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Gerontology Certificate

By Joanna Pelletier, allied health world contributing writer
Published:  March 5th, 2010

Since gerontology is such a general profession, it is not regulated by a National organization or State licensing board. Instead, specific occupations within gerontology, such as nursing or psychology, are regulated by National societies and State licensing boards. Some of these National societies include the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education a branch of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education is a network of colleges and universities throughout the world who want to advance the profession in academic institutions and provide leadership, support, and education for working professionals. The Gerontological Society of America has similar goals, reaching out to professionals in the field and increasing funding for gerontological research. These societies exist for the purpose of advocacy, empowerment, and advancement; they do not exist for licensure and regulation. There is; however, a gerontology certification offered by the GSA for those who have attended accredited programs and demonstrate a career-long commitment to excellence in gerontology. GSA certification allows a practitioner’s reputation for excellence to precede them while distinguishing them among other gerontologists.

Gerontology professionals will find that State boards fulfill this regulatory role, dictating the type of education and training students need before they can begin practicing in a particular State. State licensing boards like the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation require working professionals to obtain a gerontology degree from a nationally accredited and State-approved college or university. This is also a requirement for gerontology certification through the GSA. These programs are usually approved by professional organizations like the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or the National Board on Certification for Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

Students who go through State and GSA-approved gerontology programs also take GSA certification or licensing exams once they complete their undergraduate or graduate education. Occupational Therapists, for example, must pass the NBCOT exam before they can practice without supervision. They may also be required to take and a State jurisprudence exam, which shows that they understand the laws and statutes that regulate their practice. Licensed occupational therapists, physical therapists, and psychologists can work independently in most elder-focused environments, but only if they have the appropriate experience, knowledge, and education. If they followed a gerontology-focused curriculum in graduate school, they may not need to obtain any additional certification. If they chose to specialize in another field, they may have to seek additional education.

Geriatric nursing assistants, geriatric nurses, geriatric nurse practitioners, dietitians, nutritionists, and yoga instructors may also be required to obtain a graduate certificate in Gerontology before they can begin working in a hospital, clinic, or retirement or assisted living community. This is most common in States like New York, Arizona, Nevada, Missouri, and other States where health care regulation is more stringent. When practitioners apply for field certification in these States, they may be required to provide proof of previous licensure in their current and former States, proof of no criminal record, proof of continuing education, proof of citizenship, and additional documents. Geriatric Nurses in the State of New York are a perfect example. These individuals must send complete additional requirements and provide extra paperwork before they can practice in an adult health care setting. According to the Board's Web site, all geriatric nurses must hold a current LPN or LVN license before they apply for certification, find a faculty member to proctor their exam, and obtain at least one letter of recommendation from a supervisor or professor.

These individuals must also go through a gerontology certificate program, and maintain their gerontology certification after becoming certified. The same is true for other gerontological health care practitioners. Psychologists, occupational therapists, audiologists, speech pathologists, and other health care practitioners must obtain a certain number of continuing education units before they can renew their State licenses and GSA certification. Continuing education credits usually come in the form of seminars, classes, and academic programs sponsored by accredited universities and professional organizations like the Gerontological Society of America.

Steps to Becoming a Gerontologist:

1. If you’ve considered working with the elderly you likely already poses the qualities that would make you successful at this type of work; patience, gentleness, and a reverence for the elders of our society. This is an important consideration as working with the elderly does present it’s own unique challenges and rewards.
2. Consider the specialty you’d like to make your profession. This can be either a formal medical profession like that of a physician or a profession that addresses health maintenance, longevity, and prevention, as would be the case with a fitness instructor. This may be your current profession. You could take the step to refine your practice and specialize in geriatrics, centering your profession on gerontology.
3. Pursue the training you’ll need for the profession of your choice. This will vary widely depending on the profession you pursue. This would mean as many as eight years in school pursuing a doctorate-level degree to become a physician, or just a few months earning a certificate to become a fitness instructor for the elderly. Whatever the case, be certain to take classes specific to geriatrics to hone your understanding of how best to interact with this segment of society.
4. Pursue Gerontology Society of America (GSA) certification to distinguish yourself as a practitioner personally and professionally devoted to quality care and the highest level of integrity in your practice. 5. Pursue your fun and rewarding career as a gerontological expert in the broad and exciting field of gerontology.