PSYCH/640
Attaining Expertise
PSYCH/640: Cognitive Psychology
Attaining Expertise
What is an expert?
When you think of the term “expert” you may think of someone with lots of experience
in a specific field or someone who has been performing a specific task for several years. By
definition an expert is someone recognized for their advanced knowledge in a particular topic.
There are several ways to obtain expertise level, through academic training, field training, or a
combination of education and training. In theory an expert is someone who has worked very
hard and has proven to be invaluable in their field of knowledge. Now let’s take a look at the
steps to attain expertise (Susman, 2020).
Stages and dimensions in the development of expertise.
It takes several years to gain expertise status, although years of experience do not
guarantee that a person would become an expert. For example, a school teach could have 10
years’ of experience in teaching is considered an experienced non-expert. Practice will help a
person become skilled while true expertise involves practicing beyond the boundaries of your
current skill level. This includes setting goals, extensive and continuous training, and learning
through instruction. If you want to become an expert in your field you should consider the
following stages involved in gaining expertise (Susman, 2020).
Identify your area of expertise. This would be the first step in becoming an expert. You may
have completed training and hold qualifications in a specific area or even have years of
