{"id":18153,"date":"2026-07-05T11:51:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T16:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/?page_id=18153"},"modified":"2026-07-17T11:35:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T16:35:55","slug":"course-ranking-method","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/course-ranking-method\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Course &amp; Learning-Product Review Process"},"content":{"rendered":" <style id=\"methodology-title-style-18153\"> .page-id-18153 .wp-site-blocks > .wp-block-group.has-custom-background-light-gray-background-color { background-color: #fff !important; } .page-id-18153 .wp-block-post-title, .page-id-18153 h1.wp-block-heading { text-align: center !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; } <\/style> <h1 id=\"h-\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/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 Miami Herald&#8217;s Careers &amp; Education team reviews learning products across the full spectrum \u2014 including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aicpa.org\/interestareas\/frc\/cpaexam.html\">AICPA<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/nasba.org\/exams\/cpaexam\/\">NASBA<\/a>-aligned CPA prep, professional certifications, online courses, and educational apps. Across every niche, we test before we recommend. Here&#8217;s the six-step process we follow.<\/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 id=\"h-anchor-to-reader-goals\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:8px\">Anchor to Reader Goals<\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We start with what South Florida readers are working toward \u2014 a certification, a degree path, a new skill \u2014 and evaluate each product against it.<\/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 id=\"h-use-the-product-ourselves\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:8px\">Use the Product Ourselves<\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We get hands-on and work through each course, program, or app \u2014 via trials, demos, and direct testing \u2014 so our reviews reflect real, firsthand use.<\/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 id=\"h-test-in-real-conditions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:8px\">Test in Real Conditions<\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We assess content quality, usability, and results across the situations different learners would actually face.<\/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 id=\"h-validate-claims-pricing-amp-accreditation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:8px\">Validate Claims, Pricing &amp; Accreditation<\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We confirm credentials and approvals, verify pricing and guarantees, and question anything that doesn&#8217;t add up.<\/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 id=\"h-compare-verified-reviews\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:8px\">Compare Verified Reviews<\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We cross-reference our findings with feedback from verified users to broaden the perspective.<\/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 id=\"h-score-publish-amp-update\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:8px\">Score, Publish &amp; Update<\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We rate each product on a consistent rubric, publish the results, and keep them current as products 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 choose with confidence.<\/strong><\/p> <\/blockquote> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Miami Herald&#8217;s Careers &amp; Education team reviews learning products across the full spectrum \u2014 including AICPA and NASBA-aligned CPA prep, professional certifications, online courses, and educational apps. Across every niche, we test before we recommend. Here&#8217;s the six-step process we follow. 1 Anchor to Reader Goals We start with what South Florida readers are [&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-18153","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_author":[129],"external_editor":""},"featured_image_src":null,"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.2 (Yoast SEO v28.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Our Course &amp; Learning-Product Review Process - Miami Herald - 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.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/course-ranking-method\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Our Course &amp; Learning-Product Review Process\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Miami Herald\u2019s Careers &amp; Education team reviews learning products across the full spectrum \u2014 including AICPA and NASBA-aligned CPA prep, professional certifications, online courses, and educational apps. 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