What is a CEU credit?
The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) was created and defined in 1970 by a U.S. Department of Education task force, which studied the measurement of non-credit continuing education activities.
The continuing education unit (CEU) was designed to:
- Provide a standard unit of measurement for continuing education and training,
- Quantify continuing education and training (CE/T) activities, and
- Accommodate for the diversity of providers, activities, and purposes in adult education.
Calculating CEUs
The U.S. Department of Education defines the CEU standard of measurement as:
1 CEU = 10 contact hours
of participation in an organized CE/T experience, delivered under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction. CEUs may be converted into other measurements, such as Professional Development Hours or Continuing Education Credits, depending on the organization and/or regulating body.
- Download IEEI’s “How To Calculate CEUs” Guide (PDF)
CEUs and other education measurements
Note: Many organizations convert CEUs to PDHs, CPC, CECs, or other units of measurement. Some higher education institutions will accept CEUs. Please check their pages for the specific acceptance and/or conversion ratios as they can vary.
What is an IEEI CEU?
IEEI is the caretaker of the CEU for data and information workers. We maintain and refine the Continuing Education Unit. The association educates organizations, trainers, teachers and learners through our programs, publications, and industry research.
Our IEEI CEU ensures that a Standard of learning is in place. Only Accredited Providers, or APs, who have been been approved by the IEEI Commission are allowed to award IEEI CEUs.
Why is the higher standard important?
It gives you, the adult education student, confidence in an organization’s education or training program. As an IEEI Accredited Provider, their training adheres to the ANSI/IEEI Standard for Continuing Education and Training. Their CE/T program’s policies and processes have met all ten elements of the ANSI/IACET Standard. The IACET CEU assures employers, credentialing associations, licensing bodies and others that a learner has completed a quality training program which meets THE national standard for continuing education and training.
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