Frequently Asked Questions about the Study Guides Question 1  Does the total cost of the Study Guides include everything? Yes, the price includes all costs except for postage and handling and your cost for postage used in mailing the examinations to R & A for grading.  Cost for shipping and handling is $20.00 within the U.S.  Shipping to foreign countries, or by overnight express mail or by private carrier, will be more.  R&A will estimate the costs if  you request special handling.  NOTE: there is a possible increase in shipping costs for 2010.  Watch this website for further information. Question 2  Do I have to take a final examination? No, if you are not interested in either the certification as issued by CCE or the continuing education credits from CCE toward renewing your certificate, you need not take the final examination. Question 3  How many people have used the various Study Guides? Over 1,000 professionals have learned by using R & A Study Guides.  They have come from throughout the U.S. and a number of foreign countries.  Our most popular Study Guide is the GCDF, but the continuing education Study Guides are gaining in popularity as more people become certified GCDFs. Question 4  What types of professionals have used the Study Guides? Guidance professionals in K - 12, Job Corps Centers, and college and universities have completed the various Study Guides. Others completing the Study Guides include career counselors, workforce and one-stop staff, teachers and college professors, and individuals who work in nonprofit organizations or companies who provide career counseling. Question 5  Do I have to be a current professional to use the Study Guides? No, you do not need to be a current professional to benefit from the Study Guides.  We have had individuals who were preparing for a new career use the Study Guides, as well as people who were interested in operating their own businesses complete them. Question 6  What is R & A’s completion rate for the Study Guides? We have an excellent completion rate for all of the Study Guides.  Our completion rate is over 90 percent for individuals who begin the Study Guide. Question 7  Can anyone earn continuing education credit for the Study Guides? No, because the continuing education Study Guides, with the exception of the GCDF and Bed and Breakfast, are designed to help current GCDF’s earn the continuing education credit they need for recertification. Question 8  Can I earn college credit by finishing the Study Guides? R & A is not a school, but some individuals who have completed the Study Guides have arranged for college undergraduate or graduate credit at the colleges or universities where they were enrolled.  R & A would be pleased to work with you if you are interested in obtaining credit from your school. Question 9  How long does it take to complete a Study Guide? For the GCDF the average length of time to complete this Study Guide is approximately 6-months and the final exam takes the average person one additional month, but you have 12-months to complete this and the B & B Study Guide.  The Bed and Breakfast Study Guide takes about the same amount of time, while the other Study Guides take about 2 to 3 months to complete, but you have 6-months to complete these Study Guides.  Deadlines begin when your Study Guide is mailed to you (with the exception of foreign mailings, that deadline is extended by two (2) weeks). Question 10  What other requirements are there for the Study Guides? We have designed these Study Guides as interactive learning experiences.  They each have different sets of “homework” that the individual is expected to complete as part of the Study Guide.  We can request examples of the completed work before we issue the final certificate for any Study Guide. Question 11  What academic credential do I earn for completing the Study Guides? As we said earlier, R & A is not a school, so we only offer a certificate of completion for the Study Guides.  Those who wish to be certified by CCE can use the GCDF Study Guide as part of their justification for the GCDF Certificate.  Likewise, for current GCDFs, the continuing education Study Guides can be used in part for recertification as a professional GCDF.  There is a certificate of completion available for completing the Bed and Breakfast Study Guide.

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