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e-Training FAQs

Most questions about ESI's e-Training courses and registration policies are answered in this area. If you have any other questions or concerns, please call toll-free (800) ESI-1556, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time or e-mail e-registration@esi-intl.com.

Technical questions may be directed to (800) 352-8459 or +1 (703) 558-4450. A technician answers the phone from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight Eastern time on business days. During other hours, a technician calls back within 30 minutes.

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Courses

1. What kind of hardware and software do I need to access ESI's Macromedia®Flash™-based e-Training courses?

You need at least a 56 kbps Internet connection and a supported Internet browser, a 200 MHz processor, a monitor set to 800 x 600 display resolution, and 32 MB of RAM to take our Macromedia®Flash™ based courses. The required plug-ins-Macromedia®Flash™ Player and Adobe®Acrobat®Reader 5.0-come preloaded with most computers, but, if necessary, are free and easily downloaded. Read ESI's e-Training technical requirements for more details.

2. What are ESI's Macromedia®Flash™-based e-Training courses like?

ESI's Macromedia®Flash™-based e-Training courses provide extensive content resources and numerous assessment opportunities within the context of fictional, but realistic, project management case studies. The instructor is always accessible for questions through e-mail, and individual assignments receive instructor feedback. ESI's e-Training courses also offer peer-to-peer discussion opportunities through online discussions.

3. When are the courses available?

Registered participants may access ESI's instructor-facilitated, interactive, web-based training 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

4. What is "instructor-facilitated" web-based training?

Instructor-facilitated web-based training allows participants to interact with the instructor by submitting assignments, posting responses in the online discussion area, and asking questions by e-mail. In return, they receive effective and personalized instructor feedback within 24 hours.

5. How do the e-Training specialized offerings differ from ESI's e-Training project management core courses?

Click on the links to see the course descriptions for BAAppraise: A Knowledge Appraisal™, PMAppraise: A Knowledge and Skills Assessment® or PMP& Exam Preparation.

6. How do ESI's e-Training courses facilitate collaboration between participants?

Participants form collaborative online learning communities through an online bulletin board. This threaded discussion allows participants to discuss a topic, without having to be online simultaneously. In some courses, participants work together in small teams to produce project deliverables.

7. Which course should I take first?

There are no prerequisites, but ESI recommends that participants take our fundamentals course, Managing Projects, as their first of the Project Management Core Courses.

8. How much time do I have to complete an ESI e-Training course?

Once your registration has been approved and course access has been granted, you have 42 calendar days from your chosen start date to complete all course requirements. However, it typically takes about 30 hours to complete an ESI e-Training course. The access period includes weekends and holidays.

Beyond a 42-day time frame, the course instructor has a discretionary period of up to 28 days to grant you an extension. After 70 days of course access, you will be withdrawn from the course.

9. How many hours of coursework can I expect?

On the average, it takes about 30 hours of focused effort to complete one of our courses. Time spent to complete an e-Training course is similar to that of the classroom courses, but is conducted at your own pace. Depending on experience, many participants complete courses in significantly less time.

10. What should I expect as a participant in an ESI e-Training course?

All of our e-Training courses revolve around course-specific case studies that are woven throughout the lessons in the course. Each lesson presents a portion of the case study, a set of resources, and a problem. Participants use the resources provided to solve the problem. Submission of assignments and participation in online discussions is also required.

11. What must I do to receive course credit?

Each of our e-Training courses has a slightly different set of requirements for course completion - but may include a self-assessment, assignments, online problems and discussion questions, and a final exam.

If you are enrolled in Project Management Applications you are not required to complete a self-assessment or a final exam, but you must submit a project management essay, which will be evaluated by your instructor.

12. What if I fail the final exam?

You must pass the final exam to receive course credit. If you fail the final exam, you will have an opportunity to retake the exam one time if you choose, up until the day that your course access expires.

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Professional Certificate Programs, College Credit and CEUs

1. What are the requirements for earning an Associate's Certificate in Project Management?

Click here to learn more about earning an Associate's Certificate in Project Management.

2. What are the requirements for earning an Master's Certificate in Project Management?

Click here to learn more about earning a Master's Certificate in Project Management.

3. I need help selecting courses. Are there course counselors at ESI?

Yes. Our course counselors are available to help you determine a strategy for specific career training or the appropriate course sequence to meet your needs. To speak to an ESI course counselor, call (888) ESI 3384.

4. Can I apply both e-Training and classroom courses towards an Associate's or Master's Certificate in Project Management?

You may apply any qualifying course towards an Associate's or Master's Certificate, whether it's an e-Training or classroom course.

5. Can I apply only e-Training courses towards an Associate's or Master's Certificate in Project Management?

ESI's e-Training offers all the core courses required for the Associate's and Master's Certificates in Project Management awarded jointly by ESI and The George Washington University.

6. Can I pursue a Master's Certificate in IT Project Management through e-Training?

ESI's e-Training courses may be taken as elective courses toward the Master's Certificate in Information Technology Project Management.

7. Will I earn Continuing Education Units (CEU) for e-Training courses?

The International Association for Continuing Education and Training awards CEUs for each of ESI's e-Training courses. To earn CEUs, you must complete all course requirements and pass the final exam (where applicable). The following CEUs are awarded for each e-Training course. Please note: the number of CEU credits noted below only apply to ESI's e-Training courses.

8. Will I earn professional development units (PDUs) for e-Training courses?

The Project Management Institute requires that a PMP®earn 60 PDUs every three years in order to maintain certification. Attending ESI e-Training courses is an excellent means of earning PDUs. The following PDUs are awarded for each e-Training course. Please note: the number of PDUs credits noted below only apply to ESI's e-Training courses.

"PMI" is a service and trademark of the Project Management Institute, Inc., which is registered in the United States and other nations.

"PMP" is a certification mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc., which is registered in the United States and other nations.

9. Will I earn ACE credits for e-Training courses?

The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends academic credit recognition of two undergraduate university credits for select e-Training courses. In order to receive ACE credit you must attend the entire class and pass the exam, where applicable. The e-Training courses that have received ACE credit recommendations include:

10. Will I earn college credit for e-Training courses?

Contact your college representative to inquire about applying ACE credit recommendations toward your college degree.

11. How do I obtain a transcript showing my training history?

If you would like a transcript showing your training history, including, pass/fail grade, course title, date and CEUs earned, contact the Office of Student Affairs at (888) ESI-4681.

12. I would like to obtain a transcript for my university that shows the ACE credits I've earned for ESI courses. How do I do this?

If you are pursuing a college degree and would like academic credit recognition for your ESI courses, you must obtain your official transcript denoting ACE credits from the ACE Council on Education (ACE/CREDIT) College Credit Recommendation Service student registry.

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Certificate of Completion

1. Will I receive a course completion certificate?

A certificate is sent to participants who complete all course requirements within the required six-week course period. You will receive your certificate within four to six weeks after successfully completing the course.

2. Who should I contact if I don't receive a completion certificate?

Certificates are delivered within four to six weeks after successfully completing the course. Contact ESI's e-Training customer service at (800) ESI-1556 or e-registration@esi-intl.com for more information.

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Course Materials

1. Are course materials sent to me as part of my course?

Most of the materials participants need for ESI's e-Training courses are provided online as part of the courseware. However, some courses require supplemental material that is only available in printed format. After registering for a course, check the syllabus to see if you should receive any supplemental material.

2. If my course requires supplemental materials, when will I receive them?

If applicable to your specific course, supplemental material is shipped on your indicated start date and may take between five to ten business days to arrive, depending upon your location. International shipments may take as much as much as two weeks depending upon customs. You will receive an e-mail notification once your materials have been shipped that includes method of shipment and a tracking number.

3. If my course requires supplemental materials, should I wait to receive them before beginning the course?

No. You may access the lessons and complete many of the assignments online while waiting to receive any supplemental materials.

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Payments/Credits/Refunds

1. What are the payment guidelines for registration?

ESI accepts credit cards or purchase orders as payment for e-Training courses. Accepted credit cards include: American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Master Card, and Visa.

2. How can I obtain a copy of a receipt for course payment?

You may contact the ESI Accounting Department at receipts@esi-intl.com. Please include your first and last name, company (if applicable), course name, and fax number to receive your request.

3. What is your refund policy?

ESI must receive notice of cancellations within 7 calendar days of enrollment to issue refunds. No refunds are granted after the first 7 calendar days of enrollment. ESI charges an administrative fee of 10 percent of the list price for refunds.

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Registration/Course Access

1. How long does it take after I register to gain access to the course?

You will receive access to the course within one business day of your indicated start date. For example, if you indicate a Saturday start date, ESI will activate your access on Monday.

2. How will I know when I have access to the course?

You will receive access to the course within one business day of your indicated start date, at which time you will receive a new student e-mail message at the e-mail address you provided during registration, which confirms that your course "clock" has begun.

3. How do I log in to my course after I receive course access?

You will receive an e-mail message at the e-mail address you provided during registration from ESI providing detailed access instructions. After that, you will log on at the ESI's e-Training home page by clicking on the "Student Log On" button and entering your user name and password.

4. I've registered but I don't have access. Why?

Remember, you should receive access to the course within one business day of your indicated start date. If you do not receive access within this time period, you may not have completed the registration process successfully. Upon completing registration, you must click the complete registration button at the bottom of the page. A confirmation screen will then pop up thanking you for your order. Or, you may be taking the program through your company and your company has requested that its employees receive company approval before accessing courses online.

If you need assistance, contact ESI's e-Training customer service at (800) ESI-1556 or e-registration@esi-intl.com.

5. I forgot my password. How do I find out what it is?

You can contact ESI's e-Training customer service department at (800) ESI-1556 or e-registration@esi-intl.com between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time. You can also call our technical support line at (800) 352-8459 or +1 (703) 558-4450. A technician answers the phone from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight Eastern Time on business days. During other hours, a technician calls back within 30 minutes.

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Technical Help

1. Who should I contact if I have technical questions or have problems accessing courses?

You can call ESI's e-Training technical support line at (800) 352-8459 or +1 (703) 558-4450. A technician answers the phone from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight Eastern Time on business days. During other hours, a technician calls back within 30 minutes.

Technical Note:

ESI's e-mail server does not accept compressed ("zipped") file attachments. Any compressed files sent to instructors will be removed from the e-mail body. This should not be an issue, given the size of files that are required.