{"id":11498,"date":"2026-07-05T11:49:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T16:49:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/?page_id=11498"},"modified":"2026-07-17T11:35:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T16:35:06","slug":"how-courses-are-ranked","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/how-courses-are-ranked\/","title":{"rendered":"How We Review Courses &#038; Learning Products"},"content":{"rendered":" <style id=\"methodology-title-style-11498\"> .page-id-11498 .wp-site-blocks > .wp-block-group.has-custom-background-light-gray-background-color { background-color: #fff !important; } .page-id-11498 .wp-block-post-title, .page-id-11498 h1.wp-block-heading { text-align: center !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; } <\/style> <h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How We Review Courses &amp; Learning Products<\/h1> <div class=\"wp-block-group has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8f5f0c02 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:6px;background-color:#f4f7fa;margin-bottom:32px;padding-top:32px;padding-right:32px;padding-bottom:32px;padding-left:32px\"> <p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">The Charlotte Observer&#8217;s Careers &#038; Education team reviews learning products across every field \u2014 from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aicpa.org\/interestareas\/frc\/cpaexam.html\">AICPA<\/a>-aligned CPA prep and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lsac.org\/\">LSAC<\/a>-governed law-school exams to professional certifications and skill-building apps. Whatever the subject, our standard is the same: we test before we recommend. Here&#8217;s the six-step process behind our reviews.<\/p> <\/div> <hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/> <div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e6982796 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-left-color:#1e3a5f;border-left-width:4px;margin-bottom:8px;padding-top:24px;padding-right:24px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:28px\"> <div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-0e47273b wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"> <div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60px\"> <p class=\"has-contrast-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:2.25rem;font-weight:700;line-height:1\">1<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:8px\">Start With Reader Needs<\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We identify what our readers across the Carolinas are actually trying to accomplish \u2014 a certification, a new skill, a career move \u2014 and review against that goal.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/> <div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e6982796 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-left-color:#1e3a5f;border-left-width:4px;margin-bottom:8px;padding-top:24px;padding-right:24px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:28px\"> <div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-0e47273b wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"> <div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60px\"> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:2.25rem;font-weight:700;line-height:1\">2<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:8px\">Get Hands-On Firsthand<\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our team gets hands-on with each course, program, or app \u2014 through trials, demos, and direct testing \u2014 so every review reflects the real product rather than a marketing summary.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/> <div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e6982796 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-left-color:#1e3a5f;border-left-width:4px;margin-bottom:8px;padding-top:24px;padding-right:24px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:28px\"> <div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-0e47273b wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"> <div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60px\"> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:2.25rem;font-weight:700;line-height:1\">3<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:8px\">Test Across Real Use Cases<\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We evaluate each product the way different learners would use it \u2014 checking content quality, usability, and whether it delivers on its promise.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/> <div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e6982796 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-left-color:#1e3a5f;border-left-width:4px;margin-bottom:8px;padding-top:24px;padding-right:24px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:28px\"> <div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-0e47273b wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"> <div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60px\"> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:2.25rem;font-weight:700;line-height:1\">4<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:8px\">Verify Credentials, Pricing &amp; Claims<\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We confirm accreditation, fact-check pricing and guarantees, and challenge any claim that doesn&#8217;t hold up to scrutiny.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/> <div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e6982796 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-left-color:#1e3a5f;border-left-width:4px;margin-bottom:8px;padding-top:24px;padding-right:24px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:28px\"> <div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-0e47273b wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"> <div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60px\"> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:2.25rem;font-weight:700;line-height:1\">5<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:8px\">Cross-Check Verified Reviews<\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We weigh feedback from verified users to broaden our perspective beyond our own hands-on testing.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/> <div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e6982796 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-left-color:#1e3a5f;border-left-width:4px;margin-bottom:8px;padding-top:24px;padding-right:24px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:28px\"> <div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-0e47273b wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"> <div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60px\"> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:2.25rem;font-weight:700;line-height:1\">6<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:8px\">Score, Publish &amp; Keep Current<\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We rate each product on a consistent rubric, publish our findings, and update them as products and prices change.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/> <hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/> <blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-plain is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-left-color:#1e3a5f;border-left-width:4px;padding-top:20px;padding-right:24px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:24px\"> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Our Careers &amp; Education reviews are produced independently by our editorial team to help readers make confident decisions.<\/strong><\/p> <\/blockquote> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How We Review Courses &amp; Learning Products The Charlotte Observer&#8217;s Careers &#038; Education team reviews learning products across every field \u2014 from AICPA-aligned CPA prep and LSAC-governed law-school exams to professional certifications and skill-building apps. Whatever the subject, our standard is the same: we test before we recommend. Here&#8217;s the six-step process behind our reviews. [&hellip;]<\/p> ","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":544,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11498","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_author":[6984],"external_editor":""},"featured_image_src":null,"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.4 (Yoast SEO v28.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How We Review Courses &amp; Learning Products - Charlotte Observer - Careers &amp; Education<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/how-courses-are-ranked\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How We Review Courses &amp; Learning Products\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How We Review Courses &amp; Learning Products The Charlotte Observer&#8217;s Careers &#038; Education team reviews learning products across every field \u2014 from AICPA-aligned CPA prep and LSAC-governed law-school exams to professional certifications and skill-building apps. 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