Information and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Certificate Program Overview

When U.S. service members return to their communities, they face many issues following deployment: the effects of trauma, Post-traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), family relationship strain, substance use, mental health issues, and readjustment difficulties. Any type of practice with the military, not unlike other facets of specialized practice, must keep in mind the unique culture of the individual within the context of their unique environment and history. This certificate program will introduce you to the challenges returning service members and their family members face and offer guidance in working with these service members.

Who Is This For?

This certificate program is appropriate for professional helpers, such as social workers, counselors, pastoral counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists and first responders, who are interested in developing a practice specialization with military populations within the Department of Defense (DOD)/Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) settings and/or within the larger community. Learners will attain knowledge that informs their practice in various settings, including all armed forces or branches of DOD, and with Veterans of all eras and their families in VA and non-VA settings.

Where Is It Held?

Temple University at Harrisburg offers this online, self-paced, Certificate in Working with Veterans and their Families.

How Does It Work?

  • The self-paced certificate program is offered completely online in ten modules. 

  • You may start the modules at any time after registration, but each module must be completed within 90 days from the day of registration. You will have six months to complete the entire certificate program of ten modules.

  • Completion of each module will require a commitment of approximately two hours for each entire module. 

  • All modules are hosted within the CANVAS course learning management system. 

  • Each module consists of the following essential learning elements:

    • Presentations on key concepts (video clips and slides)

    • Required readings: Articles or links to articles on key concepts

    • Knowledge Checks: Self-assessments to test your understanding

    • Discussion Forum

    • Module Quiz

    • Additional Resources 

  • To pass each module, you must obtain 80% or more for the Module Quiz. 

  • Modules may be taken individually for CE credit (2 CE’s per module completed).

How Much Does It Cost?

The fee for the certificate program (10-module bundle package) is $475. 

The fee for each individual module is $50. 

All participants may request a continuing education certificate for no additional fees when registering for the course.

Are Continuing Education Hours Available for This Program?

The Certificate Program of ten modules offers learners 20 Continuing Education (CE) Hours. All modules must be completed to receive the Certificate.

Modules may be taken individually for CE credit (2 CE’s per module completed).

Temple Harrisburg is a PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors pre-approved provider of continuing education. These continuing education hours satisfy requirements for LSW/LCSW/LMFT/LPC biennial license renewal. 

Certificates of attendance documenting continuing education hours will be issued by Temple University Harrisburg.  Participants who wish to request continuing education hours may do so upon registering by selecting "TUH CE's" Option at checkout.  To receive continuing education certificates participants must complete and submit a continuing education request form along with the requisite evaluation.  These documents will be emailed upon successful completion of each module and/or at the end of completing all 10 modules if continuing education has been requested.  There is no additional fee charged for a continuing education certificate.

Technology Requirements

This is a fully online self-paced program. You are expected to possess a basic level of technological competency and comfort level to be successful in the program. You must have the hardware (desktop or laptop, tablet or smartphone) and software (Browsers such as Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Microsoft Edge) to access the internet. A broadband internet connection (DSL, cable, fiber, etc.) is recommended with a hardwired ethernet cable. Wireless (wi-fi) connections may be utilized but a weak or congested signal may cause issues with video buffering or content access.

You must also have the ability to respond to TUH staff and faculty using our learning management system, called Canvas. You must be capable of using Microsoft Word for word processing, copying and pasting, spell-checking, saving files, word count, attaching files to email, searching topics online, and of using your computer’s browser. Instructors do not provide computer support or training.

Certificate Program Objectives

At the successful completion of the ten-module program series, you will:

  • Increase competence in meeting the public health challenge of returning service members
  • Be equipped with knowledge that informs your work with military service members, veterans and their families

Certificate Program Outline

This program consists of ten modules:

  1. Introduction to Working with Military Service Members and Veterans
  2. Emotional Residuals of Military Experience
  3. Empirical Treatment Approaches with Veterans, Part I
  4. Empirical Treatment Approaches with Veterans, Part 2
  5. Alternative Treatment Approaches with Veterans
  6. Issues Unique to Women Veterans
  7. Issues Unique to Disabled Veterans
  8. Issues of Children of Veterans
  9. Family Therapy with Veterans
  10. Ethical Challenges of Working with Veterans

Benefits

  • Flexible, self-paced learning.

  • Attain knowledge that informs your practice in various settings, including all armed forces or branches of DOD, and with Veterans of all eras and their families in VA and non-VA settings.

  • Obtain guidance in working with the challenges that returning service members and their family members face

  • Modules may be taken individually for CE credit (2 CE per module).

  • Continuing education hours satisfy requirements for LSW/LCSW/LMFT/LPC biennial license renewal.

When Is Payment Due?

Full payment is due at the time of registration, prior to the start of the course.  Registration is managed through our Destiny One system.  Participants are able to register for the entire certificate program comprised of 10 modules OR as many of the individual modules as they desire. Please note that if you register for the 10 modules bundle package, you cannot change your mind part-way to make a switch. No cancelations, changes or refunds will be provided after registration. There is a discount fee for purchasing all ten modules as a bundle package.  The fee for the 10-module bundle package is $475.  Only participants who successfully complete all 10 modules will be awarded a program certificate. The fee for each individual module is $50.  All participants may request a continuing education certificate for no additional fees.

What Are the Payment Options?

Registrants will be prompted in the Destiny One registration system to pay by credit card.  There are other payment options available as well, such as via purchase order, group pays and invoicing.

What Is the Refund/Cancellation Policy?

You may not cancel once you have registered and paid for the certificate bundle or modules through the Destiny One registration platform.  There are no refunds for self-paced courses.

Is Financial Aid Available?

No, we do not offer financial aid.  However, we encourage you to contact your organization’s Human Resources department to review their tuition reimbursement program for professional development.  Some professional associations and/or independent organizations offer scholarships.

Will I Need To Purchase Any Additional Textbooks Or Resource Materials?

All course materials will be accessible in the CANVAS learning management system.

How Do I Access the CANVAS Learning Management System?

Once registration is complete through the Destiny One system, you will receive an email registration receipt with information about setting up your Acessnet account, which will allow you to access Temple University systems, including Canvas, the learning management system used by Temple University.

  1. After you register, you will receive an automated email with subject line “Temple University System Access”. This email provides the steps necessary to activate your Temple University account. The account at Temple is called an Accessnet, and this will be different than the account you’ve created at the noncredit.temple.edu site. when you registered.

  2. Following the instructions in the “Temple University System Access” email will take you to accounts.temple.edu, where you will input your TUid (included in the Temple University Systems Access email), your last name, and your Date of Birth. Please note that if you enter different information than you provided Temple University in your initial class registration at the noncredit.temple.edu site, you will see an error message on the account activation page and should contact destiny1@temple.edu for a fix.

  3. Within 24 hours after activating your Accessnet, the learning management system access will be completed, and you will be able to start your online participation in the course. To log in to Canvas directly go to canvas.temple.edu or log in to TUportal. Under TUapplications on the left, select Canvas.

Accessing your course:

In the menu bar on the left, click Dashboard. Then select the course that you want to access.

Note: If you do not see your course in the Dashboard, click the Courses menu. If the course appears, you can add it to your Dashboard by clicking the star to the left of the course so that it becomes orange. If the course does not appear, check with the program office offering the course to see if they have made the course available (published it) to students.

If you have any questions about your account, please contact the Help Desk or call the Continuing Education System’s office at 215-204-4866.

Do I Need to Be Online at Certain Times?

No this is a self-paced course and you may start the module at any time after registration. Each module must be completed within 90 days and the entire certificate program (all 10 modules) must be successfully completed within 6 months.

What Is a Self-Paced Course?

In this self-paced course, all course materials are available from the start of the course in the CANVAS learning management system. You can complete readings, view lectures and attempt quizzes at your own pace, as long as you complete all module work before the 90 days is up, or before 6 months is up, if you had enrolled for the bundle of 10 modules.

Will a Letter Grade be Issued for the Program?

We do not issue letter grades for this program.  This program provides a certificate of completion.  All ten modules must be successfully completed to receive the certificate of completion.  Successful completion of a module means that you have scored a minimum of 80% on the Module Quiz at the end of each module.

Does TUH Offer a Certificate of Completion or Certification?

Certifications are offered only by national certifying bodies or state licensing boards and are usually exam-based evidence of knowledge and experience.  Temple University, Harrisburg, as part of an accredited academic institution, offers this certificate of completion which is recognized as an important accomplishment in the field of military practice.

Does “Registering” on the Interest List Guarantee a “Seat” in the Program?

Those on the interest list will receive notification of program and registration availability before the registration is posted online for the public.

How Many Hours of Work Per Week Will the Program Require?

Since our programs are designed for working professionals, the time commitment required per week varies and is relative to the continuing education hours earned for the course.  As a rule of thumb, you should expect to dedicate approximately 2 hours for each entire module. The module provides additional resources to enrich, reinforce or expand course topics.  Thorough review of these websites, case studies, journal articles and other resources enhances your learning experience.

Who Teaches the Course?

Our online programs have been developed by subject matter experts in the curriculum presented.  Our faculty includes those with expertise in working with military populations and their families as well as those who are specialists in their fields.

Is There a Language Requirement?

Yes, you must be proficient in English. Participation through the readings, learning activities and end of module assessments are required in this course to achieve the learning outcomes. Therefore, you must have the ability to study and write in English proficiently.


Fast Facts

Format:                        Completely online, self-paced

Length:                        20 hours

Taught by:                   Experienced clinicians/professors

Offers:                         20 CEs for all 10 modules

Modules may be taken individually for CE credit (2 CEs per module)

Appropriate for:           Social workers, counselors, pastoral counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and first responders.

Ideal for:                      Helping professionals looking to attain knowledge and guidance in working with veterans and their families

Modules:                     (see below)

  1. Introduction to Working with Military Service Members and Veterans

  2. Emotional Residuals of Military Experience

  3. Empirical Treatment Approaches with Veterans, Part 1

  4. Empirical Treatment Approaches with Veterans, Part 2

  5. Alternative Treatment Approaches with Veterans

  6. Issues Unique to Women Veterans

  7. Issues Unique to Disabled Veterans

  8. Issues of Children of Veterans

  9. Family therapy with Veterans

  10. Ethical Challenges of Working with Veterans