Working, Exams and Professional Development

Hands up who thought when they left School, College or University that they would still be sitting exams be it 5, 15 or even 20+ years later? Not many hands up I bet!

As I mentioned in my last blog I commute to and from work. The one thing I wish I could do whilst travelling is study. I’ve tried it a few times, but if I read the book on the train I never feel as though I’ve taken any information in. I have a friend who travelled longer distances than I with work and practically sat all her exams on the train. I also have a friend who cross-stitches on the train but I can’t do that either.

Anyway…as part of my job I have to show that I maintain my knowledge in relation to the work I do and the industry I am in. This is done throughout the year via continuous professional development (CPD). I have to achieve a minimum of 100 credits which are obtained in a variety of ways ie, reading trade publications (for example 12 monthly subscriptions = 15 credits), reading technical guides and attending training seminars.

I also try to sit one exam a year (which counts as credits as well), this has worked out well as I now need to obtain a Diploma and because of the exams I’ve sat over the last few years, they count towards it and I now only have 2 papers to sit.  Each paper takes approximately 75-100 study hours to pass (according to the boffins at examining body).

One a year that can’t be too bad I hear you say? It’s not BUT it takes planning as the exams are usually studied for over a 3 to 6 month period. If you sat down and worked out what free time you really have for yourself after you’ve finished your day at work, you’ve finished with the kids and got them to bed, or cooked and washed up and got everything ready for the next day where would you find the time in your day to find a couple of hours to study? Especially if you are studying something that is similar to what you do day in day out rather than something completely different? I don’t know about anyone else but when I studying for a work exam which is all I have studied for apart from a few OU courses it me feel like I’m working instead of studying, if I study during the week after work. I also find as do friends when studying and working that you have to make time for the studying.

So as I only have 2 exams left to pass, I wanted to get them both done this year (instead of the usual one), firstly because there are other things I want to do now rather than study (until they bring out the next must have qualification) and secondly I’m 42 this year and it would be nice to have a break from studying and try something new that is different that I want to do like write. However as I need if possible to find 200 hours over the next 6 months I need to get cracking.

Like most people who work and study I always start with a study plan, this usually gets thrown out the window after week 2 as although I’m organised if work needs to be done that is a priority for me. I often work on a Sunday afternoon (yes I know I’m a workaholic I can’t help it I’m a control freak). I also have to take into account I also suffer from Chronic Pain in the form of headaches caused by variety of things which I’ll cover in a later blog. Good news is the pain is manageable the majority of the time but sometimes I need to sleep or relax rather than study/work.

So wish me luck I’m going to give it a go and see what happens, as I'll still be blogging and doing my book reviews as well J