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“I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion.”
[1] -Thomas Jefferson - 1820
As Jefferson’s quote implies, a constitutional republic, such as the United States of America, requires informed, effective, and responsible citizens. Indeed, it has been said that ‘democracy is not a machine that will go of itself” and therefore requires each generation of citizens to develop, and employ, a certain level of civic knowledge in order to sustain it. Defining and developing such civic knowledge—that is, the effective preparation of citizens to fulfill their responsibilities to sustain and enhance self-government--is an essential condition for our representative government to survive.
Unfortunately, the civic literacy of Americans has been a concern for over 75 years. For example, national surveys of college freshman in the 1940s revealed a “striking ignorance” of even the most basic civic knowledge (Fine, 1943, p. 1).” In 2019, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation surveyed 41,000 Americans using 20 questions drawn from the USCIS Naturalization Panel. The results “validated what studies have shown for a century: Americans don’t possess the history knowledge they need to be informed and engaged citizens…. (Wilson Foundation, n.p. 2019)”
Additional support for this trend comes from the Congressionally mandated National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This assessment measures American K-12 students’ progress in a number of subjects, including civics, every four years. Results of the most accurate Grade 12 NAEP-Civics assessment indicated that only 24 percent of 12 th graders scored at the ‘proficient’ level or above and that 36 percent scored below even a ‘basic’ level of civic literacy.
In order to assess student progress, sophisticated frameworks identifying and detailing key civics concepts have been created. For example, the most accurate NAEP-Civics assessment framework was developed by a panel of more than two dozen experts in civics and civic education. [2] These authors of the NAEP-Civics Framework determined that essential civic knowledge consisted of answers to questions such as:
The National Standards for Civics and Government—developed by the Center for Civic Education (2003) [3] — provides another key reference point for determining key civics concepts. The authors of this framework extended their document to stress that educational institutions have a responsibility “to prepare informed, rational, humane, and participating citizens committed to the values and principles of American constitutional democracy (page v).
As an educational institution, Purdue University recognizes its responsibility to prepare informed citizens who value the principles of American democracy. The creation of a civics literacy requirement is in-line with that responsibility. The development of the Purdue Civics Knowledge Test is part of the overall literacy plan. The purpose of the test is to measure undergraduate students’ mastery of the basic civics concepts and principles underlying the system of government in the United States. This includes an awareness of their rights and responsibilities, as well as the source of those rights and responsibilities. Students should also know the structure and function of the government as described in the U.S. Constitution, and the role citizens play in the political and social life of the country. Finally, students should be familiar with the origin and contents of significant documents and events that have shaped the United States
“Citizenship—commitment to and participation in a community’s civic life—is the engine of constitutional democracy and a free society. Knowledge of the rights, responsibilities, and privileges of citizenship fuel that engine. Without the participation of informed, effective, and responsible citizens, a democratic republic cannot and does not function, nor can it make progress toward its ideals (NAEP Governing Board, p. 1, 2014).
Although it is hoped that civics knowledge will be related to active participation in civic life, the Purdue Civics Knowledge Test is focused directly on assessing student knowledge of key civics principles, facts, and government structures. It does not try to assess student behavior or beliefs.
The development of any standardized test should follow clear, well-documented procedures consistent with professional test development practices. The first step is establishing a clear purpose for the test. The purpose of the Purdue Civics Knowledge Test was outlined above. The next steps include (1) identifying eligible content, (2) establishing detailed test specifications, (3) developing items aligned to the targeted content, (4) providing for expert review of test items for content accuracy and freedom from bias, (5) field-testing items, (6) completing the psychometric analysis of field-test data, and (7) creating final test forms. [4] The development of the Purdue Civics Knowledge Test included attention to each of these steps.
Defining Eligible Content . The test development team referenced multiple sources to identify eligible content. The three most significant sources were (1) the National Standards for Civics and Government produced by the Center for Civic Education (2003), (2) The National Assessment of Educational Progress Framework: Civics (2018), and
(3) test items from the Naturalization Test for United States Citizenship managed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). [5] In addition, released items from the AP US History and AP US Government tests were also referenced. As a result, the working group identified five broad constructs that defined eligible civic knowledge content for the test:
Establishing Test Specifications . Using these sources, and these constructs, a test blueprint was developed to define the range and balance of eligible test content within a civics knowledge test form. The blueprint also set targets for the cognitive complexity of the final item pool and became a reference point for the development of assessment support materials including the development of study guides and practice tests. The final test blueprint identified five critical civic knowledge dimensions and the specific content standards to be assessed within each dimension. The test blueprint is contained in List 1.
Item Development . A team of professional item writers developed well-written items clearly aligned to the targeted learning standard. Items for the civics knowledge test were either adapted from existing sources (e.g., USCIS Naturalization test items, 12 th grade NAEP history and civics items, released civics items from large-scale state testing programs) or were new items written specifically for the Purdue Civics Knowledge Test.
Expert Review of Item Content and Bias and Sensitivity Review . The pool of potential items was reviewed for both content accuracy and to ensure the items were free of potential bias and sensitivity issues. [6] Items were reviewed by expert faculty, and items were edited or eliminated based on this review. Over 175 new items passed the review process.
The Purdue University item review team included:
The wordings of the test items were further subjected to a separate bias review by the Purdue University Division of Diversity and Inclusion
Simultaneous with these reviews and subsequent psychometric analysis, Purdue Libraries, under the direction of Professor Zoe Mayhook, created a resource page to provide background information for students preparing for the test.
Field-Testing the Items . The test development team built four 50-item field test forms. Each form included a core of 19 common items, and an additional set of 31 unique items. This design allowed statistical analyses to place all items on a common underlying difficulty scale. The forms were administered to samples of Purdue undergraduate students in March-April, 2021.
The test was administered through the Brightspace learning management system, with students self-pacing outside of a conventional classroom setting.
The students who took a version of the field test were recruited through a random sample of all undergraduates and two more specialized samples: undergraduates enrolled in political science courses in the Spring-21 term; and international students. In total, 355 students took part in this field test.
Psychometric Analysis of Field Test Data . Item response data collected during the field test were used to establish the psychometric properties of the items and test forms. Each of the test items was analyzed to gauge its difficulty and functioning. The full battery of items was further assessed to confirm the high reliability of the instrument, and student performance was compared across the different forms and samples to explore the overall fairness of the test.
Establishing Final Test Forms . The results of the psychometric analyses guided the development of three distinct, parallel, and equivalent 50-item test forms. The evidence collected during the development process establishing the validity, reliability, and fairness of the final test forms will be summarized in a final technical manual.
Based on the results of the field test, the decision was made to place the passing mark at 80%.
[1] Letter to William Charles Jarvis, 28 September 1820; The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Memorial Edition, Lipscomb and Bergh, eds., vol. 15 (278). More information.
[2] Civics Framework for the 2018 National Assessment of Educational Progress (2018). More information.
[3] Center for Civic Education (2003). National Standards for Civics and Government. Calabasas, CA. More information.
[4] American Educational Research Association., American Psychological Association., National Council on Measurement in Education., & Joint Committee on Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (U.S.). (2014). Standards for educational and psychological testing.
[6] The development process and plans were also submitted for IRB review and approval. This will allow data from the field test data to be presented outside of the immediate working group.
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Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:Our pick for best overall at-home testosterone kit is LetsGetChecked, but Verisana gets nods for most affordable, and Cerascreen for most personalized results.
Low testosterone levels can occur in people of any age. An underlying health problem like a pituitary gland disorder or an injury can reduce testosterone levels. Cancer treatments may also be a cause.
One way to check your testosterone levels is to take an at-home testosterone test. In this article, we’ll go over our picks for some of the best at-home testosterone test kits. We’ll also cover the symptoms and diagnosis of low testosterone.
Testosterone is a sex hormone produced in the testicles and ovaries. Production of testosterone ramps up during puberty and begins to gradually decline in adulthood.
It’s often considered the “male” sex hormone, but people of all sexes and genders produce testosterone. People assigned male at birth (AMAB) produce more testosterone than people assigned female at birth (AFAB), though.
Your body uses testosterone for many purposes, including:
Testosterone levels may also play a role in regulating your mood and supporting cognitive function, though research is still inconclusive on exactly how this works. A decrease in testosterone levels is a normal part of aging for people assigned male at birth, especially after age 30.
When your testosterone levels are too high (hypergonadism) or too low (hypogonadism), you may experience uncomfortable symptoms. A blood or saliva test can check the amount of testosterone your body is making.
In males, testosterone levels should generally fall between 300–1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), or 10–35 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L).
In females, the testosterone levels produced in the ovaries are quite low, between 15–70 ng/dL, or .5–2.4 nmol/L.
You may be tempted to test your testosterone levels using one of the home testosterone testing products you’ve seen advertised. Before you try a test kit, make sure you understand:
For the brands listed, we reviewed each of their medical and business practices, including:
Many products are available for testing your hormone levels at home before seeing your doctor. All of these examine either your saliva, urine, or blood. How you collect your sample and how many samples you take may vary depending on the product.
All home test kits require you to mail your collections to a certified lab for testing. You may get the results within a few days or a few weeks.
Price: $69–$199
LetsGetChecked offers testosterone testing kits that use a finger prick to measure testosterone levels in the blood. After you collect your sample, you send it to the lab on the same day you collect it using prepaid shipping supplies.
Within 2 to 5 days, your results will be available to you online. If you have questions, there’s a team of nurses available 24/7 to help explain your results.
LetsGetChecked offers four at-home tests that include testosterone testing:
Price: $259
myLAB Box offers an at-home men’s health test that measures testosterone levels, as well as cortisol, estradiol, and DHEA. Like other tests in this list, you collect your samples — both saliva and a finger prick — and send them off to their labs. The company claims the finger prick is 100% pain-free, and results should arrive online within 5 days of sending results to the lab.
Price: $49
Everlywell’s at-home testosterone kit tests your saliva to see if you’re producing the average amount of testosterone for your age. After you collect your saliva sample, you mail it off to the Everlywell labs in prepaid shipping, and within days you’ll receive online results that indicate whether your testosterone levels are normal, low, or high.
In addition to their testosterone kit, Everlywell has a more extensive Men’s Health kit at a higher price point.
Use code “HEALTHLINE25” for 25% off.
Price: $49.95–$219.95
If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression, potency issues, weight gain, increased body fat, or fatigue, Verisana’s testosterone testing kit might be for you. Verisana uses saliva to test testosterone levels. Once you collect your sample and mail it to the lab, Verisana will send you a detailed report with your results.
Verisana offers a few tests that measure testosterone, including:
Price: $69
The Roman testosterone testing kit is provided through Ro, a telemedicine men’s health company. It may be a good choice for someone who is intimidated by or unfamiliar with taking their own blood samples.
Step-by-step video guidance is available to help you through the sample collection process, and you can connect with live agents if you need additional assistance. When your results have been analyzed, you’ll receive an emailed PDF report — usually within about four business days.
Price: $59
Cerascreen offers quick and easy testing by using saliva to measure testosterone levels. Once you take your saliva sample, you set up an online account with Cerascreen and answer a questionnaire that will help provide you personalized recommendations with your results. Results take 3 to 5 days to return to you via an online portal.
You may need to check your testosterone levels if you’re experiencing any symptoms associated with low T, regardless of your age or sex.
Keeping an eye on your testosterone levels is important for transgender men and transmasculine people using masculinizing HRT, also known as female-to-male testosterone therapy or simply T therapy.
Before you start T therapy, your healthcare provider will need to check your base levels of the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen so you can take an appropriate dose of T to achieve the level of masculinization you want.
Current guidelines suggest getting your levels checked every 3 months for the first year that you’re on HRT and every 6–12 months afterward.
Monitoring your testosterone levels is important because taking too much testosterone can have adverse effects like metabolic problems, while doses that are too low may induce a hypogonadism-like state and could cause significant losses in bone density.
Not to mention, if your testosterone levels aren’t high enough, you may not experience the masculinization you desire or you may notice changes happening very slowly.
Remember, though, that it can take several years for the maximum effects of T therapy to develop. Plus, not everyone taking T will experience the same effects — everybody is different!
It’s important to choose a home testosterone kit produced by a reputable brand that delivers results on a timeline that works for you. You might also want to think about costs, collection methods, and whether the brand connects you with healthcare professionals to go over your results. Some other qualities to look out for are:
At-home testosterone tests allow you to collect your own sample and ship it back to a lab for evaluation. These test kits require you to collect either saliva or blood, and they come with everything you need to return your sample safely and securely.
Testosterone tests, in general, track the amount of free testosterone present in the sample provided. This can help provide you a better overall idea of your testosterone levels.
Blood test kits will come with a pinprick mechanism that can break the skin on your finger and allow a small amount of blood to flow.
The kit also comes with a collection vial, a biohazard/specimen bag, and a return envelope or a separate shipping label. You’ll want to collect the required amount of blood in the included vial, complete any required forms or sample labeling, and securely return your test.
Make sure to read through the instructions and take any necessary precautions to make sure that you don’t accidentally damage or taint your blood sample. This could potentially skew your results.
Saliva test kits are very similar to blood test kits in how you collect, label, and ship your sample. The advantage of a saliva test is that it doesn’t require a finger pinprick, which is good news for those who are uncomfortable with needles.
However, the effectiveness of testing saliva over blood is up for discussion. A 2013 study found that saliva test results were fairly accurate and reliable for testing testosterone levels.
However, research from 2014 found that saliva tests were less accurate than blood samples because free testosterone could bind with saliva proteins and ultimately skew the results.
If you want to test your T levels, in general, a saliva or blood test is a good option for you. But, if you or your doctor need results that are as accurate as possible, a blood test may be your best bet.
Of course, there’s no substitute for getting tests done in person at a certified lab. This can help reduce the risk of any errors in the sample collection and evaluation process.
Low testosterone may affect about 10% of men over 30, and up to 40% of men over 70.
Low T levels may cause different symptoms depending on your age, your sex assigned at birth, and whether or not you’re undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as part of a gender transition.
If you’re AMAB and you aren’t intentionally modifying your hormone levels, symptoms of low testosterone levels (hypogonadism) may include:
Consider talking with a healthcare professional if you experience any of these symptoms and suspect that you may have low or decreased testosterone. Low T can be a normal part of aging, but drastic or rapid changes could indicate a health condition that may need treatment.
For AFAB adults who aren’t intentionally modifying their hormone levels, research is limited into what low testosterone feels like. There also isn’t a set guideline for what constitutes low T in this population.
Some symptoms, which are largely attributed to low estrogen levels, may include:
Consider talking with a healthcare professional if you experience any of these symptoms and suspect that you may have low or decreased testosterone. Again, since research is limited for low testosterone levels for AFAB adults, the symptoms could vary from those listed above.
The onset of menopause, dysfunction of the pituitary or adrenal glands, or problems with ovarian health could be causing your hormone levels to shift, and you may need to seek treatment or support managing symptoms.
If you’re taking an at-home testosterone test, the type of collection method used to test testosterone levels may vary. Different types of collection methods may include blood samples, urine samples, or saliva samples.
Testosterone levels vary throughout the day and are highest in the morning. For this reason, your test instructions may say that you should collect samples between 7:00 and 10:00 a.m.
A blood test for testosterone can tell a healthcare professional how much free testosterone is circulating in your blood. It can also show the total amount of the hormone in your body.
One study from 2016 indicates that measuring free testosterone is a better way to diagnose hypogonadism accurately.
Remember that many factors can affect total testosterone levels, and high or low levels do not necessarily indicate a clinical problem.
Some factors that could lead to decreases in T levels might include:
If you decide to measure your testosterone levels with a home kit, you should be prepared to take any necessary next steps. The laboratory results should come with an explanation of your measured testosterone level.
If your level is considered average, but you still have symptoms that concern you, it’s a good idea to talk with a healthcare professional like a doctor or endocrinologist.
If your results come back as lower than average, make an appointment to see a doctor before trying any home remedies. Over-the-counter testosterone supplements aren’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and could carry a risk of side effects, especially if you’re taking other medications.
Plus, at-home test kits aren’t likely as accurate as in-office lab tests. A doctor may want to double-check your levels before recommending any treatment.
Not to mention, low T can sometimes be a sign of a serious underlying medical condition. It’s important to work with a professional to rule out or treat any conditions.
Research suggests that only about 5% to 10% of men with low testosterone are receiving treatment.
If a healthcare professional diagnoses you with low T, there are several treatment options available.
Depending on the cause(s) of your low T, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes as a front-line treatment. These could include influencing your weight, switching medications, and cutting back on alcohol or tobacco.
Your healthcare provider might also suggest that you start testosterone replacement therapy, a medical intervention through which you supplement your body’s natural T levels by taking synthetic testosterone.
Some popular types of T therapy include:
Each method comes with its own risks and benefits, and some might not be available in certain areas. Talk through your options with a healthcare professional like a physician or endocrinologist to choose the type that’s right for you.
Most people with low T begin to experience symptom relief within four to six weeks of starting T therapy, though some changes like muscle mass development can take a little longer.
If you’re trans and using HRT as part of your transition, your healthcare team can adjust your dose if your levels are consistently too low or too high. Talk with your provider(s) about your dose if you’re concerned.
Before you rely on the results of a testosterone home test kit, you should be aware of the accuracy of salivary testing versus blood testing.
Testing saliva is easier and less invasive than drawing blood. Still, testosterone in saliva samples can be affected by how they’re collected and stored, so researchers are interested in whether this method is reliable.
The results and expert opinions are mixed.
Some studies and reviews suggest that saliva testing is preferable because it’s less stressful for the patient. A 2016 study concluded that saliva is a reliable method to determine testosterone levels.
But there has not been enough analysis of commercial home testing kits. Whether they deliver accurate, reliable, and unvarying results has not been confirmed.
Research into at-home testosterone kits is lacking. It’s unclear how accurate they are compared with tests ordered by a doctor in a lab.
However, it’s safe to say that an in-office testosterone test will be less subject to human error. Doctors, especially endocrinologists, are trained in collecting and handling samples properly.
Plus, if you discuss the results of an at-home testosterone kit with a healthcare professional, chances are they’ll want to double-check your levels via a professional test anyway.
While at-home kits can provide a good baseline for starting a conversation with a provider, doctor-administered tests are likely more accurate.
Testosterone levels must be checked more than once to gain a complete understanding of your levels, according to the Endocrine Society.
Make an appointment with a healthcare professional if your test results show low testosterone or if you’re experiencing symptoms of low T. They’ll probably want to check again using a more reliable method to be sure.
You may need to check your testosterone levels if you’re experiencing any symptoms associated with low T, regardless of your age or sex assigned at birth.
Keeping an eye on your testosterone levels is also important for transgender men and transmasculine people who are using hormone replacement therapy as part of their transition.
Trans folks should check their levels every 3 months for the first year that they’re on HRT and every 6–12 months afterward.
Many different factors go into choosing an at-home test, such as:
You may also want to look at reviews to see if other people have found that certain brands provide better accuracy than others.
Also, certain brands may not be able to deliver results to certain states, so make sure you live in a state where the results of at-home kits can eventually be sent to you.
Health insurance plans don’t generally cover at-home tests. Most insurers prefer that you undergo laboratory testing in a doctor’s office if you have symptoms of low T.
However, you may be able to pay using a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA). You can also check with your insurance provider to see if you’re eligible for reimbursement.
Having low testosterone levels may be a regular part of your aging process. Alternately, you might have a condition that’s causing your levels to drop.
While at-home kits may provide some insight into your levels, the best solution is to work with a healthcare professional that you trust to get an accurate diagnosis and learn about your treatment options.
5 minutes
Do you have a knack for remembering names and numbers or are you the type of person who forgets things from one moment to the next? Find out if you have the proverbial memory of an elephant by taking this test.
Read each question carefully and answer as truthfully as possible. After finishing the Memory Test, you will receive a detailed, personalized interpretation of your score that includes diagrams and information on the test topic.
This test is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or for the treatment of any health condition. If you would like to seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional you can search Psychology Today's directory here.
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Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:A hair strand drug test, also known as a hair drug test, screens for illicit drug use and the misuse of prescription medication.
Though it’s common to refer to this as a “hair follicle test,” a hair strand drug test only tests clipped strands of hair, not the follicle located under the scalp.
During this test, a small amount of hair is removed from your head using scissors. The sample is then analyzed for signs of drug use during the 90 days preceding the test. It’s typically used to test for:
While a urine drug screen can detect if you’ve used drugs in the last few days, a hair drug test can detect drug use in the past 90 days.
Your workplace may request a hair test to screen for illicit drug use before hire or randomly during employment. Some research also indicates that hair drug testing can be useful for monitoring drug use in at-risk individuals when used alongside self-reporting.
Your hair strand test might take place in a lab or within a hospital setting. Or your workplace may perform the test using a kit that’s then mailed to a laboratory. You can also order at-home hair tests online.
If your workplace has mandated that you take the test, they’ll likely require you to be supervised during the testing process.
You can wash your hair, dye your hair, and use styling products without affecting the accuracy of the test.
After confirming identifying information, the collector will cut between 100 and 120 hairs from the crown of your head. They can collect the hairs from different spots on your crown to avoid creating a bald spot.
If you have very little or no hair on your head, the collector might use body hair for the test instead. The collector will place the hair in foil and then in a secure envelope to be mailed for overnight testing.
A negative result can be determined within 24 hours of hair removal. A test called ELISA is used as a screening test. This test determines if the hair sample is negative for drug use.
A negative result indicates that you haven’t engaged in illicit drug use over the past 90 days. Additional testing is required to confirm a positive result.
A positive drug test is confirmed after 72 hours. All nonnegative tests undergo a second test, called gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). It confirms a positive test result. This test also identifies the specific drugs used.
An inconclusive result isn’t common when testing procedures are followed. In some cases, improper collection of the hair specimen may result in the test being rejected completely. In this case, the test may be repeated.
The laboratory responsible for testing will deliver the results to the individual or organization requesting the test. They’ll use confidential means, like a secure fax, a phone call, or an online interface to share test results.
Because lab results are confidential health information, you’ll need to sign a release before the results are passed on to your workplace.
A hair drug test detects a pattern of repeated drug use over the last 90 days. Because hair growth rates vary from person to person, this test can’t accurately determine when in the 90 days drugs were used.
The collection and testing of hair for this test follows a very specific set of standards to increase accuracy. During testing, the collected hair is washed and tested for environmental contamination that could change the results of the test.
Your results won’t be affected if you wash your hair, dye your hair, or use styling products.
To guard against a false positive, laboratories conduct two tests. The first, called ELISA, is able to deliver a negative or positive result within 24 hours.
The second, called GC/MS, is a widely accepted method for confirming a positive result. This second test can also test for specific drugs and can detect as many as 17 different drugs. The GC/MS also guards against false-positive results caused by foods like poppy seeds or hemp seeds.
One 2017 study did find inconsistency between self-reporting of cannabis use and the results of hair drug tests. This may indicate the potential of a false positive.
Certain medications may influence the results of the test. If a doctor has prescribed an opioid painkiller and you use them as directed, these drugs will show up on your test. In this case, your employer will likely request you provide documentation of prescriptions.
If you believe your hair drug test results are inaccurate, you may immediately request a retest from your employer.
A hair drug test is more expensive than a urine drug test. An at-home kits costs between $64.95 and $85. Drug tests performed in a hospital or laboratory may cost between $100 and $125.
If you’re a current employee and your workplace requires you to take a hair strand drug test, they’re required by law to pay you for the time spent taking the test. They’ll also pay for the test itself.
If a drug test is part of pre-employment screening, the employer isn’t required to compensate you for your time.
Many insurance carriers cover drug tests if it’s performed within a hospital for medical purposes, like an inpatient stay or an emergency room visit.
The main difference between a hair drug test and a urine drug test is the window of detection.
A urine drug test is used to test for drug use over the three days preceding the test. A hair drug test is the only drug test that can detect repeated drug use up to 90 days prior to the test.
This is possible because drugs present in the bloodstream actually become a part of hair cells as the hair grows. The sweat and sebum present on your scalp may also play a role in drug presence in existing strands of hair.
Because of the rate of hair growth, drugs can’t be detected in the hair until five to seven days after use. In the case of a workplace accident, a hair drug test wouldn’t be an appropriate test for detecting accurate drug use.
If you have questions or concerns about your drug test results, reach out to the medical review officer, or MRO. An MRO evaluates drug test results and may be able to explain your test results.
Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days prior to the test date. That’s because the chemicals from the drugs that end up in your bloodstream become part of the hair cells as your hair grows.
Hair drug tests may not be appropriate for determining accurate drug use. That’s because it may take five to seven days for the drugs to be identifiable through a hair test. Urine drug tests are used to detect accurate drug use.
If you’re taking prescribed medications, let the administrator of the test know. Medications may lead to a false-positive test result.
As the worldwide business landscape evolves, responding to the whims of technology and increased competition, so does the importance of professional development programs. Designed to arm employees with new resources to succeed in their positions, even preparing them to accept additional duties within the company, these programs are gaining in popularity, complexity and necessity.
According to Steve Hawter, vice president of learning and development at The Learning Experience, professional development “controls an employee’s readiness for contributing to a company in new ways, whether the company adopts a new strategy, expands or needs change.”
To keep up with the rapid pace of change in the business world, employees must be encouraged and supported to seek refresher courses and accept new challenges.
“It is less important to learn a course or skill than to be able to adapt to new and evolving workplace challenges,” Nanette Miner, Ed.D., owner of The Training Doctor, told Business News Daily. “It is important not to remain a dinosaur in your industry to keep your job and remain valuable.”
There are definite differences between training and professional development, said Hawter. “Training fills in a gap, but development looks to the future and growth of the company and employee.”
Professional development begins on day one of a new job, in Miner’s opinion. “For company longevity, there should be a clear career path,” she said.
Conversely, training is based on the needs of the organization at the time. While employees can co-train on a mutually agreed topic, professional development budgets have shrunk in the past few years.
“Companies are not investing in their talent,” Miner said. “My overarching belief is that more money has to be invested in self-management, ethics, communication (written and verbal) and leadership skills.”
Key takeaway: Training fills a gap, whereas professional development focuses on employee and company growth.
Many employers shy away from professional development programs, thinking they are unnecessary. However, there are several ways these programs can benefit not just your employees, but also your business.
Beyond the benefits of supplemental training for one’s job, professional development enhances an employee’s value and ensures they remain relevant in their career field, said Steve Smith, founder and CEO of GrowthSource Coaching. Professional development can also involve an employee becoming certified in a field complementary to their current position.
Development certification is one way for staffers to demonstrate they can perform bigger and better things, upping their value to their employers and the workforce in general.
“Becoming irrelevant is the fastest way to lose your job or, if [you own] a company, have your business decline,” Smith said.
According to Smith, many people pursue professional development to bolster their confidence in what they do at work, “which is a noble reason to continue to develop yourself.” This confidence can translate into higher overall job satisfaction, which in turn increases employee performance, productivity and morale.
Businesses that do not offer career-building educational opportunities for their staff tend to see greater employee turnover than those that do provide those resources. Miner said that disinterest correlates to “why companies are finding hiring and retention so hard. They are not investing in professional development, and employees leave.”
Interesting, challenging and career-enhancing education is becoming an employee “expectation,” said Hawter. Companies that don’t invest in a culture that prioritizes educational training programs for their staff run the risk of losing them to employers that do.
Key takeaway: Professional development programs Excellerate employees’ knowledge, skill sets and job satisfaction, resulting in higher employee retention.
Even the most impressive professional development program is destined to fail if a participant does not “buy into” the initiative, said Hawter. These are the two pillars of a viable professional development program:
According to Hawter, “micro-learning” is a big buzzword in the learning and development universe. Micro-learning means an educational opportunity that focuses on small concepts.
One example of this niche learning is teaching a staffer how to connect with the mobile generation. That knowledge in particular is all the more important since an ever-increasing number of millennials and Gen Zers work remotely. Because the modern workforce comprises three or four generations, a one-size-fits-all approach to employee enrichment is simply outdated, Hawter said.
The availability of both formal and informal professional development opportunities is imperative in today’s modern workforce. Webinars and podcasts are examples of informal learning that gives the participant total control over when they seek assistance. That is partly why informal professional development programs are more impactful when combined with formal offerings.
The best professional development programs are overseen by professional organizations, such as Dale Carnegie Training, because those workshops “focus on leadership,” said Smith. “Those programs are designed to teach new things but also provide game plans to help [companies] implement professional development in the workplace.”
Even companies that start with the best of intentions might stop fully supporting learning and development efforts over the long term, Smith said. Regular follow-ups are necessary to ensure employees are using everything they have learned to Excellerate their performance.
Hawter urges companies not to minimize the importance of employee development, largely because “PD ensures employees know of the company’s investment in them and demonstrates the company’s real concern” for their welfare.
Key takeaway: A strong professional development program should offer continual formal and informal employee development opportunities that match the employees’ needs.
As team members, your employees can work both individually and together to reach a common goal. The personal growth of each employee contributes to the success of the entire business.
According to Adrian Ridner, CEO and co-founder of Study.com, the acknowledgment of an employee’s talents and successes in fulfilling their job responsibilities builds their confidence, which increases employee retention and morale.
An Akumina study showed that millennials tend to favor moving from one job to another. Empowering employees, especially younger workers susceptible to job hopping, to succeed in their current roles and ultimately move up could reduce this turnover.
There are numerous ways for employees to pursue professional development. Follow these steps to find the program – or combination of programs – that works best for your team.
Addressing skill gaps among employees is essential for business owners and managers. You and your team managers or HR representatives should meet with your employees regularly to discuss each one’s job performance and areas where professional development would benefit them and the company. The conversation should include suggestions for improvement, showing the employee the company cares about them and their future.
Additionally, bouncing professional development ideas around the office empowers employees to play an important role in the program while encouraging personal and professional growth.
“Creating a culture of learning in the workplace is a shared responsibility,” Ridner said. He added that employees should feel free to suggest academic or professional development programs.
Businesses should consider forming partnerships or provide access to workplace education, like online lessons and in-house training sessions, Ridner said. You could also turn to online industry offerings or connect with experts in your field.
It’s crucial for employees to keep pace with societal and technological developments. Since rapid technology advancements impact most industries, professionals armed with diverse skills and abilities offer more flexibility and value to employers than those whose learning has stagnated.
“With the advent of technology and online learning, it’s easier and more inexpensive than ever to foster a culture of learning in the workplace,” Ridner said.
According to Ridner, employers should arrange brainstorming groups or mentorship programs to help staffers connect with one another. For example, Study.com organizes 24-hour “Rockethons,” during which the company forms small teams to discuss ideas, create prototypes, Excellerate tools and more. [Read related article: How to Find a Mentor]
Get an expert speaker or knowledgeable team member to teach your employees in an informal lunch setting. The expert can present to the team, and then employees can engage in a creative discussion with the expert, gaining front-row knowledge on a specific topic. This is a great monthly event that can help educate employees without taking up too much of their time. Many companies pay for lunch for the employees to eat while listening to the speakers, which gives staff an incentive to come and an even more positive association with the sessions.
While some staffers welcome professional development opportunities, others might be reluctant. As an employer, you should encourage educational pursuits in and out of the workplace. You could also organize initiatives to stimulate new ideas.
Key takeaway: Consult your employees on which professional development programs sound most helpful to them. Some ideas are lunch-and-learns, industry expert speakers, online courses, and/or internal mentorships.
Sammi Caramela and Skye Schooley contributed to the reporting and writing in this article. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.
The Chaifetz School's Professional MBA program offers a nationally ranked education in the heart of St. Louis, helping members of the region's workforce advance their business knowledge and obtain the right credentials to accelerate their careers. The program's flexible format gives working professionals options to grow their skills and network in a way that works for them.
One size does not fit all. Here at the Chaifetz School, your MBA will be as unique as your career goals. Built from three innovative certificates, our stackable program provides the generalist business education an MBA is known for, along with the opportunity to pursue your interests through specialized certificates:
Take classes at your own pace and build your schedule each semester to fit your changing needs, whether you prefer to come to campus for in-person classes or need to take classes online to accommodate a busy travel schedule. With some specializations available 100% online, and a dedicated academic advisor to help you plan each semester based on work or family, you can finish your MBA in as little as 18 months as a business undergraduate student. With the entire program ranging from 33-39 credits, the average student graduates in 2 to 2.5 years.
U.S. News & World Report not only ranks the Chaifetz School's Professional MBA program a top part-time MBA program in the country, it also ranks the Chaifetz School a top institution for graduate study in entrepreneurship, international business and supply chain management.
As the oldest business school west of the Mississippi, the Chaifetz School has educated the business leaders of tomorrow for more than a century. That long history and Saint Louis University's deep roots in the heart of the city mean access to a vast network of alumni both here in St. Louis and across the world. More than 137,000 Billiken alumni live in all 50 states and 154 countries.
With in-demand skills and tangible experience, a Chaifetz School MBA will position you to accelerate your career. Leverage the program’s dedicated career staff and professional network to make your post-MBA goals a reality.
As a lifetime benefit for our alumni, career services don’t end at graduation. Need a resume reviewed or thinking about job transition? Simply reach out to our Valerie A. Davisson Career Resources Center and we’ll support you in reaching the pinnacle of your career.
Learn more about Professional MBA curriculum
Thanks to the generosity of successful alumni and friends of Saint Louis University, earning a world-class MBA from the Chaifetz School of Business may not be as big of an investment as you think.
Thimble Insurance offers affordable and flexible professional liability insurance, which is ideal for small businesses that have changing coverage needs.
Coverage is available in a variety of different term lengths
Policies are affordable, starting at just $36 per month
Thimble serves a wide variety of professionals, including those in niche industries
Thimble Insurance is the best choice for small business professional liability insurance. The coverage is affordable, you can choose how often you want to pay, and the application process is quick and easy. As your company scales, you can easily adjust your coverage through the online customer portal.
Professional liability insurance from Thimble is available for individuals in many different professions, including pet sitters, freelancers, event managers, beauty professionals, fitness professionals, and more.
One of the best features of Thimble is the flexibility it provides in policy terms and payment options. You can buy annual coverage, or purchase insurance for individual projects that only last a few days or weeks, so you’re not paying for coverage you don’t need.
Thimble’s professional liability insurance policies start at just $36 a month, and instead of paying your premium in one lump sum, you can opt to pay monthly instead.
Thimble sells several other types of business insurance, including general liability insurance, equipment insurance, business owner’s policies, workers’ compensation insurance, and even hard-to-find policies, like drone insurance and event insurance.
According to one of the company's pages, the professional liability policies are available in all states. However, you should check with a representative because another page notes that the professional liability policies are not available in Washington or New York.
Junior Professional Associates (JPA) Program
The Junior Professional Associate (JPA) program is a unique opportunity to gain entry-level professional experience and first-hand exposure to the challenges – and rewards – of international development.
Are you a accurate graduate? Do you have passion for and commitment to helping others? Are you looking for a solid, two-year entry-level work experience in a multicultural environment? If so, you may be interested in the World Bank’s JPA program.
In your JPA assignment, you'll use your strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, your knowledge of technology and your research abilities - working with more senior colleagues and project teams in their work both in operations and in corporate functions. You'll have an opportunity to hone your skills and acquire new ones while gaining first-hand exposure to the challenges of reducing poverty and boosting shared prosperity. Your experience as a JPA may be used as a steppingstone to a career in government, consulting, the private sector, academia or other development agencies.
What are we looking for?
Your academic achievements are superior and place you in the top portion of your graduating class. Your analytical and research skills extend to areas of specialization such as: economics, finance, human development (public health, education, nutrition, population), social sciences (anthropology, sociology), agriculture, environment (climate, blue economy), infrastructure, private sector development, as well as other related fields, including corporate and administrative functions (IT, legal, accounting, communications, etc).
You are fluent in English and, preferably, in at least one other Bank language (French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese, or Chinese). You love technology and integrate it in your work.
What are we offering you?
We will provide you with the opportunity to gain entry-level professional experience in a premier development institution, on a two-year, non-renewable Extended Term Consultant (ETC) contract with benefits.
Eligibility Criteria
The following are minimum requirements to be eligible for the JPA program:
Since this employment program is highly competitive, applicants under active consideration for employment may be asked to submit academic records as well as references. The World Bank will contact only those applicants whom hiring managers wish to interview.
Positions may be located in any of the World Bank's offices across the world.
A JPA assignment is not an entry point for a career at the World Bank and employment beyond the two-year contract will be prohibited for a period of two years after the end of the contract. However, some former JPAs may rejoin the organization later in their careers after gaining experience elsewhere and becoming experts in their professional fields.
Recruitment and hiring for this employment category is ongoing throughout the year.
How to apply?
Interested candidates may apply online. (Please take care to provide required information where indicated). Please note that applications will be kept active in our database for a period of six months. Should you still be interested in JPA program after six months, you will need to re-apply. Only those identified for an assignment will be contacted to discuss their interest and availability. Candidates are selected by the hiring manager on a highly competitive basis.
Diversity and Inclusion
The World Bank continually searches for qualified individuals with a diverse set of backgrounds from around the globe. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability.
Individuals with disabilities may be provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions and support in receiving other workplace accommodations.
Please see the videos "Behind the Mission: Working at the World Bank Group"
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A professional employer organization (PEO)—sometimes referred to as an employee leasing company—is a human resources company that is contracted by small companies to take over certain administrative functions, such as payroll, taxes, and employee benefits. The PEO, in effect, becomes a co-employer, an arrangement that allows it to combine the employees of several companies in order to offer those companies lower costs, reduced paperwork, and increased efficiency, as well as better retirement, healthcare, and workers’ compensation packages for their employees.
More than 800 PEOs in the U.S. provide a variety of services to between 156,000 and 180,000 small and medium-sized companies employing 2.7 to 3.4 million people. As a co-employer, the PEO becomes the legal and tax-related employer for the employees of all client companies. This allows the PEO to negotiate more expansive and less expensive benefits, workers’ comp, and unemployment insurance rates while offering state-of-the-art administrative services. The average client of a PEO, according to the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO), is a small business with 19 employees.
The number of employees covered by a professional employer organization in the U.S.
Some of the duties performed by PEOs in the U.S. include:
To better understand the role of a PEO in business, it’s important to know the following:
PEOs are not the same as temporary employment agencies.
Some people confuse PEOs with temporary employment, or “temp,” agencies. The two are quite different, even though some services offered appear to be similar. Temp agencies recruit employees and assign them to businesses on a short-term basis to help with overload or special projects or on an “as needed” basis. PEOs, as noted above, are co-employers and take on several administrative functions for clients.
