9. Continuing Education Units

According to the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), the Continuing Education Unit (CEU) was created by IACET as a measurement of continuing education.  One (1) CEU is equal to ten (10) contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.  Contact hours are generally based on a fifty (50) minute hour.  Breaks, meals or social activities may not be counted as instruction hours.

The term CEU has become a generic term used by continuing education sponsors and licensing boards to quantify an individual’s participation in a continuing education (non credit) activity.   Licensing boards that require mandatory continuing education hours for license renewal have added their own terms for measurement of continuing education activity.  For example:

• Certified Public Accounts – CPE (Continuing Professional Education)
• Architects and Interior Designers – CEH (Continuing Education Hour)
• Veterinarians – CPE (Continuing Professional Education)
• Physicians – CME (Continuing Medical Education)
  
• Engineers – PDH (Professional Development Hours)
  
• Building Construction – CE (Continuing Education)
  
• Pharmacy – CPE (Continuing Pharmacy Education)

9.1 University of Florida CEUs
The University of Florida is not a member of IACET; however, the Division of Continuing Education (DCE) adheres to IACET guidelines when approving continuing education programs for CEUs.  By following these guidelines, program planners are able to ensure quality programs which enhance adult learning and adhere to expectations of professional organizations.

The awarding of the University of Florida CEU is assurance that the recipient has attended a program sponsored by the University and that the program has met the following criteria:

• The content of the program was developed and delivered by a University faculty member or an expert approved by the Dean of Continuing Education or Dean of the sponsoring college
• The program was developed in response to a documented need
• The purpose of the program was to attain clearly defined learning objectives
• The program contained a structured program evaluation procedure
• An application for awarding UF CEUs has been completed and approved by the Division of Continuing Education
• The permanent record of the participant’s enrollment in the program and the number of CEUs awarded is maintained by the Division of Continuing Education

9.2 Certificates of Attendance
University of Florida units sponsoring continuing education activities may choose from several mechanisms for measuring, tracking and verifying continuing education attendance.

1.  CEU Certificate – Sponsoring unit completes a CEU application and sends it to DCE for approval.  Upon approval DCE issues a CEU approval number and sends it to the sponsoring unit along with CEU recording forms.  The sponsoring unit may then advertise the program as “approved for ____ University of Florida CEUs”.   CEU recording forms should be completed by each participant and be signed by the instructor/administrator.  The original recording form (white) is retained by the participant for their records and the copy (yellow) should be sent to DCE for recording and record maintenance.  Sponsoring units may choose to issue a certificate of attendance in lieu of the recording form in this case an electronic attendance list should be forwarded to DCE. 

2.  Sponsoring units who do not wish to offer University of Florida CEUs may provide a certificate of attendance.  Certificates should contain:

• Sponsor Name
• Participant’s Name
• Name of Program
• Date of Program
• Location of Program
• Contact Hours

Attendance records should be maintained for seven (7) years.

3.  If sponsoring units are recognized continuing education providers by a board(s) of professional regulation; they may use option one or two and add any data required by the licensing board to the certificate of attendance.  Attendance records (to include participant license numbers and sign in sheets) should be maintained for the length of time required by the licensing board.

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