Are you concerned about your employees getting and making the most of oil and gas industry education and training? You need to stay on top of this industry. Like other industries, the oil and gas sector is constantly changing because of technology.

You've decided you don’t want to invest in sending employees to school because of the time, money and extended loss of services. Instead, you can find other effective ways of making the most of oil and gas industry education and training. All you have to do is support your employees in the following areas:

1. Focus on being proficient in oil and gas training industry software.

2. Take oil and gas courses through professional associations.

3. Read the industry’s trade magazines in order to get more oil and gas industry training.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn how to use oil and gas training industry software

One way of becoming proficient in the job is to be an expert in oil and gas software. Your employees can quickly gain this knowledge if they take oil and gas courses. The teachers will teach the fundamentals of the industry. Then they can use the software to apply these concepts. Keep in mind the oil school might not use the same software as your company uses. You should, however, be able to quickly learn the different features.

I recommend: P2 Energy Solutions offers oil and gas education solutions. If you prefer to have the training take place at your site, this company can accommodate you. WolfePak Software also offers software solutions. Employees will have to take the company’s oil education training at its headquarters in Abilene, TX. WolfePak offers comprehensive oil and gas industry classes, such as Introduction to WolfePak and the General Software & Accounting Structure.

Discover how to get oil industry training by joining professional associations

Another way employees can get oil industry training is by being part of professional associations. Not only can they network with other professionals in the industry, but they can attend seminars or conferences. Oil and gas professional organizations also offer discounts on oil industry education programs.

I recommend: Texas Oil & Gas Association offers continuing oil and gas industry education programs. By joining this organization, you will be able save on costs when taking these oil and gas courses. Independent Petroleum Association of America also offers various oil and gas education programs.

Get more oil and gas education by reading the industry's trade magazines

The best way to continuously get training is by reading the industry's magazines. Magazines cover new technologies that you won't hear about in oil schools. Employees will be able to read about executives, study other companies' performances, or learn about new ventures they're launching.

I recommend: Get a continuous oil and gas education with The American Oil & Gas Reporter. This magazine covers technologies that oil and gas companies are using to improve oil drilling. Hart Energy Publishing also covers oil drilling. In addition, you can read about oil exploration and production.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To get more oil and gas industry training, subscribe to podcasts. You can get the latest news on what companies are doing in the market, such as using and implementing new technologies.

With fossil fuel consumption at an all time high and the rising demand for increased production to offset inflationary prices at the consumer level, oil and gas education is imperative for energy companies that want to stay on the cutting edge of the fossil fuel wars.

New and improved extraction methods save investor dollars and adhere to stricter environmental restrictions. Keeping your company up-to-date on the latest technology requires an investment in coal, natural gas and oil industry training for key employees and administration.


Key factors when implementing oil and gas education in your company include:

1. Determining the scope of the educational program opportunities.
2. Locating coal, oil and gas courses.
3. Staying abreast of the constant changes in coal, gas and oil education.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Specialize your company's oil and gas education goals

You can't be everything to everyone but you can specialize in one or two segments of the energy industry and provide competitive services with an increased level of productivity. Even if your company is a huge conglomerate offering diversified fossil fuel services, your oil and gas education needs should offer a narrow focus for each division.

I recommend: Determine the oil and gas industry training needs specific to your company. PetroSkills offers diverse courses in production and completion methods, classes geared towards constructing and drilling and industry-specific operational management. In addition, General Physics Corporation offers training in the operation of power plants.

Stay current on your knowledge of oil and gas industry training needs

Very few financial investment payoffs occur immediately. When deciding which educational services to provide, consider both short and long-term benefits. A study of current fossil fuel trends and pending legislation is imperative when making a choice to offer oil industry training.

I recommend: Subscribe to Alexander’s Gas and Oil Connections for the latest trends and regulations affecting the energy industry. While you’re there, check out the latest courses in oil and gas industry training. Register with Global Energy Law Portal (OGEL) to stay abreast of the quickly changing legal aspects in the fossil fuel industry.

Find the coal, oil and gas industry classes that will benefit your company

Luckily, as quickly as the global energy dynamic shifts its focus, educational offerings adapt to the changes and provide timely training for industry employees. Locating a good oil and gas education provider and developing an ongoing relationship is imperative to the success of your oil industry-training program.

I recommend: Send employees to PetroStrategies seminars to learn the latest technology in short, intensive classes. Sign up for any of PetroSkills diverse offering of specialized petroleum-related courses. If your budget allows, request custom in-house courses that bring the instructors to you company.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Provide top-notch oil and gas industry education to your employees when your competition in the fossil fuel market demands a highly competitive edge.
• •  Offer to match an employee's costs to obtain an oil and gas management degree.
• •  Consult with training facilities to request a cut in tuition if you sign up a minimum number of employees.

If you're hiring employees or planning a career in the oil and gas industry, a knowledge of oil and gas industry education basics is necessary. Consider the possibility of taking some oil and gas courses. Better yet, why not pursue an oil and gas management degree or certificate?

Obtaining an oil and gas industry education will help in understanding the basics of the industry. Managers and executives want to hire such individuals for advanced positions. Here are three ways to obtain an oil and gas education:

1. Find out how to obtain an oil and gas management degree.

2. Discover how to obtain an oil and gas education certificate.

3. Take individual oil and gas education classes.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn where to obtain an oil and gas management degree

As previously stated, obtaining an oil and gas education provides exposure to the fundamentals of the industry. In addition, people learn how to develop advanced skills in energy management and devise strategies. Gain a greater understanding of how oil and gas play significant roles in the world, regarding politics, society or the economy.

I recommend: PennState World Campus offers a comprehensive oil and gas industry training curriculum; a Master of Engineering in Oil and Gas Engineering Management degree is available. The school's faculty consists of teachers who have real-world experience. Kings International University is another school that offers a solid oil industry education program.

Learn how to get an oil and gas education training certificate

Perhaps the goal is not to spend a lot of money or time in obtaining a master's degree. An option is to get a certificate by attending an oil school instead. Such schools provide exposure to both the technical and business sides of the oil and gas industry. With oil industry training, it's possible to learn about accounting and marketing, as well as production, exploration, and refinery.

I recommend: PetroSkills offers several oil and gas training certificate programs. All of the oil and gas industry education classes are in Houston, TX. IHRDC is another school to check out; it provides a well-rounded education about business and technical sides of the industry.

Consider taking individual oil education courses

Perhaps the interest is not in attaining a degree or certificate. Yet, there's a need to keep up with what's happening in the oil and gas industry. In this case, consider taking individual courses. Obviously, individual courses won't cost as much. Such courses likely will focus on one subject, such as oil drilling or petroleum refining.

I recommend: PDHengineer offers individual courses in the oil and gas industry. Learn how technology helps oil and gas companies to reduce using wells, yet technology helps them to be able to drill for oil faster and deeper. Gatlin Learning also offers individual courses, such as Advanced Oil and Gas Exploration Technologies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Internship programs are beneficial both for companies and potential employees. Companies can contact schools about setting up internship programs. Students who want to get more oil and gas industry training can ask the school counselor about participating in an internship program. Sometimes students can obtain credit in lieu of taking oil and gas industry classes.

The oil and gas industry is constantly in flux. Companies and professionals need to stay on top of changes in technology, politics, economics and the environment. Keeping up-to-date means making an investment in education and training. Oil and gas education can provide you with a fundamental knowledge of the industry or help you develop advanced skills in energy management. Here are some key terms you need to know when considering oil and gas industry education and training.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Petroleum professional certification

This certification was established by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, or SPE, in order to bring a higher level of recognition to the standards and professionalism of the petroleum industry.

I recommend: The Society of Petroleum Engineers outlines the full details of the requirements for this certification.

Oil and gas management degrees

Oil and Gas management degrees are usually master's degrees in business that specialize in the oil and gas industry. Topics include oil and gas industry law, operations, management and leadership, communication, energy policy and environmental issues. Some degrees also include a technology management aspect.

I recommend: See DegreeDirectory.org for a detailed description of oil and gas management degrees and where they are offered.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

CEUs are credits given for classes, seminars or other types of training that enhance professional competence in oil and gas industry issues. Licensed, chartered or certified professionals are often required to have continued professional development and training. These education courses are also offered by professional associations, correspondence schools and online schools.

I recommend: The Thunderbird School of Global Management offers an advanced oil and gas management program, and professionals who finish it qualify for CEUs.

American Petroleum Institute (API) Training Provider Certification Program

This certification program ensures high standards for the training materials used in the oil and gas industry. API came up with the certification program to reassure industry professionals that they are receiving quality education programs for their money.

I recommend: See the API's website for greater detail.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Certifications

The AAPG offers various industry certifications through its Division of Professional Affairs and Energy Minerals Division.

I recommend: More information on these divisions and their certifications can be found on the website of the AAPG.

International Human Resources Development Corporation (IHRDC)

The IHRDC specializes in public workshops and seminars for the oil and gas industry. It develops programs in international energy business, oil and gas business management, petroleum project risk analysis and many others directly to your company.

I recommend: See the IHRDC for a detailed list of its offerings.