Consulting Services for Associations, Foundations, Certification Entities, and Non-Profit Organizations

Educational Strategy Development
Often associations and professional societies plan education programs without defining long term goals and objectives. It is important to have a strategy to ensure that programs are truly serving the needs of members. Westman & Associates Consulting can:

  • Facilitate a needs analysis (learner, job task, content, organizational)

  • Develop a framework for documenting a specific body of knowledge in your industry/area of specialty

  • Devise a methodology to inventory education products

  • Determine competencies needed for optimal job performance

  • Develop an education strategy to drive program development

  • Outline milestones and tactics to operationalize the strategy

Education Program Improvement and Development
Once an organization determines its education strategy, taking a fresh look at existing programs is just as important as planning new initiatives. We can help your organization to:

  • Evaluate existing programs, resources, and technology to optimize engagement and ROI aligned with the organization’s education strategy

  • Translate educational strategy to the development of new education products

  • Develop measurements to track ROI, learner engagement, effectiveness, and knowledge/practice gaps

Education Technology Platforms
With all of the choices that not for profit organizations have for learning management systems (LMS), certification platforms, abstract management systems, and webinar/live event delivery tools, it can be difficult to match technology to what your organization needs now and in the future to support new education offerings. Westman & Associates has extensive expertise in developing requests for proposals designed to ascertain ideal platforms and tools. Our experts can take on the work to:

  • Assess current technology in terms of functionality, integration with other systems, and technical specifications.

  • Develop a RFP that encompasses all aspects of system implementation

  • Facilitate the RFP process

  • Oversee implementation of new platforms from start to finish

Accreditation & Credentialing
Education programs often require one or more types of accreditation approval. Organizations may need to become approved providers of education through various accrediting or credentialing bodies. They may also need to assess whether adding new types of approval add value to their membership. Development of certification or credentialing programs often comes with the territory of being an education provider. Westman & Associates has extensive experience with Continuing Medical Education Accreditation and other types of accreditation in the healthcare space. We also help organizations set up credentialing programs (certification, micro-credential, assessment-based certificate) to enable members to attain credentials that demonstrate professional achievement and a proven level of expertise. Our consultants will help your organization:

  • Determine readiness for becoming an approved (accredited) provider

  • Assess whether a credentialing is the right decision based on various criteria

  • Develop operationalization plans for implementing and maintaining accreditation approval or a credentialing program

  • Recommend optimal staff and volunteer resources to support accreditation or credentialing initiatives

  • Assist with provider approval applications

  • Oversee a RFP process for conducting a job task analysis and certification vendor search to support test item writing, psychometrics, test delivery, candidate management, and recertification