Courses and Certificates
As the world evolves, it is critical to continually build your skill sets and knowledge base through professional
development. To help meet the demand for quality, cost-effective continuing education opportunities, ISU Extension is offering online
certificate courses. These courses can help students gain a competitive advantage in the workplace by providing opportunities to learn
essential skills used in today's business culture. The courses will help workers and job applicants stand apart from the rest of the
crowd. Upon completion of a course, participants will receive a certificate of completion from Iowa State University Extension that can
be proudly displayed and provide needed credentials for career advancement.
New courses are being developed continuously, so please check back often to see all the opportunities we have to offer! You may also
want to check out the Academies we have to offer, which are courses grouped together for particular fields, interests and employers. We
also offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for certain courses, conferences and workshops.
If you have suggestions for other courses or programs, please complete our
brief survey so we
can better meet your needs.
For more information on any of our programs or services, contact Iowa State University Extension Continuing Education and Professional
Development at 515-294-6222 or cepd-courses@iastate.edu.
Frequently asked questions
Policies for Online Courses
Basics of Professional Writing
You will learn, or review, writing techniques that help you reach and engage your reader. By working through the topics, you will
determine the best form of written communication for your message and assess reading level of the written materials (fog index).
Also included in this course is a review of grammar rules, with an emphasis on the importance of spelling and proofreading. You will
be asked to select a topic, an audience and a format for a document that you will write for the course, practicing the information
covered.
Effective Communication Skills
This course covers oral, written and nonverbal communications for a business environment. Students will learn how to develop
formal and informal written communications, the fundamentals of presentation skills, and how to conduct effective meetings.
Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
This course is designed to provide a broad understanding of the Lean Six Sigma improvement methodology, concepts, and language, along
with a complete toolbox of basic process improvement methods applied within the Six Sigma DMAIC framework. This course is targeted
toward a wide audience of Lean Six Sigma team members who need familiarity with the overall process and the basic process improvement
tools.
Steps to Becoming an Effective Presenter
Learn the steps to improve your professional speaking skills. This course covers the key concept areas of presenting to your audience,
reading your audience, techniques to engage your audience, and presentation preparation. This course is presented by Dan Peterson,
professional speaker of Encore Seminar Enterprises.
Cost Engineering
Learn or review the basic knowledge required for certification as a cost engineer or cost consultant.
Fundamental Skills and Knowledge of Cost Engineering by correspondence is a self-paced, structured method to prepare for the
certification exam. The Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Iowa State University administers the course.
Bloodborne Pathogens & Sharps Safety Training (for Canine Handlers)
This course is designed for first responders and canine handlers who have the potential to
be exposed to human blood or other materials potentially infected with bloodborne pathogens (human cell lines, human
tissues, other human body fluids) and use or encounter sharps while performing their assigned job duties. This course is
mandated by OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard including the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Law (29 CFR 1910.1030).
Resource Management Skills
This course delves into the concepts and practices that one needs to utilize when managing his/her
agencies' resources.
