The Business Learning Institute

Business Learning Institute General Policies

Attendance verification
BLI will e-mail or mail a confirmation slip to you after your registration is received. Please bring this slip with you on the day of the program. (In the case of e-mail confirmation, please make two copies — one to hand in and one to retain for your records.) The slip will list your name, the program title, location, time of program, registration fee, a signature line and a blank to fill in number of hours actually attended (based on a 50-minute credit hour) on both the top and bottom sections. The slip has a detachable portion to be turned into BLI at the conclusion of the event (or at your departure time, should you leave before the event has concluded) and a portion that you are to retain for your records. To insure accurate documentation, sign the confirmation and indicate the actual number of hours attended. You are required to sign both your portion and BLI’s copy for recordkeeping. If you do not receive a confirmation form two weeks prior to the program, please call our office to confirm your registration. If you forget your slip, blank forms will be provided at the event.

CPE Credits
BLI calculates its program CPE credits based on the duration of the program measured in 50-minute CPE hours.

CPE Credits Reconciliation
BLI will reconcile the actual CPE credits earned based on the participant check-in roster, recordkeeping provided by a BLI course administrator, and your signed confirmation slip information turned in at the end of the program. If you leave the program early, you must turn in your signed confirmation form at the course administrator’s desk and have your hours adjusted. The final reconciled CPE credits earned are then applied to your record and a final CPE Certificate of Completion is issued to you. BLI will also provide you with an Attendance Report transcript upon request.

Cancellations/refund policy
If you are unable to attend a seminar or conference, please notify us as soon as possible. The cancellation and refund schedule is as follows:

More than 10 business days before the program, you may:

1. Send a substitute* in your place
2. Transfer the full value to another course
3. Receive a refund less a $20 processing fee
4. Transfer balance to appropriate account (personal or firm). This is non-refundable and must be used within six months.

Fewer than 10 business days before the program, you may:

1. Send a substitute* in your place.
2. Transfer the full value less a $50 fee to another course (transfer credit must be used with the next six months).
3. Transfer balance to appropriate account (personal or firm), less a $50 fee. This is non-refundable and must be used within six months.
4. Receive a refund less 50 percent of the value of the course.

Seminar / conference cancellations will not be accepted after 5 p.m. on the previous business day. If course materials were sent in advance, these materials must be returned before any full or partial refund or transfer can be granted.

Confirmation of registration
Time permitting, a confirmation slip verifying the program title, location, time of the program and registration fee will be e-mailed or mailed to you when your registration is received. Please bring this slip with you on the day of the program. If you do not receive a confirmation form by two weeks before the program, please call our office to confirm your registration. Blank confirmations will be provided at the site for registrations received less than one week before the program (including online registrations).

If you do not receive a confirmation form up to two days prior the program, please call our office at (888) 481-3500 to confirm your registration.

Course Cancellation
BLI reserves the right to cancel a course seven days prior to the program date. BLI will not be responsible for travel expenses due to our cancellation.

Dress code
Our dress code is business casual. For your comfort, we recommend dressing in layers to accommodate typical variations in meeting room temperatures.

Program evaluations
Attendee evaluation forms are provided at every event. We strongly urge each attendee to complete the form. The results assist in determining the quality of the event, the effectiveness of the speaker(s), and help to ensure that the mandatory educational requirements have been met.

Government payments
Government employees may submit a purchase order or a training authorization order provided payment is received by the program date. If not received, BLI will hold a personal check or credit card number from the participant, which will be held until payment is received from the employer. If payment is not received within two weeks, the participant’s check will be deposited or credit card will be charged. The participant will be reimbursed by BLI when the employer’s payment is received.

Registration process

Register early:
We urge you to register early. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and classes frequently reach capacity well before the program date. Class capacity fills rapidly due to registrations received through faxes, postal mail and on-line registrations. You will be notified promptly if a course is full.

Three easy ways to register — online, by mail, by fax:

1. Register online

If registering online: After registering online, an automated response will be sent to your e-mail address, notifying you that BLI received your electronic registration request. If there are any problems with your registration or the class is full, you will be notified by an BLI Customer Service Representative. THIS OPTION IS AVAILABLE UP TO 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE EVENT. If you want to register two days or less prior to an event, please call BLI for availability. (888-481-3500)

If registering by mail or fax: Registration forms are located in our catalog and may be photocopied. The confirmation will be mailed to you. If there are any problems with your registration or the class is full, you will be notified by an BLI Member Service representative.

When registering, please include:

Daytime telephone number, so you can be notified of course changes, full classes, or cancellations.
Full payment must accompany all registrations. Checks are accepted for all courses (made payable to BLI). Visa, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards are accepted.

2. Mail registrations to: Business Learning Institute, Inc.
907 Dulaney Valley Road
Suite 710
Towson, Maryland 21204-2683

3. Fax to: 410-296-0886
Include Visa, MasterCard, or American Express number, expiration date, cardholder’s printed name and signature.

CPE record keeping
To earn the recommended CPE hours offered for each course, you must (1) be sure to sign-in at registration and (2) submit a signed copy of your confirmation form at the conclusion of the course. If you do not have a confirmation form with you, ask the course administrator for a confirmation form when you check in. If you leave the program early, you must turn in your signed confirmation form at the course administrator’s desk and have your hours adjusted.

BLI retains the following records for a minimum of five years: (1) program outline/materials: (2) records of participation; (3) date(s) and location(s) of presentation(s) or period during which program was available for purchase; (4) number of credits earned by participants; (5) results of program evaluations; (6) instructors, discussion leaders or program authors’ names and credentials; and (7) pilot testing results, for self-study programs, which includes date of pilot test; the target participant population; how the sample participants were selected; names, addresses, telephone numbers and job resumes of sample participants; a summary of participants’ actual completion time and the calculation of the recommended CPE credit.

Professional development transcripts
BLI maintains records for members who have earned CPE at BLI-sponsored events. Members may call BLI for copies of their personal professional development records at (888) 481-3500.

Timeframes and arriving on time
Be sure to allow enough time for traffic, parking, and check-in. BLI event start and end times vary due to the complexities their multi-speaker, multi-session formats present. A BLI staff member will be present to distribute the course materials from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. If participants arrive after 9:30 a.m., BLI will send the course materials by UPS to the participant’s preferred mailing address. If you know that you will arrive late, please call our office and we will be sure to leave your course materials with the instructor.

Unless otherwise noted, the standard schedule for all BLI events is:

Check-in and receive materials: 8:30 a.m.
Event starts: 9 a.m.
Beverage break: Mid-morning
Lunch break: Noon - 1 p.m. (catered lunch)
Beverage break: Mid-afternoon)
Event ends: 5 p.m. - submit evaluation form and signed confirmation slip with hours completed noted
Evaluations will be collected at the end of the program.

Inclement weather
BLI rarely cancels scheduled seminars due to inclement weather. Specific information regarding possible cancellations will be available by calling a BLI representative at 888-481-3500.

CPE Credit Guarantee
BLI will clearly note the amount of recommended CPE credit for each course. Unless the recommended CPE credit is noted as 0 credits, we will give you the option to enroll in another course of equal value at no charge or to receive a refund of your registration fee.

Complaint Resolution
For more information regarding BLI administrative policies or complaint resolution, please contact Marsha Draa at 888-481-3500, by email to marsha@bizlearning.net, or you may mail to:

Marsha Draa
Business Learning Institute
Dulaney Center II, Suite 710
901 Dulaney Valley Road
Towson, MD 21204

Disclaimer The information and suggestions presented at the classes, seminars and other programs sponsored by BLI are subject to constant change and, therefore, should serve only as a foundation for further investigation and study. Any forms presented at such classes, seminars or programs are samples only and are not necessarily authoritative. All information, procedures and forms contained or used in such classes, seminars, or programs should be very carefully reviewed and should serve only as a guide for use in specific situations. The opinions expressed by discussion leaders and discussion panelists are their own and are not necessarily those of the BLI.

The Business Learning Institute, Inc. is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417. Web site: www.nasba.org.