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6 Reasons Why Continuing Education Is Important

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What is continuing education?

Continuing education generally refers to any post-secondary learning or programs that adults pursue after formal education. This can vary from seminars or one-time classes to online courses and entire degree programs.

Some professions require continuing education in a variety of ways. Some of these requirements come in the form of yearly classes or tests to keep you up on changes in your industry.

Other professions require continuing education in the form of advanced degrees , which prepare you for new responsibilities and opportunities.

Still other professions require attendance at conferences or lectures to help employees learn from other experts in their field.

Successful business men and women, from Warren Buffett to Oprah, are huge advocates of continuing education. Barack Obama has spoken often about reading for his own learning for at least an hour a day during his time in the White House.

But can continuing education actually benefit you? Find out why it’s a good idea for you to pursue continuing education and how you can get started.

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Why is continuing education important?

1. Increases your chances for promotion.

Many times, employers find your pursuit of continuing education a great reason to give you a promotion. They recognize you’ve invested time and sometimes money into improving yourself and want to reward that. Your new education also makes you more qualified for advanced work and an ideal candidate for promotions.

Employers also sometimes have positions within a company that have an advanced degree as a basic requirement. Getting that advanced degree could be the factor in being picked for a promotion.

Similarly, when placed side-by-side with another candidate for a promotion, you will stand out to and impress a hiring manager if you have more education. Education qualifies you to handle more tasks and responsibilities and may have even given you specific knowledge in how to do a job better.

If you’re hoping to get a promotion, an advanced degree or other continuing education pathway could be the key to help you get there. From giving you skills and abilities, to showing your employer how dedicated you are to improving yourself, there are many reasons why your continuing education plan can help you get a promotion.

2. Increases your salary.

Continuing education often leads to a raise or a higher starting salary at a new position. Whether you will be offered a raise or promotion in your current job or will qualify for a new job that has a better salary, continuing education will have a major benefit for your income.

On average, a college degree holder will earn twice as much as someone who doesn’t have a degree. This form of continuing education often requires you to invest in yourself, but the payout at the end is usually well worth it.

WGU students are no exception. On average, WGU graduates increase their pre-enrollment income by $12,600 within two years of graduation and by $18,400 within four years. This is far higher than the national average of $12,400 after four years.

Associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees can bring these income benefits to employees.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, advanced education of every kind increases your income by thousands of dollars a year.

If you’re hoping to get a raise or move to a career with better pay, continuing education may be the way to go.

3. Increases your ability to make a career transition.

If you’re ready to move into a new career field, often the first step will be gaining education that qualifies you for that new path.

From nurses to teachers to accountants, many professions have strict requirements for licensure or degrees in order to qualify. Obtaining this education will make you prepared to move into a new career.

Many professions require continuing education because they have specific training that is crucial to your success. Without this education, there’s no way for you to qualify for or succeed in a position.

Learning new skills through continuing education is key to being prepared for a career transition.

4. Improves your image and marketability.

Continuing education is a valuable element to your résumé. For many jobs it is a direct qualification requirement to have a certain amount of education, but even if you meet the minimum qualifications, additional education will make you stand out.

Consider if you’re one of several candidates up for a job. If you have additional education, you will obviously be looked at more closely.

You will stand out not only because of your additional qualifications, but employers will recognize that you have the determination to take on a challenge—and succeed.

Employers will also recognize that you have new insights on the most current trends and skills in your industry, as well as having additional technology experience because of your time spent learning something new.

Overall, your image will increase, as will your job marketability, if you pursue continuing education.

5. Improves your lifestyle.

If you’re not satisfied with your current lifestyle, continuing education could be the answer to your problems.

Want to make more money? Want to switch your job? Want to feel more fulfilled? Need new skills? Continuing education can help you accomplish all these goals.

As you spend time devoted to learning, the outcomes are positive for your career and your overall lifestyle. Improving your career often trickles down to the rest of your life because you’re more satisfied with your job, make more money, etc.

Don’t wait to change your life, start your continuing education path now and get ready for the lifestyle you have wanted.

6. Increases personal development.

Even if you’re completely satisfied with your job and lifestyle, that doesn’t mean continuing education isn’t for you.

Experts agree that learning should be a lifelong process, and devoting time to continuing education can be a journey of personal development.

Whether you want to learn more about a subject that you find interesting or want some additional skills to take to your work, there are ways you can use continuing education to your advantage.

Even if your pursuit of education is purely for personal reasons, you can truly take advantage of advanced learning on your path to become a better person.

How do I get involved with continuing education?

So now you’re convinced that continuing education is a good path for you, what’s the next step?

There are many options for how you can pursue continuing education.

Ask within your office if there are courses or seminars specific for your company that you could take or that are recommended.

You can talk to colleagues, friends, and family about what they have done to pursue continuing education and determine if something similar is right for you.

Or, you can research places like WGU and learn how a degree could help you reach your goals.

With bachelor’s and master’s degree offerings you’re likely to find a program that meets your needs here.

Now is the time to get started on a new journey that will change your life.

Ready to Start Your Journey?

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Why is Professional Development Important?

Learn the role of professional development in advancing your career.

Lian Parsons

Professional development is an important aspect of continuing your career growth and striving to reach your goals.

This blog post will explain what professional development is, its benefits to both employers and their employees, and how to seek different opportunities out to reach your full potential.

What is Professional Development?

Professional development is gaining new skills through continuing education and career training after entering the workforce. It can include taking classes or workshops, attending professional or industry conferences, or earning a certificate to expand your knowledge in your chosen field.

Some companies offer in-house opportunities for professional development, such as training sessions or mentoring programs, but many professional development programs are done independently. 

Professional development is important because it has the potential to open opportunities for career advancement, such as promotions. It can assist you in honing existing skills and in learning new ones. 

It can also help you stand out in a pool of applicants; showing that you have completed professional development programs or additional industry certifications on your resume can go a long way in showing your expertise in your field.

Employees who show initiative in independent learning can signal to employers that you are open to new experiences and are enthusiastic about continuing to grow. 

Benefits of Professional Development for Employers

Professional development can be instrumental in growing a stronger team.

Employers who encourage their employees to seek out professional development opportunities are in turn encouraging higher productivity and job satisfaction. 

Higher Retention Rates

According to a Business News Daily article, businesses should offer professional development opportunities to their employees to improve potential turnover.

Professional development can help to bolster employees’ confidence in their work. Greater confidence can, in turn, translate into higher overall job satisfaction, employee performance, productivity, and overall morale. 

Investing in professional development training programs also shows employees that their company is invested in their success and interested in cultivating their advancement.

Attract Better Talent

It can be challenging to find — and retain — talented employees. Offering professional development opportunities can help employers fill open positions by attracting and retaining skilled employees.

According to talent management platform Clear Company, 74 percent of employees say that a lack of professional development opportunities are preventing them from reaching their full potential. Additionally, 94 percent of employees would stay longer at a company if it invested in staff development.

Employers offering these benefits are more likely to attract potential employees who are interested in striving for excellence and pursuing advancement. 

Investing in professional development for employees can grow an existing team’s skills and entice new talent to join with the incentive of a clear learning and development plan. 

Help Employees Stay Up to Date With Industry Trends to Keep Skills Sharp

Industry trends move rapidly, and it’s important for companies to keep pace with the times. Ongoing professional development can prevent potential stagnation by maintaining — and improving — employee skills. 

Look for programs that will help you stay up to date, such as those for agile leadership for hybrid work, or for innovation strategy .

Employees engaged in professional development are also more likely to stay engaged in their work and to be enthusiastic about pursuing their goals. 

Get started on your professional development journey today.

Benefits of Professional Development for Employees

From gaining confidence in your abilities to building potential for advancement, professional development offers employees many benefits for not only your career, but your personal goals as well. 

Learn new skills

Through professional development, you may hone both hard and soft skills in your work. Hard skills pertain to job-specific knowledge you can obtain through formal training or education. Soft skills are personal competencies, such as effective communication or the skills that contribute to emotional intelligence . 

Developing both types of skills is important to reaching your professional goals — and even some of your personal ones.

Boost Confidence and Credibility

Adding additional skills or certification from a professional development program to your resume is one way to boost your confidence in your skills and show your credibility to employers.

Professional development opportunities can expose both new and experienced professionals to new ideas and expertise. Seeking out these opportunities shows ambition and the space to practice those new competencies. 

Develop Leadership Skills

A confident employee is also likely an enthusiastic employee. If you take the step to grow and develop your skills, the incentive to seek out additional opportunities can continue to expand along with it. 

If you are an employee who wants to advance your career but isn’t sure how to do so, professional development can encourage you to put your hand up for leadership opportunities you may not have sought out otherwise. 

This blog post offers helpful tips on how to choose a leadership development program.

Build Your Network

Professional development can provide many opportunities for networking. Workshops, conferences, classes, and webinars are all spaces in which professionals can meet new people within their industry and make new connections.

These connections can lead to new opportunities, mentorship, and support which may provide the next stepping stone in your career. 

Advance in your career

A well-qualified employee attracts employer attention. Employees who are invested in professional development display commitment to their work and an interest in continuing to improve.

Professional development can also boost your earning potential by increasing your value through obtaining credentials, certifications, and designations. 

Where to Take Professional Development Courses

There are a broad range of professional development opportunities. 

Harvard Division of Continuing Education’s Professional & Executive Development offers dozens of courses spanning multiple industries. Your employer may even help you pay for these opportunities if you effectively show their worth.  

There are both in-person and online options available, so choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle.

Seek out programs, workshops, seminars, mentorship programs, and more within your industry. Investing in yourself is just the first step.

Take the next step to advance your career. Find the program that’s right for you.

Browse all Professional & Executive Development programs.

About the Author

Lian Parsons is a Boston-based writer and journalist. She is currently a digital content producer at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. Her bylines can be found at the Harvard Gazette, Boston Art Review, Radcliffe Magazine, Experience Magazine, and iPondr.

Strategic Leadership

Senior level managers must tackle complex problems using creative problem-solving and a portfolio of skills and styles. Here’s a look at how being a strategic leader can move an organization—and your career—forward.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

What Is Continuing Education And Why Is It Important?

In our world of information overload, the question “what is continuing education?” is a very common one. Depending on the individual and situation, it can also mean a variety of things that range across the education spectrum.

Table of Contents

What is continuing education, why is continuing education important, develop an attitude of gratitude for continuous learning, final thoughts, want to know more about continuing education.

Continuing education is an all-encompassing term that describes a variety of formal and informal learning activities and methods.

For example, at one end of the spectrum, we have courses and certifications that enabled you to further develop your skills and knowledge in specific areas of your career or profession. At the other end of the spectrum, we have much simpler activities such as reading or attending seminars which you can also utilize to great effect to continue educating yourself.

There is no right or wrong option here. The real goal is figuring out which option works best for you and how you can apply it to your daily life.

In the end, self-education comes down to your pursuit of acquiring knowledge or developing skills.

Keep in mind that continuing education ranges from getting the requirements to take that next step in your professional life, to learning and pursuing research based on your interests.

Throughout the process of education, we begin to adopt the idea that we can only learn from authority figures, such as people with the appropriate credentials and accolades, or those who are given the title of teacher or professor.

This is an outdated opinion, especially given the contemporary world where most people already have access to so much relevant information at the tip of their fingertips.

There is something that can be learned from everyone and every experience that you have in your life. But to begin grasping those lessons, you first need to appreciate them.

Imagine this scenario:

You are walking down the street in your home town and somebody stops you to have a quick conversation. However, you think you are busy so you avoid them. This is an unfortunately common occurrence for a lot of individuals.

If you walk around thinking that you are better than other people, or as though you are too busy to make time for them, you are going to miss out on many potentially important lessons.

This is why an attitude of gratitude is becoming increasingly important. If we can learn to adopt an attitude of gratitude, we are going to become more receptive to the lessons around us.

This enables us to better answer the question we started with:

What is continuing education?

It is being open to the opportunities that the universe presents us so that we can continue to learn.

Imagine if you could not only retain what you were learning every day but also build on that knowledge. Think about the impact that would have on your life.

Now that we have a better understanding of the answer to the two questions mentioned earlier, it is time to discuss why all of these are important.

After all, if we do not understand why continuing education is important, we are more likely to lose motivation, which is an obstacle that we would prefer to avoid. [1]

Compliance With Professional Standards

For professionals and workers who are required to stay up to date with their knowledge and skillsets, the need for continuing education is quite clear. This type of education enables them to comply with the laws, standards, and certifications that allow them to remain licensed and working within their profession.

They need these opportunities to start a career in their field of interest. Continuing education allows them to become more qualified so that they can progress to higher levels within their profession and gain more income, freedom, or responsibility.

Learning More About What You Are Passionate About

However, for other individuals, continuing education has another importance. Continuing education enables people to learn more about the things they are passionate about.

This impact can take effect in a variety of different ways. Continually educating yourself could give you the confidence boost you need and serve as a foundation for the next step you want to take in a given area of knowledge.

Sometimes people are not yet fully aware of their passions in life. Reading this article can help you find yours: How To Find and Develop Your Passions .

Opportunities to Meet People

Another significance of continuing education is that it presents opportunities to meet other people. In a world that puts high importance on having a wide social network, continuing education becomes very useful. Even if you are just making new friends in your field, it can have a significant impact on your path towards your education.

Finally, and possibly the most important reason is that continuing education allows you to learn about the things that you have an innate curiosity for. It allows you to begin pursuing your passions and directing yourself towards the future that you would enjoy bringing into reality.

Now let us shift from our original question of “what is continuing education?” to “how do we develop attitudes of gratitude?” for a brief moment.

In the next section, we will quickly examine why this is an important component of our answer to the first question.

There are a few ways to begin working towards embodying an attitude of gratitude, and you can pick and choose the attitudes that resonate with you the most.

Here are a few examples that you may consider:

1. Take the Time to Meditate

Meditation is one way for people to begin developing more gratitude within themselves. This may seem counterintuitive at first. But how does doing nothing develop a grateful attitude? You are right, it does not.

However, it does put us in a great headspace, which encourages us to become more mindful in our daily practices and make us more receptive to gratitude.

If you want to learn more about meditation, this quick guide may help you: The 5-minute Guide to Meditation: Anywhere, Anytime .

2. Express Your Gratitude Verbally

Another straightforward way to begin developing an attitude of gratitude is to begin talking about it more and expressing your gratefulness. You can express it to someone for something as simple as them opening up a door for you. Saying thank you goes a long way for you and others.

By acting gratefully, you will begin having these emotions more regularly, which can eventually integrate into your normal actions.

3. Create a Daily Gratitude Journal

Another method is to keep a gratitude journal. This brings your gratitude from your mind to your external environment where you can more effectively visualize what it is that you are thankful for.

For example, say you are thankful for your family. The next time one of them gets on your nerves, read your journal so you will be more reminded of how you are grateful for them, even though they annoyed you.

Overall,  these activities instill the mindset of being receptive to the lessons around you so that you can fully absorb them and grow into a better person.

If you like more tips on how to develop an attitude of gratitude, check out this article: 40 Simple Ways To Practice Gratitude

Hopefully, you now have a better answer to the question of continuing education now that you have read this article.

By now, you should not only understand what an attitude of gratitude is, but also how you can begin developing it in your own life. Hopefully, through these efforts, you will prime yourself to become more receptive to new learning experiences in your daily life and never miss another opportunity to grow as an individual.

Finally, you should now know the importance of continual education, both from a professional standpoint and a personal one. Through this, you can truly take your life wherever you would like it to go and become whatever type of person you wish to become.

Your future is in your hands.

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Featured photo credit: Clay Banks via unsplash.com

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Why continuous education matters.

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I have a saying that our lives can be divided into two broad phases. In the first, we don’t know anything. In the second, we realize we don’t know anything. Growth, learning and improvement come once we realize the second phase. With that objective in mind, below are the lessons I have learned in building my company and the team within it, all the while creating a culture and mindset of continuous growth and improvement.

There is a saying that “youth is wasted on the young.” Regardless of how you feel about that particular belief, I would argue that a rephrasing of the concept is more appropriate: Education is wasted on the young. I am not arguing that we should not educate our young. Our brains are at their most plastic and technically receptive in our youth , and ignoring that would be a recipe for personal and societal decline. That being said, during this period where our brains are theoretically most primed for learning, our attention is often scattered . Anyone who has been a teenager, and especially those who have been a teenager’s parent, can attest to this fact firsthand.

On the other side, during our peak years of earning  as adults, we are often solely focused on doing the tasks in front of us.   In my experience, I came out of school thinking I knew everything, but when I entered the “real world,” I came to the realization that I actually knew nothing. Just as I was hit in the face with this insight, I simultaneously stopped my education.

Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott’s book, The 100-Year Life , provides useful insight on why this is such a poor way for us to structure our learning and our lives in this day and age. There may have been a time when we could divide our life into three mutually exclusive phases: education, work and retirement, but no longer. To remain competitive in the workplace, we must continue to learn. To fund our ever-lengthening lifespan, we must continue to work. Education and productivity must work hand in hand.

This is something we don’t just believe in -- we live it on a daily basis at my company. One of our core values is continuous growth, and we back that up in numerous ways. Investing in everyone’s professional growth is a given. But we also literally invest money in each and every employee’s personal growth. Whether it is joining industry or functional organizations and peer groups, attending conferences in areas of interest that may be outside a person’s day job, or even going back to school to learn new skills or get a new degree, every employee receives a personal annual stipend for growth outside of their core responsibilities.

This investment in growth does not have to be limited to dollars. A far more famous example is Google's 20% time . The idea is to create space for employees to explore and grow outside of their day jobs. This growth and exploration certainly benefits the employees as individuals, but it also creates better results for the business. Gmail and Google Maps both started as side projects.

These may sound like perks or generosity, but they are neither. It is (almost) entirely self-interested. By recruiting and hiring people who value investment in their continuous growth, our candidates self-select for the things we value. By investing in their growth outside of their day-to-day work, they actually become better at that day-to-day work, and often redefine that work, making the company better and stronger. They are also more loyal to the company, ensuring that you don’t just attract the best people, but also keep them. There is real business logic to this seemingly non-business investment.

Identifying this desire for growth is key to our hiring process. Every prospective employee has to get through a barrage of interviews testing for the skills and experience needed for the specific role they are looking to fill. However, this is not enough. Every employee is also tested across our values, a key one being a continuous growth mindset. Interviewing for such traits can be tricky. If not phrased properly, the “right” answer can seem obvious and the process pointless. The best way to handle this is to interview for personal experience. Rather than asking “How important is personal growth to you?” instead ask, “What have you done in the past month/week/day to invest in your own professional/personal development?” If a person does not know immediately, has to search for answers or draws a blank, it is pretty clear growth is not a personal value. Fine. Just not fine for us.

Not everyone gets to that second stage of life at the same time. That being said, we only want those who have, who possess the hunger to make the most of it. By investing in them, they invest in us. We support one another in this perpetual second phase and our business is better for it.

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Why Continuing Education Is Important

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By Matt Rowley Posted on June 11, 2024

In a competitive job market, continuing education is a way to ensure your skillset remains valuable to employers. It can help you stay updated about current trends in your industry, and it's a great way to develop professionally and get ahead in your field.

Additionally, some positions – such as those in emergency medical services – have continuing education requirements to remain active in the profession.

In this article, we explore the value of continuing education.

What Is Continuing Education?

Continuing education is typically defined as a type of professional development in which students who have already completed a degree program return to a school setting for additional learning. Continuing education courses can be designed for students who work in specific industries, or they can also focus on skills or technologies that are helpful across all career fields.

Continuing education programs are offered in a variety of in-person, online or hybrid settings. Students typically earn a certain number of continuing education units – or CEUs – after completing a course.

Related: The Difference Between Continuing Education and Professional Development

What Is the Importance of Continuing Education?

Why is continuing education important? In this section, we explore some of the many benefits of continuing education for working professionals.

A Competitive Edge

When applying for jobs, including your continuing education courses on your resume can give you a competitive edge over other candidates. This information shows employers you're dedicated to professional development and motivated to continue learning and growing.

Career Advancement

Your quest for continuing education can help you advance your career. If your manager sees you're investing time and money into bettering yourself professionally, that may tip the scales in your favor when the times comes for a potential promotion or salary increase .

For example, here at Columbia Southern University, law enforcement officers can broaden their knowledge with continuing education courses in topics such as human trafficking or forensic investigation.

Career Changes

If you're thinking about embarking on a new career path , continuing education can help you meet the qualifications for the job. And if you already have a degree , you may not need a second bachelor’s or a graduate degree to make that change. Depending on your industry, continuing education courses – or in some cases, a certificate program – may be enough for your potential new employer.

Confidence Building

The more knowledge and skill you have in your industry, the more confident you’ll be in your work. For this reason, continuing education can help you master new skills and concepts and give your confidence a boost. Confidence in the workplace can help you communicate better, take feedback well, deal with conflict, and become a manager or leader.

Personal Development

Learning is lifelong and can help you grow as an individual, not just as an employee. You might pursue continuing education to learn about something you've always been interested in or to develop skills you've always wanted to master. Continuing education can also help you mature, discover new talents and passions, or gain a new perspective on your life and career.

As you develop your professional development plan , if decide that pursuing continuing education is a good fit for you, check out the courses available here at Columbia Southern University. For detailed info about our CE courses in criminal justice, information technology, safety and more, visit our Continuing Education website .

To learn more about all our online degree programs at CSU, visit our website .

Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography and degree field, affect career outcomes. CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.

CSU continuing education programs are not eligible for Federal Student Aid, military tuition assistance, VA funding or Learning Partner discounts.

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The Concept and Role of Continuing Education Analytical Essay

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Continuing education is closely associated with adult educations, except for a few distinctions. In particular, individuals who decide to continue education are assumed to already have the basic education. Hence, the purpose of completing education lies in advancing their professional skills and competence.

However, people who plan to fulfill this purpose often confront a number of challenges hampering their desire to obtain higher degree in education. Individuals striving to continue education often take job positions and, as a result, they do not have enough time and resources for learning. Lack of coordination and inability to follow schedule are often the main obstacles to acquiring knowledge.

Apart from problem with schedule, the majority of adults cannot afford continuing education because of financial problems. Allocation of responsibilities is complicated for adults in case they need to continue education. Nevertheless, reassessment of their behavioral patterns can contribute to solving the problem of time and responsibility distributions.

Adults’ attitudes and behaviors are hard to predict in terms of their intention to continue education. According to the studies by Chiu Ming and Qijie, “normative believe was a better predictor of participation intention in continuing education than positive and negative attitudes in the contexts” (161).

Based on the Theory of Reasoned Action, it is possible to assume that adults’ different attitudes to continuing education often correlate with motivation to comply with societal norms. Indeed, the current social system approves the necessity to obtain a degree in order to receive a prestigious job and high social status.

Therefore, some of the individuals who need continuing education suffer from inappropriate coordination. Under these circumstances, further education has great potential for individuals taking part-time jobs, which leads to increased demand, as well as market significance of post-secondary education for adults.

Recent trends in continuing education involve adults into consumerist behavior. In the majority of cases, adult students search for the ways to reflect their demand to colleges and universities that have flexible schedule and modes of study. A consumer-like behavior allows educators to consider the learning process as a product or service.

At this point of Chiu Ming and Qijie, “…continuing education has become a market-driven industry and the adult students” (162). Such an approach, therefore, allows the educational leaders to predict the main reasons and trends in adults’ intentions and needs concerning their desire to continue the academic process.

In order to increase demand for post-secondary education, the instructors strive to improve the quality of continuing education. As an example, Van Hoof and Meehan believe that continuing education of health care professionals is a major condition for quality improvement in a clinician setting (207).

Other important components are associated with continuing education paradigms that refer to a prioritized list of educational objectives and outcomes. They specifically focus on necessary interventions, rationale for those interventions, and contextual factors affecting the outcomes of those interventions.

As a result, in order to meet the demands and concerns of adults entering higher education, specific emphasis should be placed on reconsidering the previous modes of adult education, as well as on outlining new continuing education paradigms that reflect important aspects of quality improvement. Hence, the main purpose of continuing education should be focused on change and important outcomes rather than on the actual program of post-education.

The development of modern continuing education programs should also be concerned with an individual centered-approach for adults to fulfill their unique. As a result, the accepted standards of adult education should not relate to traditional programs of teaching various disciplines, but to individualized approaches to each person entering a continuing education program.

At this point, Van Hoof and Meehan insist, “the paradigm flaw is its inability to account for the complexity of the learning process” (207). Hence, the programs that seek to enhance knowledge and competence of individuals are insufficient because they fail to consider changing factors of social and cultural background.

Practicing change, therefore, is the key for promoting continuing education among adults. Despite the emerged challenges, the modern adult learners are less resistant to change because of the possibility to promote their professional careers. The reality is that desire and accurate objectives are not enough for continuing education due to the financial problems.

Therefore, there should be affordable, beneficial services that can allow adults to take various courses at a reasonable price (Dorch 14). Besides, educators should consider the adults’ greater engagement into the learning process, as compared to younger generation of students because they have much narrower goal orientation.

In conclusion, adults experience serious challenges for completing education and receiving a degree because of time constrains, location, and financial responsibilities for the tuition fee. At this point, the educational leaders should be interested in developing beneficial continuing education programs that can satisfy their needs in terms of flexibility.

Moreover, the development of distant learning has become a viable solution for adults who need to acquire knowledge and extra skills for professional advancement. Finally, adults are more goal-oriented during the learning process in comparison with students, and therefore, the academic process can become less time-consuming and problematic.

Works Cited

Chiu Ming, Lau, and Chen Qijie. “Modeling Participation Intention Of Adults In Continuing Education – A Behavioral Approach.” International Education Studies 5.3 (2012): 161-177. Print.

Dorch, Bernita. “Continuing Education.” Network Journal 19.4 (2012): 14-5. Print.

Van Hoof, Thomas and Thomas P. Meehan. “Integrating Essential Components Of Quality Improvement Into A New Paradigm For Continuing Education.” Journal Of Continuing Education In The Health Professions 31.3 (2011): 207-214. Print.

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Benefits of Continuing Education

Do you have a dead end job where there are few, if any, opportunities for promotion? If this describes you, there are still opportunities to make a career transition to pursue the job you’ve always wanted. To make a career change, you might have to obtain more education. Whether you enjoy learning or want a higher paying job, continuing education can be pursued at any time during one’s working life.

In fact, continuing education can open up previously closed doors or lead to better job opportunities. Continuing education usually refers to college courses or other vocational training obtained by older adults or working professionals.

This has been corroborated by research, which finds that students in continuing education programs are usually older adults or working professionals.

Rising Numbers

Economic conditions are one of the main reasons driving demand for continuing education, and many people enroll in continuing education programs during recessions. Likewise, during recessions, many workers seek to improve skills to remain hired or find new job opportunities.

There are many wide-ranging reasons why you might want to consider getting additional education. From better wages to personal improvement, here are just some of the reasons that you might want to consider going back to school.

Increase Your Chance at Promotions and Better Wages

Those with jobs who obtain graduate degrees improve promotion opportunities and can qualify for higher wages. It is often required to complete specialized training to quality for certain jobs, such as management or administration positions.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the outlook for those with a master’s degree is quite positive. Although graduate degrees won’t necessarily improve wages in all fields, a master’s degree still leads to increased wages in numerous jobs. For instance, logisticians with a bachelor’s degree earn $54,000 annually while those with a master’s degree earn $82,000 annually. Similarly, marketing and sales managers earn $80,000 annually with a bachelor’s degree while those with a master’s degree earn $110,000 annually. These are just two examples of how a graduate degree can help improve wages.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies STEM fields, business, education, and healthcare careers as areas where a master’s degree is commonly a vehicle for increased wages. However, there are many other jobs where a master’s degree will help. Librarians, fitness workers, and public relations specialists are just a few additional examples where those with master’s degrees earn more than those with a bachelor’s degree.

Whether you should pursue a master’s degree should begin with an assessment of whether you think it will actually help your during your career. You should consult with people who have experience in your field and research whether a master’s degree will actually benefit you. If not, you might want to look at other ways of improving your career outlook. A master’s degree requires a significant time and financial investment, so make sure that the investment will pay off before you enroll in any classes.

Improve Your Job Marketability

Additional education can result in a master’s degree while at other times may result in a professional certificate. Each has its own advantages. A graduate certificate requires a smaller commitment. Less time and less money is needed to complete a certificate program, but the certificate still shows that a person has invested in additional education that makes them better prepared for a professional career. Master’s degrees may be more appropriate in specific fields.

Regardless of whether you get a master’s certificate or degree, obtaining additional education can increase one’s marketability in the job market. In the first place, a master’s education is sometimes the minimum requirement for taking a job in certain fields. Your job marketability immediately improves with certain kinds of additional education because it qualifies you for additional jobs that you would otherwise be unable to qualify for. Professors, adult teachers, consular, consultants, and professional administrators are just some of the careers that require applicants to have a master’s degree.

However, you’re more likely to get hired in general, even by jobs that require only a bachelor’s degree, if you have a master’s education. Studies suggest that getting a master’s education is associated with increased employability. The increased education positions you to be more competitive in the hiring field and increases the chances you’ll be hired versus your peers who only have a bachelor’s degree.

It is important to note that a master’s degree is not a guarantee that you’ll be more likely to get hired. As reported by Rebecca Ratcliffe, not all careers benefit from additional education. Also importantly, you’ll want to make sure that your master’s education is as applicable as possible for the job you’re applying for. Applying for a job with a master’s education that is only partially relevant won’t benefit you much. In fact, hiring managers may look at you much the same way as they would applicants who only have a bachelor’s degree.

One of the ways that you can increase your competitiveness in the job market, even when it’s not immediately clear what advantage your master’s degree gives you, is by spelling out for your potential employer just how the skills you possess will help you in your new role. Skills like critical and lateral thinking, for instance, are needed in a variety of roles. In other cases, the research skills you gained might make you a valuable addition in a specific career as well.

You need to make the value of those skills clear both in your resume and during your job interviews. By doing so, you’ll only increase the likeliness that hiring managers will bring you onboard versus the other applicants you’re competing against.

Increase Your Ability to Make a Career Transition

Continuing education is a good way to develop new skills or knowledge necessary for a career transition. You won’t always need to get additional education when you want to switch careers. However, there are some cases where the extra education will definitely come in handy. If you’re hoping to switch up careers, you’ll first want to study up on whether additional education will help.

The first step in your career transition should consist of studying up on the new job you’re hoping to apply for. It’s important to know what the current job market is like and how competitive it will be for you to get a position. If the field is particularly competitive, then additional education may be particularly important. Getting more education could mean the difference between getting the job and not. If it does seem as if more education could help, then look into what skills, specifically, would help you to transition.

Once you know what skills will be required in your new job, you’ll want to gauge just how much additional education that you’ll need. Sometimes, you might be able to make the transition with a brief investment into a master’s certificate. This would save on significant time and money that would otherwise be needed to get a master’s degree. If a certificate is all you’ll need, you may be able to transition into your new career more quickly. Importantly, you’ll want to determine what skills you can acquire from the experience you get while you’re working versus what skills are best acquired through schooling. This will help you determine what courses you need to take.

It should be clear that making a career transition is much like beginning your professional life all over. For that reason, it’s important to be well read on the path you’re choosing. By understanding the competitiveness in your field and how specific skills will help, you’ll be positioned to understand what additional education will best enable you to succeed after you’ve begun your transition.

Embark on a Journey of Personal Development

You might not always want to get more education just because it helps you in your career. Instead, continuing education is a great way to learn about subjects of personal interest. Courses taken do not necessarily have to be related to an individual’s job.

Courses can be taken for a much more affordable cost at community schools instead of at university, so for many people, this is a great way of receiving additional education without all the costs associated with university attendance. If you love your job but have always had a passion for studying history, this is a great way of encouraging the amateur historian inside of you. Similarly, if you’ve found yourself more and more interested in science lately, taking courses can be a doorway toward learning more about the scientific process. The possibilities are endless, and every year, schools mix up the courses they offer to reach a broader audience.

Even if you’re only taking a class for personal reasons, you may find that you learn things that help you during your day to work routine. Critical thinking skills , time management , and the ability to problem solve are just some of the valuable skills that people learn when they’re back in school. Additional education is great not only because it helps you explore your own personal interests but because it sharpens up skills that can help you in your daily life.

If you’re choosing classes out of love for a subject, it’s still worth doing a little research to find out what courses you’ll enjoy the most and which ones will work best together. Instead of taking a hodgepodge of courses that are only slightly related, you can take a series of courses in one field that builds on one another. To return to the example of taking history courses, you might choose to focus all your studies in 20 th century America. This can help you become extremely knowledgeable in a specific part of the field you’re most interested in rather than taking an assortment of courses that give you a broad but shallow understanding of that field.

Improve your Image and How You Conduct Yourself

Sometimes, additional education can help improve your own image with the people you spend the most time with. Obtaining more education can improve your image in both your family and social circles. After all, additional education equips you with new skills and education that you can use to contribute among those you know.

Additional education is beneficial for more reasons than just the skills and knowledge you acquire, though. Obtaining additional education or completing a college program can enhance self-image and have positive effects on other aspects of a person’s life.

Generally, getting more education is a great way to improve your own confidence and belief in yourself. An increased belief in yourself and what you know and can do can help you carry yourself with more confidence. That type of confidence reflects in how you conduct yourself with the people you know and can help improve their perceptions of you.

It’s not one of the most talked about benefits of continuing your education, but continuing your education may help you feel better about yourself and feel more confident around others. You’ll be a more informed individual who can contribute in a number of other situations. Your newfound knowledge and skills will help you stand out more in a crowd and help encourage your own confidence in yourself.

Some people enroll in college because they love learning, while some do so to qualify for certain jobs. However, many people feel unable to re-enroll in college since they must keep their full-time jobs. Working professionals wanting to keep their jobs but obtain more education can enroll in online continuing education programs.

People can return to school at any age. In fact, many older adults and working professionals are taking advantage of the opportunities provided by returning to college or earning additional degrees. Whether you’re returning to school simply because you want to grow personally or because you want to increase the chances of having a successful career, it’s important to plan out your additional education and understand why you’re returning to school. By doing so, you’ll improve your chance of feeling satisfied once your additional education has finished.

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5 Benefits of Continuing Education for Career Advancement

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More Education. More Opportunities.

Advancing your career in the workplace sounds like a simple enough concept: work hard, stay loyal, and the job will come to you.

But while your employer may personally know your willingness and work ethic, the promotion they’re offering needs a candidate who not only excels at their duties but is appropriately skilled and can take on multiple projects at once. What’s more, these opportunities only come up on occasion, and competition among equally qualified coworkers is fierce — which means you need a surefire way to stand out from the pack.

Enter: continuing education.

A win-win for both employees and employers, continuing your education will upgrade your skills and knowledge, helping you remain competitive in your organization while simultaneously helping your company achieve long-term viability. Better yet, businesses that recognize this benefit often partner with online universities to offer tuition assistance programs for their employees, and yours may be one of them.

Because whether you’re looking to advance in your current position or competing for a promotion, employers influenced by your professional development know continuing education has the benefits to help get you more — today and tomorrow.

1. Continuing Your Education Will Make You More Money

As the U.S. labor market continues to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, one constant remains: education boosts earnings and reduces unemployment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , the current median weekly earnings for workers who hold bachelor’s degrees ($1,493), master’s degrees ($1,737), and professional degrees ($2,206) are significantly higher than those who only hold associate degrees ($1,058) and high school diplomas ($899).

2. Continuing Your Education Will Make You More Connections

Partaking in advanced courses can help widen your social and professional networks by compelling you to interact with your peers — many of whom come from various professional backgrounds. This network will be a wealth of insight as you advance in your career, providing opportunities for you to gain information about your industry, hear tips and advice, and learn important news and upcoming changes in your field.

3. Continuing Your Education Will Get You More Opportunities

Rather than remaining stagnant in learning — which can stymie opportunities for promotions — lifelong learning shows your employer that you have the willingness to grow and develop. By adding new skills and abilities to your resume, you’ll be prepared to meet any required qualifications when facing a career transition, which can be the difference in landing new opportunities as they become available — especially when competing with your peers.

4. Continuing Your Education Will Make You More Confident

The best decisions are backed by knowledge and data, and when you have a thorough understanding of your business or subject area —as a result of education — you’re in the best position for confident decision-making. Knowing you’ve acquired the necessary skills to advance in your field, you’ll feel more prepared to take on new tasks and opportunities and utilize your transferable study skills such as organization, time-keeping, and problem-solving to manage them successfully. What’s more, by continually receiving advice and support in the classroom, you’ll learn to react positively to constructive criticism in the workplace which will build trust between you and your supervisor.

5. Continuing Your Education Will Make You More Creative

As humans, we learn to be creative by experimenting, exploring, questioning assumptions, using our imagination, and synthesizing information. By learning about subjects outside of your normal discipline, you’ll encounter new concepts that can help you brainstorm innovative ways to handle related tasks and challenges — an important trait when you’re looking to advance in your career. Plus, studying as a full-time employee will allow you to immediately apply your creative learning to the workplace, adding to your organization’s competitiveness and profitability.

What Can the University of Cincinnati Online Offer You?

As the #1 Best Online College (study.com), we know first-hand that more education equals more opportunities — which is why we created the UC Online Business Partnership Program . Designed to provide full-time employees and their dependents with tuition scholarships, this partnership offers over 100 fully online programs and flexible scheduling for students to balance personal and professional responsibilities.

Not sure if your employer is a UC Online Partner? Speak with your supervisor to find out.

Ready to learn more? Explore our Business Partnership Program or take the first step in advancing your future by beginning your application today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the benefits of continuing education.

While continuing your education offers a lot of benefits, the most notable benefits include increased salary, a broader network, more job opportunities, elevated professional confidence, and improved creativity.

What is the main purpose of continuing education?

Although it will vary on an individual-by-individual basis, the main purpose of continuing education for most folks is likely increased earning potential, professional advancement, and a wider range of employment opportunities.

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The Importance of Continuing Education: Navigating The Changing Landscape

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Published: Sep 5, 2023

Words: 755 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Chapter 1: personal and professional development, chapter 2: enhancing skills and knowledge, chapter 3: career advancement and lifelong learning, conclusion: embracing a future of growth.

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NAU’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Why Continuing Education Is Important for Career Advancement

Whether you have a degree already, are on your way to one, or just want to focus on your field in a meaningful way, continuing education is always a good path. Many careers and employers actually require advanced training or professional development to keep employee skills sharp and relevant as a field evolves, especially now that online learning makes it more accessible than ever. Upskilling or continuing education can expand your knowledge in a specific area or provide you with credentials to start a new career in a completely different field. It can help you become a more productive, efficient, and valuable worker. Upskilling also demonstrates to employers that you are committed to your job and ready to advance in your career.

Whether you want to increase your responsibilities in your current company or get a competitive edge over other candidates when you apply for a new job, earned online certificates can be an important component to include in your professional credentials.

Benefits of Continuing Education

Learn new skills for your current role.

Do you ever feel like your job takes more time than it needs to? If you sometimes have difficulty maneuvering around modern technology, a certificate program might be just what you need to learn the skills required to do your current job more efficiently. For example, a course in computer skills could provide you with the fundamental computer competencies you need to survive and thrive in the modern business environment.

Start on the Path to a New Career

Have you ever thought about building a new career in an entirely new field? Maybe you work in retail, but really want to be skilled in the Trades. A certificate in HVAC/R might get you started. Or do you have a passion for healthcare but don’t want to work directly with patients? Billing and Coding might be a great career path if you only had the right Billing and Coding career training .

Build More Advancement Opportunities

The more skills you can bring to your organization, the better positioned you will be to be promoted and take on additional responsibilities. For example, if you are just doing data entry in a finance group, proficient skills in programs like Microsoft Excel or QuickBooks could move you into a more satisfying role. There are many certifications and career training opportunities that could set you up for success.

Get the Credentials

Sometimes it’s not enough to have a wealth of knowledge in your brain. You also need to verify that you have specific skills. Certifications prove your knowledge and they are recognized by employers. You can say you have an abundance of skills, but the piece of paper proves you’ve taken and passed courses that show you know the info.

Learn Important Life Skills

Did you know that continuing education courses don’t just teach you the concrete skills you need to do a specific job? They can also introduce you to a range of soft skills such as time management, self-discipline, communications, and leadership skills .

Network with Others

Continuing education also provides you the chance to meet with likeminded achievers who want to better themselves and advance their careers. You can learn with and from students who know that education unlocks opportunity. And those connections may be people who will be looking to hire you in the future. Or maybe, you’ll be looking to hire them.

If you aren’t sure what type of degree or certificate would best fit your career goals and opportunities for advancement, talk to your employer. They may have suggestions for where there are knowledge gaps within the organization, and what the best way would be to learn skills and perhaps position you for a future promotion. Be sure to ask if tuition reimbursement is available from your company.

National American University recently partnered with Ed2go to offer a new line of online career-training and professional development courses that can augment the skills you already have or set you on the path toward a new career. Learn more at the UpSkill Academy .

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Home / Essay Samples / Education / The Importance of Continuing Education

The Importance of Continuing Education

• Category: Education
• Topic: Role of Education

Pages: 1 (336 words)

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Benefits of Continuing Education

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