Frequently Asked Questions
Skip to the sections below:
Registration and General FAQs
Travel and Hotel FAQs
Private Group Training FAQs
Distance Learning FAQs
Certification Program FAQs
How do I register for one of your training seminars?
- Online via the Training Calendar
- Online via the Course Catalog
- By Phone at (703) 352-2250. Choose Option #3 to reach a Customer Care Representative
When registering, a unique email address is required for each student. Email is our primary means of communication with the student and is how we will send course confirmation information, log-on information for virtual classes, electronic course materials, invoices and other relevant course information.
Why do I need to use a unique email when registering?
Email addresses for Learners (Students) are used as usernames in our registration database. They can only be associated with one specific contact. Using a central/duplicate email for multiple people will cause conflicts within the system. It may result in the wrong person being registered for a class or can change important contact information for associated contacts. If the student does not have a unique email address, please call Customer Care at (800) 992-4489 and register by phone.
Do you offer group tuition discounts?
Yes. Groups of three or more individuals from the same organization are eligible for a 10% discount off the regular tuition rate. To receive a discount, all registrations must be submitted together prior to the registration deadline using promotion code GROUP3+. We cannot apply group discounts to groups of individuals who do not submit all registrations together. Group Discounts may not be combined with any other offers. To take advantage of group discounts simply enter code GROUP3+ during your online check out.
Do I need to pre-register for a seminar before attending?
Yes. You must register ahead of time for all courses. Walk-ins are not allowed. Registrations must be received prior to the class start date. The sooner you register, the better. This will allow us time to ensure we have enough course materials and can send all course communications in a timely manner.
When will I receive confirmation that I am registered for the seminar?
Confirmation letters are generally sent within 1 business day of registration. Payment is due upon receipt of confirmation. A purchase order does not constitute advanced payment.
What is your payment policy?
Advanced payment by credit card or check is required. Purchase orders do not constitute payment. Falmouth Institute accepts payment by check, credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), or electronically via ACH. To take advantage of the ACH payment method, simply use the following account and routing number:
Account Number: 40630491
Pay Routing/Transit number: ABA 021052053
Please include the invoice number and student name when submitting payment.
Can I hand carry the check to the seminar?
We would prefer you do not bring check payments to the seminar. Please mail check payments to:
Falmouth Institute
11350 Random Hills Rd.
Suite 800
Fairfax, VA 22030.
We must receive your payment in our office prior to the start of the seminar. Credit Card payments not made online at the time of registration may be made over the phone by speaking with a Customer Care Representative at (703) 352-2250 option 3.
I reside in a non-U.S. country. How should I pay for my registration?
Falmouth requires payment by credit card for all international transactions.
What is your cancellation/substitution policy?
To cancel your registration, please contact a Customer Care Representative at 703-352-2250 option #3. Upon receipt of cancellation, Falmouth Institute will issue you a cancellation number. All cancellations must be confirmed by Falmouth Institute at least 3 business days before the start of class. Cancellations occurring less than 3 business days from the class start date will be charged a $75 processing fee. All paid registrants will receive a training voucher minus any applicable processing fees. This training voucher will be good for one year from date of issue. Full tuition will be charged for any registrant who does not show up for the class and has not confirmed their cancellation prior to the class start date. If Falmouth Institute cancels for any reason, at any time, you will receive a training voucher good for one year from date of issue. Falmouth Institute is not responsible for and will not reimburse any travel related expenses, including but not limited to, airfare, hotel, per diem and any other related travel expenses, under any circumstances.
Substitutions may be made at any time. Please contact our Customer Care Department to coordinate a substitution prior to the course start date.
Where will my class be held?
Hotel location and room rates will be provided on your registration confirmation letter. All seminars will be held at conveniently located hotels.
Are there discounted room rates available from the hotel?
We negotiate special discounted rates for most of our seminars and conferences. Hotels will set aside a limited number of rooms at the special discounted rate. These rooms are available on a first-come, first served basis. When reserving a room at the hotel you must mention that you are attending a Falmouth Institute seminar to receive the discounted rate. You must register with the Falmouth Institute before reserving your hotel room. Hotel information will be provided on your registration confirmation letter.
Does the cost of tuition include travel, food and lodging?
No. You are responsible for all of your own travel, lodging, meals and incidental expenses. We recommend making refundable travel arrangements. Last minute schedule changes and/or cancellations happen from time to time. Falmouth Institute is not responsible for and will not reimburse any travel related expenses, including but not limited to, airfare, hotel, per diem and any other related travel expenses, under any circumstances.
What are the class hours?
Class hours vary depending on topic, location and method of delivery. Actual class hours will be provided to you on your registration confirmation letter. As a general rule, in-person public session class hours are from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. each day. Check-in runs from 8:00 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. on the first day only. There will be a 15-minute break in the morning, a 15-minute break in the afternoon, and a one-hour lunch break. Virtual sessions typically run from 12:30pm EST through 4:30 Pm EST. All times are subject to change. Please refer to your confirmation letter for your specific start/end times.
How should I dress for the seminar?
Business attire is not necessary. We recommend that you dress comfortably and anticipate varied temperatures in training rooms.
Can I purchase a manual without going to the seminar?
No. Manuals are not available for sale. Most course manuals are designed to be used in conjunction with our instructional facilitation and therefore are best suited for use in the classroom.
May I record a training?
No, audio and video recordings are not permitted during class instruction.
Can we have a class delivered at our location?
Yes. Falmouth Institute offers off-the-shelf and customized private group training. For more information, please browse our Private Group Training page by clicking here or call us at (703) 352-2250 Option #4.
The group rate you listed is $xx.xx but I was charged more. What is a resort fee?
The prices we provide are special negotiated rates that are set up for our group. This is a base rate per night and does not include taxes or fees. There will always be a tax associated with the hotel rate that is applicable to all guests and there is sometimes what is called a resort fee. A resort fee is another tax that is collected in exchange for certain services such as use of the hotel gym and pool, turn down service, newspaper delivery, etc. This fee is usually non-negotiable, even if you do not take advantage of all available services. Some hotels just include that fee in their base price and others charge it separately. Upon making your reservation, ask the hotel to give you a total including all taxes and fees so that you are prepared upon arrival.
My hotel is making me give a credit card for incidentals. Why?
It is standard procedure in every hotel to hold a credit card for incidentals. This is their insurance policy against any damage that may happen to their property. This also is what allows you to make phone calls from your room, order room service and movies or charge other items directly to your room bill. A certain amount of money is held per night on the card without being charged. This amount varies by hotel. While the credit card is not actually charged for this amount at the time of check in, there needs to be an available balance on the card for the entire deposit amount. Upon checkout, you will have the option of placing any charges you incurred on that card or may opt to use another method of payment. In the event that you do not have a credit card, the hotel will require a cash deposit in that same amount that will be refunded to you upon check out. It is very important to contact your hotel ahead of time to find out the exact deposit amount so that you are prepared and ready to check in when you arrive.
My company made my reservation with a corporate card that I don’t have with me. How do I pay for my reservation?
When you make a hotel reservation, some hotels charge your card for the entire stay and some charge a deposit equal to the first night’s stay. If you are staying in a hotel that only charges a deposit, be sure to contact the hotel ahead of time to arrange for payment so it’s not a surprise when you get there. If you’re not sure, it’s best to call the hotel and double check. More than likely, the hotel will be happy to fax or email you a credit card authorization which can be filled out with the corporate card information and faxed back to cover all of your room charges. To ensure that you have ample processing time, get your credit card information to your hotel 72 hours before check in. Also call to follow up that the information was received, this way you will be sure to have a smooth check in.
How do I pay for my room without a credit card?
The easiest and most commonly accepted form of payment is certainly credit card. However, if you don’t have access to one all is not lost. Individual hotel policies vary so your first step is to contact your hotel directly and find out what their exact procedure is. Most hotels will allow you to pay for your room with cash or check but this will need to be agreed upon ahead of time to avoid confusion. Keep in mind that even if your hotel was paid for ahead of time with a check, you will still be responsible for a fully refundable deposit upon check in. For details on the deposit, please reference the “credit card for incidentals” question above.
Why is there a cut off date on your room block and what if I miss it?
A room block is a group of rooms that Falmouth Institute is promising to fill with our clients in exchange for a discounted room rate. Having a cut off date gives the hotel a chance to sell any of our leftover rooms so that they are not at a loss on those nights. You can still book a hotel room after the cut off date but you may not be eligible for the discounted rate. It never hurts to ask to get into the block even after the date because some hotels will still honor that rate if they have the availability. Booking early will ensure your discounted rate so try not to wait!
I don’t see a special rate listed. Why is there no room block?
Periodically, we are not able to negotiate special rates or room blocks. This is typically the case when we have a hotel that already has a low published rate.
What is Private Group Training?
Private group training is developed and delivered for only members of your organization and invited guests. These sessions are not open to the public. Seminars can be tailored to address your specific professional development goals. Private Group Training can be conducted at your training site, off-site or online.
What classes are offered as Private Group trainings?
All Falmouth training classes are available for private group training and can be customized to fit your needs. Please visit our private group training page here.
How many people do we need to schedule a Private Group training?
Minimum numbers vary on topic and location. Private Group Training sessions held online in a virtual setting usually require a minimum of 5 people. In-person seminars generally require a min of 10 or more. Please contact us to discuss your training needs and we can find the solution that’s right for you.
How do I schedule a Private Group training?
Simply contact our team and we will walk you through the process. Click here or contact our team at (703) 352-2250 Option #4.
Where can we hold our Private Group training?
Seminars can be held wherever you desire…at your facility, off-site or online.
What is a virtual session and how does it differ from an in-person session?
In a virtual session you will receive all of the same valuable information as you would from an in-person session. The difference is that our virtual sessions are held online. Virtual sessions will be 4 hours a day over two or three days. You will be able to ask questions, interact with your instructor or other participants, answer polls and raise your hand.
What time do the virtual sessions begin?
Most virtual sessions times vary, so pay attention to the published schedule and promotions of public sessions. Once registered for a course a confirmation letter will be sent via email to confirm your course dates and times.
What platform does Falmouth use to facilitate virtual training sessions?
Falmouth virtual sessions use the Zoom platform.
How do I use Zoom?
To learn how to get started using Zoom, click here.
Do I need to download anything prior to attending a virtual session?
You do not have to have a Zoom account to attend a Zoom training or meeting. You will be prompted to download the software, once you have clicked on the link that you have been provided. You may also wish to create an account, but that is not required to participate in a Zoom meeting. Falmouth Institute will send course materials and a Zoom registration link via email about a week prior to your course start date. You may download or print the course materials for your use only.
Can I join from any device?
Yes. In addition to desktops and laptops, you can join from Surface PRO 2 running Win 8.1 Surface PRO 3 running Win 10, iOS and Android devices and Blackberry devices.
What are the technology requirements?
An internet connection – broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE). Speakers and a microphone (built-in or USB plug-in or wireless Bluetooth) are helpful, but NOT required. If you don’t have them, you can use a phone to call in. Phone numbers will be provided). Headsets and webcams are NOT required, but you are welcome to use them.
Supported Operating Systems
macOS X with macOS 10.7 or later
Windows 10
Windows 8 or 8.1
Windows 7
Windows Vista with SP1 or later
Windows XP with SP3 or later
Ubuntu 12.04 or higher
Mint 17.1 or higher
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.4 or higher
Oracle Linux 6.4 or higher
CentOS 6.4 or higher
Fedora 21 or higher
OpenSUSE 13.2 or higher
ArchLinux (64-bit only)
Supported Browsers
Windows: IE 11+, Edge 12+, Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+
Mac: Safari 7+, Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+
What about CEUs?
A CEU, or Continuing Education Unit, is a unit of credit equal to 1 hour of participation in an accredited program designed for professionals with certificates or licenses to practice various professions. Falmouth virtual training qualifies for CEUs just as Falmouth in-person training does (.6 CEUs per instructional day).
I registered for a virtual session. Now what?
You will receive a confirmation email from Falmouth which will include pertinent information, such as the scheduled time of the session or any pre-class assignments. Occasionally, however, customers may not receive the emails because of their company’s email security settings, a spam blocker, or an incorrect email address. If you registered but didn’t get your confirmation email the day after registration, please notify Customer Care at 1-800-992-4489. We will make sure you have everything you need before your session. Please be sure to check all of your email folders for any communications from Falmouth Institute as this is how you will receive all distance learning information from us. (add on) (repeat from above) Falmouth Institute will send course materials and a Zoom registration link via email about a week prior to your course start date. You may download or print the course materials for your use only.
Is there an exam?
Yes, all of Falmouth Institute’s certification programs have an accompanying exam. To become certified you must pass the exam.
How do I register for the exam?
In class, instructions will be provided on how to receive your unique username and password. Instructions can also be found in your course manual. You must register for the exam to receive “Exam Instructions” via email at the end of class.
How long do I have to take the exam?
Each participant will have 7 days from the last day of class to access the exam. You must complete the exam in one sitting. Your results will be provided immediately after you submit the exam.
What does the exam consist of?
Each exam consists of varying multiple choice and true/false questions drawn from the program’s course content.
How do I get my certificate?
Once you have passed the exam, you will be able to download your certificate showing that you are certified.
Can I take the test again if I do not pass?
If you do not pass the exam on your first attempt, you will have 1 year to re-test. Falmouth Institute’s exam re-test fee is $100.00, and you must pay the exam fee each time you re-register to take the exam.
You may take the exam a total of 3 times, after which you will have to register for and attend the certification program again before you are permitted to re-test.
Can I extend/renew my certification?
Some of our certification programs can be maintained by completing continuing education units (CEU’s). See the page for your specific certification program for more information.