CEU is the new ‘U’

Learning is a process which never stops. Learning a new thing is just like a drop in the ocean. On a serious note, in today’s competitive world, every new thing one learns just adds to the advantage of one’s knowledge. Additionally, one even need to review as to what one learn is being used or not. CEU is one of the latest developments to keep a check on how one’s knowledge database is expanding.

CEU stands for Continuing Education Unit. CEU is basically a check scale to measure the viability of programs related to continuing education. CEU is majorly a source of help in case of those continuing education programs which have a requirement of a license for a specific profession to be carried on. Many professionals such as social workers, mental health professionals, nurses, educators, engineers, architects, etc. should make use of CEUs.

Most CEUs come up with sponsorships and instructions which are qualified by the best. These CEUs usually demand participation of duration of approximately ten hours for a CE education program which is recognized. It is in fact a known fact that even government bodies indulge in making use of CEUs. This is because CEU records provide for like evidence that one has completed the mandatory procedures which are required to be complied with in case of CE. Government used CEUs in the form of government licensing boards, professional societies or certification bodies.

Another advantage here of CEUs is to the employers. Completion of any professional course under the light of CEUs would help the employers to rely more on such employees and it would even update the employers with guided information on training which is given and which should be given in case of specific occupations.

Regarding CEUs, there is a misconception that CEUs are restricted to some specific countries and location. But the truth here is that CEU is a public domain and no one has a single handed control over it. Any organization can create a rewarding traditional CEU which can appraise the professionals in the field of specified work. For this, there is no requirement of any accreditation. These traditional CEU can be listed on an individual basis or even on a group effort basis. But still it’s the employers and the organization as a whole which has to decide that they accept such traditional CEU or not.

However as the proverb goes, ‘a single rotten apple can spoil the barrel’, here even there are a few providers of CEU that do not adhere to the prescribed high standards which are set to give utmost satisfaction to the organizations. Because of this reason, the value of CEU is being degraded and there is a bit of distrust in CEUs. But there are a few who have set up the best examples for the others to follow, such as International Association for Continuing Education & Training (IACET). There are many courses being held by IACET which can be of help to the population at large.

Lance Parks is the author of this article on CEUS.
Find more information about Continuing Education here.