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In a marketplace cluttered with in-person, on-line and print-based education resources, it is vital to know what programs are worth both your time and money before making a commitment. Continuing education units, or CEUs, are awarded by many education and training providers to signify successful completion of non-credit programs and courses intended to improve the knowledge and skills of working adults.  Among the most common uses of CEUs are to record refresher, transitional, or knowledge improvement accomplishments for professional workers undergoing what is called continuing professional education.

 
The primary purpose of the CEU is to provide a permanent record of the educational accomplishments of an individual who has completed one or more significant non-credit educational experiences. Awarding the CEU developed by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) provides a quality indicator for your continuing education and training programs because it means you have been reviewed and approved for complying with internationally recognized standards.  For individual learners, certifying agencies and education providers, IACET CEUs demonstrate that a program has paid attention to such elements as developing clear learning outcomes, assessing learner needs and conducting thorough evaluation to ensure continuous improvement.

 Calculation of CEUs

One IACET CEU is awarded for each ten hours of instruction in a structured continuing education experience (class, seminar, conferences, practicum, etc.) that is supervised by a qualified continuing education provider.

 People Who Make a CE/T Investment

Now that we know a bit more about continuing education and CEUs, we should find out who are most likely to want to invest in these programs. People who have already acquired education at the college level are the most likely to want more.

The National Center for Educational Statistics reports that the same proportion of employees seek continuing education regardless of overall staff size, although employees from organizations with smaller staffs pay more personal funds towards their continuing education experiences.[1]

Ensuring a Strong Return on Your Investment

The International Association for Continuing Education and Training is a non-profit association dedicated to quality continuing education and training programs. IACET's mission is to promote and enhance quality in continuing education and training through research, education, and the development and continuous improvement of IACET criteria, principles, and standards. 

IACET approves education providers that meet strict continuing education guidelines originally created in 1968 and most recently updated in 2007. IACET recognition is the standard learners seek for quality when they choose a provider. The ANSI/IACET 1-2007 Standard is the core of thousands of educational programs worldwide.

For more information about IACET and to see a list of those that accept the IACET CEU, visit www.iacet.org.

ITE and the Institute of Transportation Engineers Educational Foundation have been an IACET Authorized Provider since 2005, and our educational programs, including (Conference, Meeting and Exhibits, and Webinars) provide IACET CEUs.  For more information about our continuing education programs and the upcoming trainings providing IACET CEUs, please visit. www.ite.org/education/  or call 202-785-0060