About the CEU
How can organizations deliver and adult learners receive
- the education required to maintain professional memberships, certification or
licensing?
How can records of these educational experiences be
effectively accumulated, updated and transferred?
The continuing education unit (CEU) was created to address these
questions and more. CEUs:
- Provide a standard unit of measurement,
- Quantify continuing education and training (CE/T) activities, and
- Accommodate for the diversity of providers, activities, and
purposes in adult education.
One CEU equals ten contact hours of participation in an organized
CE/T experience, delivered under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified
instruction.
Ownership of a Higher Standard
The International Association for
Continuing Education and Training (IACET) developed the CEU in 1970 and is the caretaker
of the CEU. IACET assumes responsibility for refining and disseminating information about
the CEU through its programs, publications and research.
The CEU created by IACET is used by thousands of organizations. Only CE/T providers that go
through the Authorized Provider accreditation process and get approved are allowed to issue
IACET CEUs.
Recognition of CE/T Excellence
To ensure quality in CE/T programs
and to increase consumer confidence in organizations that adhere to the ANSI/IACET
Standard for Continuing Education and Training, IACET established its Authorized Provider
program in 1991. This program recognizes organizations that have proven that their CE/T
policies, procedures and processes meet all elements of the ANSI/IACET
Standard.
Not all CEUs are created equal. The term “CEU” is in the public domain and can
be used by organizations that are not IACET Authorized Providers. That’s why it is
important to look for IACET CEUs so that individuals seeking high quality courses can
differentiate between continuing education that has been reviewed by a third party.
IACET CEUs are recognized by learners, instructors, regulators and employers worldwide and
can only be awarded by IACET Authorized Providers. This distinction assures employers,
credentialing associations, licensing bodies and others that a learner has completed a
quality program that meets the national standard for continuing education and training.
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