Continuing Education
is an all-encompassing term within a broad list of post-secondary learning activities and programs. The term is used mainly in the United States and Canada.
Recognized forms of post-secondary learning activities within the domain include: degree credit courses by non-traditional students, non-degree career training, workforce training, and formal personal enrichment courses (both on-campus and online).
General continuing education is similar to adult education, at least in being intended for adult learners, especially those beyond traditional undergraduate college or university age.
Prerequisites
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Vary by course type
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Adult education programs may require placement testing
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Some career training/skills programs may require a high school diploma or equivalent
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Prior coursework in a related field may be required for advanced courses
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Enrichment courses typically have no prerequisites
Online Courses may be applicable to receiving required course credits​
Possible Career Courses
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Can lead to careers in a variety of professional fields or even to further education opportunities
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The following are possible through continuing education programs
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Education
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Accounting
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Real estate
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Sales
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Marketing
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Medical
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Professional Engineering & Architecture
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Always check with your professional association to verify types of Continuing Education units/designations required.
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COMING SOON
Continuing medical education (CME) refers to a specific form of continuing education (CE) that helps those in the medical field maintain competence and learn about new and developing areas of their field. These activities may take place as live events, written publications, online programs, audio, video, or other electronic media. Content for these programs is developed, reviewed, and delivered by faculty who are experts in their individual clinical areas.
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LU's
A continuing education unit (CEU) is used for the purpose of documenting attendance at a designated seminar or course of instruction. Licensing bodies in a number of fields (such as teaching, healthcare, and architecture) impose continuing education requirements on members who hold licenses to continue practicing a particular profession. These requirements are intended to encourage professionals to expand their foundations of knowledge and stay up-to-date on new developments. The continuing education unit is described as ten hours of participation in an education program. Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a nationally recognized and uniform unit of measure for continuing education and training. One CEU is awarded for each 10 contact hours of instruction or study.
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CEU's
A continuing education credit (CEC) is similar to a CEU, which a measure used in continuing education programs to assist the professional to maintain his or her license in their profession. Continuing education or professional development is required in many fields, including teachers, insurance professionals, interior designers/interior architects, lighting designers, architects, engineers, emergency management professionals, school administrators, educators, nurses, mental health professionals, psychologists and social workers.
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CEC's
CPD's
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is required for a wide variety of people, such as teachers, military officers and non-commissioned officers, health care professionals, lawyers, accountants and engineers. Individuals may participate in professional development because of an interest in lifelong learning, a sense of moral obligation, to maintain and improve professional competence, to enhance career progression, to keep abreast of new technology and practices, or to comply with professional regulatory requirements
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Continuing Education (CE), is similar to adult education, at least in being intended for adult learners, especially those beyond traditional undergraduate college or university age. Although individual professions may have different standards, the most widely accepted standard, developed by the International Association for Continuing Education & Training, is that ten contact hours equals one Continuing Education Unit. Not all professionals use the CEU convention. For example, the American Psychological Association accredits sponsors of continuing education and uses simply a CE approach. In contrast to the CEU, the CE credit is typically one CE credit for each hour of contact.
CME's
Learning Unit (LU) is used by American Institute of Architects 's Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES) and is based on a 60-minute hour. Time beyond 60 minutes is recorded in quarter hour increments (e.g., 1 hour 45 minutes = 1.75 LUs). Credit should be stated as an AIA/CES Learning Unit hour (AIA/CES LU). In order for programs to qualify for Health , Safety and Welfare (HSW) credit, providers must demonstrate that 75% of the content specifically addresses one or more HSW-related issues. Programs that qualify for HSW credit are identified as “AIA/CES Learning Unit (HSW)” or “AIA/CES LU (HSW).”