Continuing Education Units
Earning Certification or Recertification through Accredited Programs
Nov 3, 2008
Continuing education credits (CEUs) are designed to support certification or recertification of professionals with certificates or licenses to practice in their profession. These professionals include doctors, dentists, lawyers, engineers, certified public accountants, teachers, nurses, water treatment specialists, technology specialists, electricians, plumbers, respiratory therapists, and many more.
Reputable continuing education programs which provide CEUs are certified by either or both the American National Standards Institute and International Association for Continuing Education & Training. These two organizations ensure the health and safety of consumers by creating standards and guidelines CEUs for nearly every sector of business, health industry, and education.
Continuing Education Units
One Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is equivalent to 10 hours (1 hour = 60 minutes) of participation in organized continuing education activities offered by accredited programs and taught by certified instructors. The primary purpose of the CEU is to provide a permanent record for individuals who complete one or more continuing education experiences.
Continuing education units are awarded for participation in certification or recertification experiences which do not result in college credit, such as:
- Professional Conference Participation – offered by most professional organizations, which are designed to provide continuing education activities for practitioners
- Trade Show Participation– offered by most organizations to keep professionals aware of the latest practices and products in an industry
- Professional On-the-Job Training Program Participation
- Professional Workshop Participation
- Community Education Program Participation
- Distance Learning Program Participation – college credit is not offered
- Local College Program Participation – college credit is not offered
Certain professions require practitioners to earn a specific number of CEUs per year to ensure they are up-to-date with current practices in their field. The number of CEUs required for certification and recertification varies by profession and state.
Each profession, state, and in some cases the federal government requires proof of credits earned in order to renew a license or certificate to practice. Each profession has established its own means of CEU acceptance. You need to contact the organization issuing a specific professional certification or license to determine how the organization accepts CEUs for verification.
American National Standards Institute
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization. The ANSI organization is responsible for establishing required continuing education standards in the United States. ANSI has passed the administration of the accreditation process to the International Association for Continuing Education & Training (IACET) and oversees their management of the continuing education unit process.
International Association for Continuing Education & Training
The International Association for Continuing Education & Training (IACET) is the custodian and administrator of the continuing education unit program in the United States. This organization’s responsibilities include the communication of standards to professional organizations or individuals and certification of providers to offer CEUs. The organization also provides a directory of certified providers on their website International Association for Continuing Education & Training.
Earning CEUs
For anyone desiring to enter a profession which requires continuing education credits for certification or desiring to recertify in their profession, the best approach is to contact the organization which issues the certificate or license. The organization will provide specific requirements and recommend ANSI/IACET certified providers.
Additionally, when seeking continuing education credits from a provider ensure the provider is certified by either or both American National Standards Institute and International Association for Continuing Education & Training. This will ensure your money and time are invested wisely in obtaining or renewing a professional certification or license.
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