Just FYI - You'd be surprised to know that those Real Estate professionals [everyone unfairly condemns as stupid] must take costly update courses at their own expense - during the weekday only - no on-line courses - no convenience - in addition to a slurry of other very time and dollar expensive courses that are "hawked" to them as ways to better place themselves ahead of their peers - Graduate Realtors Institute, Accredited Buyer Agent, Relocation Professional, etc.
We engineers could learn two very important mental perceptions from licensed RE professionals, licensed doctors and dentists, and lawyers:
1- Think of yourself as a small business / run yourself as a small business - stop thinking of yourself as a lowly cubical world "employee," whether you are one or not. ytou are Marty Doe, PE, entreprenuer, professional, providing a service to the company with whom you are presently connected.
2 - Take professional responsibility and pride in furthering your own education at your own expense. they are tax deductable anyway. you'd be surprised at the looks i get telling my Chief Engineer or HR that "I'll pay for it myself. The company doesn't need this expense.
Greg, I think you might find that companys are not at all required to pay for our career advancement: it's OUR responsibility. And we can be proud of that.
Chris in NC NASCAR Country