Your Guide to Continuing Education Units

CEUs refer to courses that professionals take to renew a license or certification. Many types of organizations offer these units, and when students complete a CEU they receive a certificate of completion. In addition to meeting renewal requirements, these certificates can bolster a resume and qualify professionals for a new career path.

On this page, readers can learn about the meaning of CEUs, answers to typical questions, and which workers can benefit the most by earning CEUs. The following sections also include valuable advice from CEU teacher Joseph Hoelscher — a professional whose work also requires CEUs.

CEUs help professionals maintain a state-issued license or professional certification. The regulatory authority that issues a license or a certification imposes rules concerning how many CEUs individuals must earn and the time they have to do so. These authorities also mandate which CEUs are valid.

The number of units a professional needs often depends on two factors: their job and home state. Although requirements vary, the CEU process involves finding an authorized provider and keeping track of your hours and/or units.

Workers can easily find an authorized provider by joining a professional organization that offers CEU resources. Near the renewal deadline, professionals submit evidence of their CEUs to the proper agency or organization.

Continuing education units share some similarities with college and university certificate programs. For example, both confer new knowledge and skills. However, CEUs do not use student assessments.

Also, some CEU courses may take only half a day to complete. As a result, learners can not transfer CEUs toward a college degree or certificate.

CEUs often involve a fee. According to licensed counselor Dr. Tara Overzat, “CE[U]s vary in cost. I have seen some workshops and conferences that offer CE[U]s for $10 each but others that charge closer to $30 per CE[U]. This is especially true of trainings or when there is a highly regarded expert presenter hosting the CE[U] event.”

When Dr. Overzat worked for a university, her employer covered the cost of each CEU. However, many self-employed professionals pay for CEUs out of pocket.

Many fields, including healthcare, accounting, engineering, and education, require workers to earn CEUs to stay up to date with industry best practices.

Many professions require that workers earn a license or certification. These positions ask workers to stay on top of best practices so they can perform their jobs successfully. CEUs help employees learn new knowledge and skills and reassure employers that their employees can make a valuable contribution.

This depends on the organization or agency offering the CEUs. Some CEU opportunities aimed at teachers may only accept learners who work in a particular district. Some organizations, such as the American Public Health Association, offer CEUs to members who do not yet hold a certification or license.

Renewing a license or certification typically requires individuals to earn CEUs. Some professions may require more units than others, and more options may exist depending on the occupation. State licensure and professional certification websites explain renewal requirements.

Both licensure and certification websites detail approved CEUs and CEU certification agencies. Multiple certification agencies exist, many of which specialize in a specific profession or field.

Aside from meeting state licensure or professional certification renewal requirements, CEUs offer the following benefits:

Prospective students can register for classes that provide CEUs online through a certified provider. Hoelscher notes that in some professions, CEU cross-certification allows learners to sign up for courses that do not relate directly to their job.

“For example, I took a class to earn a certification to operate a gas chromatograph, and the organization providing the certification also obtained approval for us to earn [CEU] credit,” he says.

Professionals can earn CEU credit through online or in-person courses, and the registration process often involves paying a modest fee. Many courses take place on the weekends and evenings so that participants can continue working full time.

During classes, students often watch presentations from industry experts and collaborate with other learners in small groups to practice new skills. Although similar in some ways to a college class, a typical course does not require an essay or test to pass.

Although CEUs do not evaluate students directly, teachers are evaluated in terms of their performance by participants.

“Courses require evaluation of the speakers, but not the students,” Hoelscher says. “Speakers are evaluated through surveys, which are often required as proof of attendance.”

After they complete the course, participants receive a certificate of completion to submit when they apply for licensure or certification renewal.

After workers complete the renewal process, they cannot apply the same CEUs toward future renewal requirements. As such, they should continuously research new CEU opportunities and make continuing education a part of their professional routine.