Continuing education units are educational measurement units. 10 hours of classroom or instructional time equals one continuing education unit. Continuing education units are used to track participation in programs that are required of those in professions that issue licenses or certificates to perform job duties. Many organizations can provide a continuing education unit, but prospective students should check to see if the program is accredited before enrolling.
Doctors, nurses, educators, mental health professionals, architects, engineers, lawyers, certified public accountants, and social workers are among the professionals who may require continuing education units. The number of continuing education units required to keep a license or certification in good standing varies profession and the areas in which its holders work. Professional societies, certification bodies, and governmental licensing boards can all have an impact on how many continuing education units a professional needs to keep performing his or her job duties.
As long as the unit was awarded an accredited program, units can be used to help a professional keep his job, and completing continuing education units can provide potential employers with a barometer with which to measure an applicant’s training. Some professions, such as medicine, have very strict rules about how units are awarded. Employers may have to decide whether or not to honor a continuing education credit in other professions.
Despite the importance of continuing education units for certain types of jobs, any organization willing to provide training can legally use the term. However, not every training organization is accredited. Those interested in earning a continuing education unit should look for programs accredited the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) (IACET). This organization has high standards for continuing education programs, requiring that they be legitimately sponsored and taught qualified instructors. Many accredited programs are offered colleges and universities, but they can also be provided organizations, businesses, or associations that meet the IACET’s standards.
Before paying money and participating in instruction, those seeking a continuing education unit online should research the organization providing the unit. For many professions, program accreditation is required. The name of the accrediting body is usually listed before the continuing education unit in accredited continuing education units. For example, a unit could have “IACET” in front of it to indicate that it is IACET-accredited.