In addition to providing improved training at the security officer level, vocational programs allow organizations to recruit new applicants without launching massive advertising campaigns. Accreditation standards require instructors to stay informed regarding new methods of presentation. Training costs are shifted to the individual student, saving companies the expense of training their own employees. By employing graduates of vocational programs, companies can protect themselves to some degree against losses due to training-related litigation. When hiring a program graduate, the company will have some record of the applicant's personality and ability. Finally, the increase in vocational schools for security officers lessens the need for State-mandated training, which many professionals feel are counterproductive. Security professionals can maximize the value of institutional education by checking on accreditation, examining the curriculum, examining instructor qualifications, verifying the applicant's graduation, conducting a background investigation, encouraging employee enrollment in vocational programs, and working with job placement directors.