative solutions for world-threatening problems such as these all of the time! If you’re a creative person who likes to work both independently or on a team, engineering could be a great choice for you.

July 16, 2019 by Greg Underwood

How Learning Music Makes You a Better Person

There’s a reason that music is a passion for many- it’s incredible for you. While there’s something beautiful and enabling about knowing how to make music, whether playing it, singing it, or composing, there are so many other benefits to draw from. We have heard about the studies that show how learning music positively impacts our brains, there are other very practical applications that should encourage you to take up this hobby, no matter how old you are.

It Improves Creativity

There are so many different types of music out there, and so many ways to evoke emotion even out of the same piece of music. Improve your creativity with music lessons in Montreal, starting from the basics or supplementing the knowledge you already have. There’s something distinctly “you” when it comes to music, and this can be used for stretching our brains in a creative way and having another way to voice our opinions, style, and talent.

It Keeps You Disciplined

While geniuses do exist, to realistically get good at anything, you must work at it. Practice makes perfect, and no where is this more apparent than in music. While style and creativity are a huge part of music, having the technical knowledge and skill will give you the ability to express yourself with your instrument, voice, or otherwise. This self-discipline can trickle into every aspect of your life, from making healthy food choices, staying on top of schoolwork, or exercising.

It Relieves Stress

There’s something comforting knowing that when you press a certain piano key, there’s a determined tone that is emitted. The dependability of playing music, along with the personal aspect of the sound of it makes music a great therapy tool for those struggling with stress or other difficult things.

It’s a Community

Knowing how to play an instrument or sing can also open the door to the community. You can become part of a band, an orchestra, or just join in on casual jam sessions. Though music is something that you can work on as an individual, it’s also something that you can do as a group. You can even take lessons in a group environment if that’s how you like to learn.

There’s no time like the present to start your involvement in music. It might mean picking up that dusty guitar or signing up for violin lessons, but one thing is true: music is for everyone.

March 19, 2019 by Greg Underwood

How to Bring Your Sports Team Closer Together

Team unity is by far and away one of the most important characteristics of any sports team and that is why it is so important that you focus on getting this just right. As history has shown us time and time again, a team of excellent individuals who are not working in sync with the rest of the team, will almost always be vanquished by a collection of weaker individuals working for one another and as a united front. If your sports team needs some encouragement when it comes to togetherness and team unity, here are a few options which you could consider to bring them that little bit closer to one another.

Team Building

The obvious choice here is to organize some team building activities with your sports team. The choices as to which activities you and your team take part in will very much depend on how much time you have on your hands. If it is a school team for example then you may be restricted to weekends, if it is a professional team however then you will have much more time to play with. A team building activity can be anything from paint balling to going on vacation together, the key to it is putting your team in a position whereby they must work together in order to achieve something. The more testing and the more challenging the activity, the better chance of success you will have.

Clothing

Looking and dressing the same is also a key feature of a team unit and so you could spend a small amount of money and get some off-the-field outfits for your squad. If you check out OnTheGo custom t shirts you can get some great deals on training tops, t shirts, sports jackets and a whole range of options which will ensure that your team looks like one both on and off the field of play. When a team arrives for a game and they are all dressed as one, the opposition will know that they are facing a team, and not just a collection of athletes.

Separation

Something which can often happen in a team, and cause friction as a result, is that people will form cliques with their favorite people in the team, and it can end up leaving people excluded. The best way to either avoid or to end this type of separation into factions is to use a buddy system or create small groups in the team, yet using people who perhaps aren’t great friends with one another. In doing this you will be forcing people together and ultimately forcing them to learn about one another, something which will in most cases greatly help the team.

If you are able to implement any of these strategies then the result will be a team unit who work hard for one another and who want to win together. If you can unlock the key to a tight team, then you will find plenty of success.

October 30, 2018 by Greg Underwood

How To Prevent College Dropout

On average there are an estimated 20 million students that enroll in either college or university in America every year. The sad reality is that there are high numbers of those students that fail to make it to graduation. There are studies indicating that only 45% of enrolled students complete their studies within six years of starting classes.

The reasons why a student drops out of their education are many, but for those teachers looking for ways to reduce their falling student numbers, there are some clear and practical ways to prevent college dropout. Combining these methods can keep your class size static, and that will mean that you are making a significant difference to the lives and futures of your students, and becoming a better teacher as a result.

Using technologies to reduce dropouts

Technology has become an integrated part of every area of our lives. Teaching is no different. Every good teacher has learned the value of using technology in the classroom, but it can be used in much more direct and productive ways outside of the classroom too.

Data analysis is a proven way of identifying those students who are likely to drop out, and that identification can help you to focus your attention on their needs. It’s a fact that college retention software is able to help not just your attendance rates, but highlight those students that need the help that you can provide, without disruption. Use technology to help your students, and your classes will improve as a result.

Funding aids

One of the most common reasons for college dropout is financial limitations. Mature students are especially prone to this, but it is an issue across every age range. This can be a frustrating issue for teachers because seeing a promising student fall behind due to money problems has seemingly few solutions.

One thing that you can do is to research financial help options, with some states already having in place retention grants that can help struggling students to get access to help with their finances. Grants are in place, so check with your state to see if these are applicable in your case. These retention grants are just that, and they are not loans that will need to be paid back. The more that you learn about potentially life-changing financial resources, the more that you can help your students and reduce your dropout rates.

Recognizing what the problem isn’t

When discussing the reasons for college dropout, it’s essential to look at the problem in a practical way. The fact is that not every student should be in college. There is a minimal work requirement that not every student is going to be capable of, and pushing those students who lack the commitment means taking your time and focus away from those that will put the work in.

Forcing work onto students who simply don’t want to be there is a waste of both time and money and does neither the student nor the teacher any favors in a very real sense. If you identify those students who have simply chosen the wrong course or the incorrect career pathway, then discuss their alternative options clearly. Give them advice on their options, and you reduce their chances of struggling on a course that they have no interest in.

There’s no disputing that America has a problem when it comes to high dropout rates. As a teacher, it is your responsibility to ensure that your students have the resources and help that they need to take full advantage of their education. Take your time and find the best ways to help your students, and your dropout rates will be vastly improved.

September 13, 2018 by Greg Underwood

3 careers for People Who Love to Write

Many writers have fancied themselves making good money from a career in writing but in most cases, such dreams do not come to pass. However, there are some other writers who genuinely love to spend time creating new pieces and actually go on to pursue a career that is fully inclined to writing jobs from home. Let us take a look at three writing careers you could begin to chase.

Screenwriting-Every great film that has ever made box office success has a great script behind it. Think Avengers: infinity war, Titanic, Bridge of Spies, The Big Short, Deadpool and a host of other films: these films all existed in the mind of a Screenwriter (or a group of screen writers) before they became a reality. If you are a highly creative writer, you could move towards joining the movie industry as a Screenwriter. This would require you to learn the rubrics of writing scripts and internalize lessons from seasoned screenwriters such as Quentin Tarantino (writer of Kill Bill series and Inglorious Bastards), James Cameron (writer of Aliens, Terminator, Avatars and Titanic). After you may have brushed up your knowledge of how to write a screenplay, the next stage is for you to begin writing. Write scripts that are complex and hold no bounds to human understanding like Inception, or a simple love story between a giant and a child. After writing the scripts, the next step will be to ensure that they are pitched to the right quarters in Hollywood, which includes movie directors, actors and Actresses. You may also have to research how to pitch your script to anyone so that you can tick the right boxes on your way to bringing your script into a high grossing box office successful reality.
Columnist-Have you ever fancied yourself in a career where you constantly pitch in your words at reputable news organizations and make money from that? As a thesis writer, you may send in you works to students, but being a Columnist is exactly what that career entails. Some of the most successful Columnists include Maureen Dowd, Malcom Muggeridge, Mike Royko (who wrote more than 7500 daily columns over thirty years) and others. Being a great columnist can lead you to win the Pulitzer prize for commentary as well as making good money. To begin, you should choose a writing niche where you would be able to write with ease and groom yourself to become better. After getting a distinct niche, the next is to begin to write your opinion on specific trends, topics, innovations and gossips as well. While writing, you can begin to send in your opinions to local as well as popular news organizations. At the onset of this career, you may not be earning the high amounts that you envisioned but you will be getting the needed recognition and the pay will steadily rise over the years. The beneficial aspect of this career is the flexibility of time that you have, and spare time that can be used to pursue other hobbies as well as a spare business.
Social Media Manager- The world has become a global village where everyone who wishes to connect, has an online presence. The same is applicable to businesses, brands and other organizations that intend to get new followers, clients as well as better publicity. In order to achieve these lofty goals, they will all need to have highly appealing and very engaging social media platforms where they will communicate with new customer base. Such social media platforms include LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and others. Generally most of these organizations may not have employees who are well versed in writing: that is where you come in. You can build a career by writing for the social media pages of various brands and then getting paid for it. The highly beneficial aspect of this career is that you could confidently manage the portfolios of more than two companies at the same time with the use of great scheduling applications such as Hootsuite.

There is absolutely no paucity of careers that are available for any writer at any given time. You could decide to become an independent author like JK Rowling and have your work transformed into a script for a film, or you could take up a job as a magazine writer. Nevertheless, the most vital thing you should note is that you may encounter a slow start in the career as you are building. However, success is guaranteed when you stick to the career.

August 29, 2018 by Greg Underwood

3 Reasons to Pursue a Career in Psychology

Source

When it comes to choosing a career path, it’s likely that you’re often spoilt for choice. There are so many sectors to choose from and several roles to fill in each sector, so it ultimately boils down to your interests, skills, and talents. One of the things that can help set the course of your career is the degree that you choose to study. You may be reading this because you’re one of many people that has an interest in psychology and want to make your mark in that sector. If this is the case, you’re going to find three reasons to consider pursuing this career in the below article.

It Can Improve Your Relationships

To begin with, one reason you should pursue a career in psychology is that it can improve your relationships. Seeing as you’re essentially learning about people and their behavior, it can help you put things into perspective regarding your relationship with others. Some of the fundamental things that you do on a daily basis in psychology are assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional and behavioral disorders, so you’re bound to learn about other people and what causes their behavior. You should also know that this knowledge is invaluable and can be used in various relationships and interactions with people whether personal or professional. It is also a very marketable skill that employers look for.

Promising Job Prospects

One of the benefits of pursuing a career in psychology is that you have a range of prospects when it comes to employment. If you’ve taken the time out to get a psychology degree online or attended classes every day, then you should know that it isn’t all in vain. Research predicts that by 2024, the employment of psychologists is expected to grow by 19 percent which is considered a lot faster than average growth. This could be because psychologists are needed in a range of areas whether it be schools, hospitals or social service agencies.

Improving Lives

One of the most important things for most people in life is being able to make a difference, no matter how small. The good thing about pursuing a degree in psychology is that you get the chance to do this every single day. Essentially, you’ll be devoting your time and energy to helping people overcome adversity, reach their greatest potential, and be better versions of themselves. As a result, you may also find that your life is improving as a result of helping others. This could be by making you feel happier, helping relieve stress, and giving you a sense of achievement.

Pursuing a career in psychology can seem like a long road in comparison to other careers. However, it is nonetheless one that can be extremely rewarding, especially when you specialize in an area you love. It’s an opportunity to learn more about the people around you and make a positive impact in society. Hopefully, after reading this, your doubt is cleared, and you’re ready to pursue a career in psychology.

August 29, 2018 by Greg Underwood

What to Do to Become a Data Scientist

When it comes to dealing with the high-tech world of today, there is no more important a job than data scientist. Anybody that embarks on such a career opens themselves up to having to face a plethora of questions from business owners to government officials who want to know how ‘big data’ can benefit them and their organizations.

To know how to answer these questions, as well as how to create new algorithms, data scientists have to go through rigorous amounts of training — to see just what this training entails, read on.

Decide… are you a good candidate?

The profession of a data scientist is tough, and it is certainly not made for everybody. For this reason, before you embark on your journey to becoming one, you have to decide whether you are a good enough candidate for such a role.

First, you must ask yourself if your nature is curious enough to constantly push yourself to pursue more learning, as data scientists never stop learning. You also need to be very organized and incredibly astute when it comes to sorting out the data that you obtain, as losing even one point in a million of different points has the potential to break a project. Also, a degree of stubbornness and a willingness to never give up on a challenge are traits that all data scientists should have because this a profession that brings about more frustration than it does fruition.

Get the education and the degrees

You cannot become a data scientist without an education behind you and the degrees hanging on your wall to prove that you’ve got it.

To begin with, you should be taking a bachelor’s degree in either IT, computer science, physics, or math. By doing so, you will be able to get to grips with the technology and calculus knowledge that all data scientists need as their foundation.

Obtaining such a degree will not see you come to the end of your educational journey, though, as you still need to be taking and obtaining a master’s degree, such as the Merrimack data science degree. Doing so will sharpen your problem-solving skills and give you the tools needed to tackle any analytical methods that you come across going forward, and it’ll give you the stamp of approval needed to entice future employers towards hiring you.

Pick your specialization

Every kind of business and organization needs a data scientist working for them, meaning you have a plethora of specializations to choose from when you come to pick your own. At this point, you have to study your own experiences, and you have to pinpoint the area that you feel most comfortable researching and analyzing.