Training Receptionists

Question: I would like to run a program to train receptionists who can speak both English and Chinese. We need such people badly. I am planning to train them for about one year and offer a certificate. How do I start? Are there legal issues if I’m not a teacher?

Answer: You should be able to set up your own certification program without any legal or bureaucratic concern. All you are saying is that your group certifies that this person has learned the skills of a receptionist. In your case, of course, those skills include proficiency in both Chinese and English.

To get started, you need to set a curriculum and pricing, and assess market demand. Who would pay for this training: Practices? Students?

You’d typically also have a testing system and a recertification process: How will you assess whether this person deserves certification, and based on what criteria?

Consider whether a full year is really necessary. Perhaps you could look into offering some classes in conjunction with a local language school.