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Certified Approver Program
Continuing Education Requirements
Last Updated: 01/27/04

University employees who have passed both parts of the Certified Approver exam will maintain their certification on an ongoing basis provided:

• they meet the continuing education requirement,
• the organizational need continues to exist, and
• they demonstrate satisfactory performance.

"Eligibility status" is defined as being appointed or available for appointment as a Certified Approver in a college, department or other University unit.

The Continuing Education requirement is waived for the fiscal year* in which the employee passes the final of the two required exams. These individuals are considered to be in "waiver status".

The requirement is to complete eight hours of continuing education each fiscal year*. Occasionally, Certified Approvers may be required to attend mandatory training on topics deemed important to financial management and oversight of sponsored projects at the University. These mandatory requirements will apply to the required eight (8) hours of continuing education. In lieu of any mandatory education, the required hours may be met through a combination of the following three options:

Option #1 - Training events or speakers on campus
The Certified Approver Program will sponsor a minimum of four training opportunities on campus. For example, the training could be a satellite session, an agency visit, or a workshop. The Certified Approver website will list upcoming events.  If a session is presented more than one time you may only receive continuing education credit once every 36 months for that particular presentation.

Option #2 - Financial / Research Society Conference Attendance**
Participation in a regional or national conference sponsored by either a financial or a research administration society or organization. A list of approved organizations can be found on the Certified Approver website. If you wish to attend a meeting that is not listed, please submit details to the OAR office for consideration by the CA Advisory Committee. Committee approval will be based on time commitment and relevance to grants management at the University of Minnesota.  Approved meetings can satisfy up to six hours for a full-day seminar, and a half-day seminar can satisfy up to four hours.

Option #3 - University of Minnesota Central Committee or Project Team
Participation as a member of a University-wide committee or project team that is directly related to the grants management project. Please submit the details of your participation (include committee name, chair, purpose, and time commitment) to the OAR office for consideration by the CA Advisory Committee. Committee approval will be based on time commitment, relevance to grants management, and demonstration of University-wide participation and goals. Approved committee participation can satisfy up to four hours of the requirement. A Certified Approver may use this option once every three years.

Hours will be assigned to each continuing education event. The hours will be approved by CAAC and assigned based on topic(s) delivered, length of event or presentation, and other various factors.

CA Continuing Education activities will be included in your Personal Training Records in Training Registration On-Line. This includes registration for programs sponsored by OAR, and records of other approved training sessions.

Notes:
*   Fiscal Year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30 of each year.
** Travel funds will not be available from the Certified Approver Program or the OAR office.