By: Ruth Hurst,
Program Manager, Professional and Continuing Studies,
University of Delaware

A significant number of small businesses fail within their first 3-5 years. Research shows that many of these businesses are started by professionals such as lawyers, doctors, CPAs, dentists, psychologists, and other entrepreneurs, who often do not have any experience in owning and operating a business. Despite their professional education or training, the primary reason that many business owners have difficulty maximizing their potential and achieving their goals is that they do not know how to implement the systems for monitoring and improving their performance and profitability.

This fall the University of Delaware will introduce a new Professional Practice Management Certificate to address this issue. The certificate highlights the critical business activities that determine the growth and success of a practice.

“Professional practice management is a system for monitoring and measuring your specific business activities, providing the measurements that you need to ensure your success,” says Ian Binnersley, DDS, a partner at Dental Associates of Delaware’s Middletown Office. “The system becomes your solution.”

The Professional Practice Management certificate can be earned in approximately four months. The program is offered in 14 evening sessions. Classes take place at the University of Delaware’s Downtown Center at 8th and King Streets in Wilmington.

This certificate has been designed to help individuals make the transition from being professional clinicians to becoming professional business owners. The program examines the impact and interdependence of the three vital resources that are constantly affecting the success of the business: work, time, and money. Participants learn how to use their business plan, vision, mission, and monitoring systems as a compass to guide business success.

This certificate is suitable for professionals who currently or plan to own or operate their own practice, including doctors, dentists, lawyers, CPAs, psychologists, and other professionals and entrepreneurs. The program will also benefit practice managers for any of these businesses.

More information can be obtained by visiting www.pcs.udel.edu/practice-management or by calling 302/831-7600 or sending mail to continuing-ed@udel.edu.