What is CER

[AgnesNitt]

I see coaches listed as CER A or CERB. What is this?

[drskater]

Continuing Education Requirement--required for certification by USFS and administrated by PSA. "A" and "B" differ in terms of the course/test requirements. "B" is usually just the basics and for coaches who for whatever reason ($$$, teaching only group lessons), don't want/need to take the extra courses. Put me down as someone who is not very impressed by CERs. The proof is in the pudding, not whether you can pass the online courses (and the coaches on this board must agree that some of those courses are awfully lame).

[Skittl1321]

CER B can put skaters on the ice for tests and local competitions.
CER A can do qualifying competitions.


Group lessons actually don't need one of these yet.  There is an optional CER C, however.

[Clarice]

Put me down as someone who is not very impressed by CERs. The proof is in the pudding, not whether you can pass the online courses (and the coaches on this board must agree that some of those courses are awfully lame).

Agreed, as a coach who has passed CER B.  (I don't have skaters at the qualifying levels, so didn't see the point in paying for the extra test for CER A.)  But you have to consider what the point of testing is.  It's certainly not to demonstrate mastery of the subject matter, since you essentially take the tests open-book on line.  It's more a way of ensuring that certain information gets to coaches.  No one can say they didn't know about coaching ethics, for instance, because we all had to pass a test on it.  The tests drawn from the rule book force us to look up specific information, and make sure that we know where to find that information.  I agree that "the proof is in the pudding", but at least these tests are a way to guarantee that those of us putting skaters out for tests and competitions meet at least some minimum standard.

[AgnesNitt]

Thanks. I saw it referenced here and there, and wondered.

It's one of those things that sort of baffled me. You know, the part of skating that's almost like it's a secret society kind of stuff.