Start dates and frequency of our various programs depends on the program itself. We have some online courses that are offered every month while other courses may only be offered a few times each year. If there is a particular program you’re interested in, sign up for announcements including start dates!
Will I be "certified" after completing a program?
Although you will receive a “Certificate of Completion” upon successfully finishing a class or a program, industry-recognized certifications (for example, Certified Financial Planner) are typically awarded only after sitting for an exam and, in some cases, providing proof of work experience.
Unless a program specifically states that you will receive certification after course completion, you will likely also need to sit for an exam.
Do you cancel classes if not enough people register?
In most cases we do need to have a minimum number of students registered but it’s very rare to have a class cancelled for lack of enrollment. In the offhand, and unlikely, chance that we do need to cancel a class because we don’t have enough students, we can either refund your fees or apply them to a different date. Just let us know what you’d prefer.
Do you offer discounts for multiple people?
Yes we do! If your company is sending three or more people to a class, we offer a group discount. Please contact us for more information. In order to qualify, all registering students must be associated with your organization.
If your organization wants to send six or more people, you may find a customized on-site session is a better financial option.
All classes are located on the main Benedictine University campus at 5700 College Road, Lisle, IL. PDL classes are held in room 320 of the Daniel Goodwin School of Business building.
Which certification exams do you offer?
Working with several professional organizations, we offer certification prep courses for CFP, SIx Sigma, and PMP certifications. Additionally, our technology courses prepare you to sit for a variety of IT-industry certifications such as Security+, Network+, A+, and more along with business software certifications from Microsoft such a as the MS Office Professional. To inquire about specific certifications, please contact us.
Is the certification exam fee included in the price of a class?
Usually not. If there is a class that is directly tied to a certification exam, then we do offer a discounted package price for both the class and the exam fee. We try to schedule these classes so that they end the day before (or morning of) a scheduled examination day. Although you do not have to take the exam immediately after the class, you will have a much better chance of passing the exam while the knowledge is still fresh in your mind.
However, this class/exam combo discount is only available as a package. If you register for just a class and wish to purchase the exam voucher at a later date, you’ll pay the full price for the voucher.
Can I bring materials into a certification exam?
No. No materials of any kind (including books, tablets, phones, Bluetooth devices, etc.) may be brought into the testing center with you. There is a secure location where your personal belongings can be stored during your exam. During colder months, we have a room for hanging jackets and coats.
Due to the necessity of maintaining the integrity of certifications, if you’re found with any materials or exam-aids, you’ll forfeit your exam fees, be asked to leave the testing center, and the violation will be reported to the organization that sponsors the certification.
Exam vouchers are one-time use only. If you don’t pass your certification exam, you’ll need to purchase another voucher to try again. So study hard!
In order to sit for any exam, you will need a current, government-issued picture ID. Examples include (but aren’t limited to) a passport, driver’s license, official state ID.
If you do not have ID, if your ID has expired, is not government-issued, or does not have your picture on it, you will not be able to sit for the exam and may forfeit your exam fee.
How do I earn my PMP certification?
To apply to take the certification exam, register and apply at the Project Management Institute’s website.
Where do I take the PMP or CAPM certification exam?
All PMI exams, with the exception of the CAPM, are offered at approved Prometric Testing Centers worldwide. You can check for locations on Prometric’s website .
What study materials are needed for the class?
The PMBOK® will be the basis of the class and is included in the price of the class. You will receive it at the start of the class.
How soon after taking the class should I sit for the exam?
We strongly encourage all students to write the exam as soon as possible after the class ends. The sooner you sit for the exam, the more you’ll remember from the class and the higher the probability that you will pass on your first attempt.
Six Sigma is a method that provides organizations tools to improve the capability of their business processes. This increase in performance and decrease in process variation lead to defect reduction and improvement in profits, employee morale, and quality of products or services. Six Sigma quality is a term generally used to indicate a process is well controlled.
Do I need my Yellow Belt before testing for Green Belt?
No. The Six Sigma program allows people to test for any level of belt without getting previous belt.
No. In fact, there are no prerequisites for any of the Six Sigma belts.
This is a one-week class that prepares you to sit for the Six Sigma Green Belt exam.
What MS Office courses do you offer?
Currently, we offer MS Excel and MS Word classes. These classes cover the materials for the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exams.
What course materials are used in these classes?
Will I have my MOS certification after taking the classes?
No, these classes will prepare you for the exam by using the official Microsoft curriculum. Some of our classes, however, have an additional fee-based component that includes an exam voucher so that you can sit for the exam immediately after taking the class. The exams are online and can be taken at a designated computer classroom on our Lisle (IL) campus.
Students should expect to spend 1-2 hours for each hour of class instruction, depending upon previous experience and education.
Typically, classes meet every two weeks on Friday evening and all day Saturday for 9 consecutive months.
Payment on a course-by-course basis, with payments made prior to the start of each course.
Students securing loans or paying by company purchase order must receive funding approval and must notify Benedictine University of such approval prior to the program start date.
Tuition does not include books. You should budget approximately $550 for books.
The education requirement can be fulfilled by successfully completing Benedictine’s Certificate in Financial Planning program. Once you become CFP® certified, you will be required to complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years.
The CFP® Certification examination is given three times per year in March, July, and November. Based on the most recent Job Topic Study, the CFP Board issues a topic list covering the areas a candidate should be prepared to answer at the evaluation level or lower.
In order to receive CFP® certification, the candidate must meet certain experience requirements, including a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited college or university, and three years of related work experience. The related work experience must be completed in the 10 years preceding the exam or five years after the exam.
CFP® certification recipients are required to abide by the CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and Financial Planning Practice Standards. In addition, CFP® certificate recipients are required to disclose to the CFP Board if involved in a criminal or civil proceeding.
Is this program available online as well as in a classroom?
We are excited to announce that, as of August 2016, Professional Development and Learning has been approved to offer the CFP program online as well as at both our Mesa (AZ) and Lisle (IL) campuses. However you prefer to take the program, we have an offering that will suit you.
Information on ordering text book and calculator will be emailed to you at the time of your registration. The class syllabus, campus location, parking, and general orientation will be emailed to you 10 to 14 days prior to the start of the first class.
For the in-class program, regardless of location, classes are limited to 24 students.
Benedictine University is registered with the Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards, Inc. to fulfill the education requirements of the CFP® certification. Benedictine University does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNING™, and certification marks. CFP certification is granted only by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. to those persons who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met its ethics, experience, and examination requirements.
Completion of this program does not guarantee success on the CFP exam itself or employment.