What To Consider When Choosing An Online Course Provider

Many companies provide training to their employees and this training will vary dramatically depending on the job requirements and responsibilities. Whilst these companies may all be offering different online courses, there is one thing that they all have in common; that they want their employees to be undertaking the best possible relevant course available. 

These days, there are numerous different online course providers all offering what seems to be incredibly similar courses and it goes without saying that it can be difficult to choose which provider is best. Understandably you will want to ensure that you’re not wasting your money or your employees time by choosing an inadequate course so, below are a few things that all companies should consider when choosing an online course provider. 

Are their courses approved?

Ultimately, anyone can start selling online courses and one of the quickest and easiest ways to find out how good a course is, is to see if it has been approved. In short, a course won’t be approved if it isn’t to the highest standards, so always check this before buying any courses. 

How long have they been providing online courses?

Whilst experience isn’t essential, it is undeniably beneficial. Also, if a company has been providing online courses for many years then it is likely that they have returning customers and a good client base to keep them in business meaning, their courses are worthwhile undertaking. 

Do they offer a breakdown of the modules?

Always look at how an online course is advertised and how much information is provided. Ideally, you should be able to see a breakdown of the course modules before buying the course. You can then confirm that it meets your needs before spending your money. 

What are the course objectives?

As well as a breakdown of modules, finding out what the objectives of the course are will help you to figure out whether it is right for your employees. All good online course providers should clearly highlight what their course objectives are. 

Can you try any of their courses for free?

You may find that if an online course provider is confident in the quality of their courses they allow you to try them for free. This is a good sign, after all, they wouldn’t allow this if they knew the standard of the course was poor. If you can, trying before you buy can be really helpful. 

What do the online courses require you to have?

You always need to consider what an online course provider requires of you before you pay. Make sure you look into requirements such as memory and download speed. This allows you to ensure you will actually be able to undertake the course once you have paid for it. 

Who are their courses aimed at? 

As well as checking you have everything required for the course, you should also ensure that the course is aimed at someone of your ability. Target audiences will differ from company to company and course to course, so it is really important not to overlook this. 

How many courses do they provide?

Whilst not all online course providers will offer a vast variety of courses, it is beneficial looking at everything they offer. Not only will this tell you more about the company but, it may also be helpful if you need more than just one course for your employees. 

Are their online courses fairly/realistically priced?

Price isn’t always everything and you definitely don’t want to be hunting around for the cheapest price. However, you do want to ensure you’re considering the price and that you’re checking that any online courses are realistically priced, if they’re not, this could be a red flag. 

Choosing an online course provider

Hopefully, when considering everything mentioned above, not only will you find it much easier to narrow down the many different course providers but, you will also be able to choose the very best provider available. You can guarantee that you will thank yourself and your staff will also thank you for taking the time to carefully consider which online course provider you use. It really can make a huge difference to the outcome of the course undertaken. 

When searching for an experienced online course provider, please visit the Phoenix STS website. We provide a range of online courses, from first aid through to fire safety training, all of which are professional, informative and accurate. You can rest assured knowing that all of the courses we provide are always approved by the relevant companies, charities and bodies. If you would like to speak to us about any of our online courses in more detail, don’t hesitate to reach out to a member of the Phoenix STS team, we’re happy to help.