TPI has grown considerably since its inception and it appears that some things are about to change as they strive to manage their size and branding. I was hanging around Twitter tonight when all of a sudden I see this.
“So TPI now want an annual fee & 12 continuing education hours which they will provide at a cost! They can stick it up their glutes!!”
Clearly, this got my attention so I asked why and what had happened. He told me he had received a word document and I asked for a copy. He said I could share it so hear it is with the names removed. As a TPI Certified Professional myself, I expect to receive the same information but I haven’t as of publishing.
“Titleist Performance Institute Certified Professional,
Happy New Year, we hope you enjoyed a great holiday season.
Over 5000 professionals in 53 countries are now TPI Certified. Because of the size and global reach of our TPI Certified network, we are implementing a new education and certification policy in 2011. Many of these changes are due to suggestions offered from many of our current active members. This action is to ensure the quality of our education and to obtain the most accurate information from each member. We hope you see this as a positive step in maintaining the strongest educational brand in Golf Health and Fitness.
Changes to the TPI Certification Process:
1. Starting January 1, 2011, TPI Certification is valid for only one year after successfully completing a certification test. For current TPI Certified Professionals, your certification is valid until December 31, 2011. On January 1, 2012 current TPI Certified Professionals are required to fulfill 12 hours of continuing education each year (see below) and pay a $149 annual recertification fee.
2. Certification test codes are only valid for one year after completing a TPI workshop. Beyond the one year deadline, a student must re-sit the class to obtain a new TPI Certification test code. If a student has attended a TPI workshop before January 1, 2011 but has not attempted the online certification test, December 31, 2011 is the deadline to attempt the test.
3. If you have registered and taken a TPI certification class, you are eligible to re-sit the class if:
a. You are an active certified member.
b. It is within one year of taking the class, but you have not taken the certification test. If you don’t sit the test within the one year timeline there is a $425 fee to re-sit the class. This includes a new manual, new test code and one year of TPI Certification if you successfully complete the test.
c. You failed all three certification tests. After re-sitting the workshop, a new code will be provided to you and it will be active for one year from the date of the new course.
4. All TPI workshops (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3) are now $895. This is a $100 increase in the Level 1 class and a $100 decrease in the Level 3 class.
5. Active certified members can elect to go inactive as of December 31, 2011. An inactive member has a three month grace period to change their mind without penalty. Beyond three months of inactivity, the student must perform the following steps to become active:
a. Re-sit a TPI workshop. The re-sit fee is $425 and includes a new manual, new test code and one year of TPI Certification if the student successfully completes the test.
b. The student must again successfully complete the TPI Level One Certification Test
Continuing Education Policy:
The education of TPI Certified Professionals is paramount to the quality of the Titleist Performance Institute brand. TPI now requires Certified Professionals to obtain 12 hours of continuing education credits (CEC’s) annually. To obtain CEC’s, the options are the following:
- Any TPI Certification Workshop (new class or repeat of an old class) = 16 CEC’s
- TPI Speaker’s School = 16 CEC’s
- TPI Nutritional Workshop = 8 CEC’s
- Website Article Submitted, Approved and Posted Live = 2 CEC’s
- Submitted Case Study = 2 CEC’s
- One Month Pro Website Membership = 1 CEC
- Any PGA or LPGA National Teaching and Coaching Conference = 12 CEC’s
- FMS Certification Seminar = 12 CEC’s
- SFMA Certification Seminar = 12 CEC’s
- Any 2-Day Seminar presented by any of our TPI Advisory Board Members = 12 CEC’s
- Working at a Professional Golf Event (as coach, trainer or med pro) = 4 CEC’s
- Shadow for a day at TPI or TPI Junior Center = 1 CEC
For other classes and workshops that you feel should give you CEC’s please contact us at TPI for pre-approval.
Advantage of TPI Certification:
Active TPI Certified Professionals enjoy the following benefits:
- Your name and business will be listed on our Find an Expert map on mytpi.com
- You will be able to use the two TPI Certification logos (provided to you after you pass the test) on all print and electronic media to advertise your certification.
- You will have the ability to sign up for our professional website (only available to certified members starting June 1, 2011)
- You can re-sit any TPI Workshop that you have previously attended, to get the latest updated information. All you need to do is let us know you want to come, and we will save you a seat.
- You will receive discounts on TPI merchandise to the mytpi.com store
- 15% for Level 1 Certification
- 20% for Level 2 Certification
- 25% for Level 3 Certification
- You will have access to our TPI Rewards Program that includes discounts from many leading companied such as Titleist, FootJoy, New Balance, Life Fitness, Dunning, Club Insurance, etc.
If you have any questions or concerns about the new policies, please feel free to contact us at TPI. We are confident that these changes will only enhance the power and reputation of the TPI brand.
Thanks!”
Here are some of the Highlights:
- Starting January 1, 2011, TPI Certification is valid for only one year after successfully completing a certification test. For current TPI Certified Professionals, your certification is valid until December 31, 2011. On January 1, 2012 current TPI Certified Professionals are required to fulfill 12 hours of continuing education each year (see below) and pay a $149 annual recertification fee.
- All TPI workshops (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3) are now $895. This is a $100 increase in the Level 1 class and a $100 decrease in the Level 3 class.
- A new Continuing Education Credit(CEC) requirement to maintain in good standing as a TPI Certified Instructor. As I go through the list of currently accepted ways to gain CEC’s, there are many that require additional payments to TPI.
I know it is common for many organizations to charge an annual fee for membership and organizations that require continuing education to maintain status. I also understand the desire to require a certain amount of ‘work’ from its members to assure the brand stays strong and that its members are fully committed. In fact, this appears very similar to the PGA structure that I have been accustomed to for many years. The question is up to each of us that are currently certified whether or not to continue under these new rules or allow our certification to pass.
I have not made up my decision but I am quite disturbed about the annual fee. The education part doesn’t bother me but having to pay an additional $150 for I don’t know what reason rubs me the wrong way.
I expect that all the TPI professionals will receive this information in the next week. Please tell me your thoughts on these changes and be sure to share it with anyone you know that is TPI Certified or thinking about it. You can use the Twitter and Facebook buttons at the end of this post to help you.
Here’s an update about the changes to TPI certification. In response to some questions about the Continuing Education Credits, TPI sent out an email to help explain and discuss the cost options.
