IACET: Mission and History

Thousands of organizations across the country share one thing in common: learning programs guided by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

A Passion for Excellence

IACET’s mission is to promote and enhance quality in continuing education and training (CE/T) through research, education and the development and continuous improvement of criteria, principles and standards. Our history includes development of the original Continuing Education Unit (CEU) and creation and maintenance of the ANSI/IACET Standard for Continuing Education and Training.

Using the ANSI/IACET Standard, in-depth research on the learning process and a nationwide network of experts, IACET helps companies, associations, government agencies and other CE/T providers develop a framework for continuous improvement and deliver a superior learning experience.

A Powerful Advantage

What these organizations also get: a competitive edge. With IACET accreditation, a CE/T provider tells the world it is committed to best practices in adult learning and that it has successfully mastered IACET’s rigorous Authorized Provider Accreditation process.

IACET supports organizations pursuing accreditation, reaccreditation and overall CE/T benchmarking and improvement with workshops, webinars, online modules and more.
We guide learners to Authorized Providers and resources and accrediting bodies to a greater understanding of the ANSI/IACET Standard.

A Proud History of Setting the Standard

How can you be sure that a continuing education or training program delivers solid learning outcomes? That it’s offered through an accredited provider? That the processes used in its development adhere to best practices in instructional design? IACET, the Council on the Continuing Education Unit and a U.S. Department of Education task force were created to address questions like these.Read on to learn more about our evolution.

• Today
• 2008
• 2006
• 1998
• 1992
• 1990
• 1977
• 1970
• 1968

• IACET leads the way in bringing quality, excellence and integrity to continuing education and training programs around the world.

• ANSI approves the IACET standard. IACET launches the ANSI/IACET Standard for Continuing Education and Training and Authorized Provider application.

• The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approves IACET as an ANSI Standards Developer.

• When the Certified Provider Program evolves into the Authorized Provider Program, the IACET CEU is created.

• IACET launches its Certified Provider Program.

• The CCEU becomes into IACET, an international membership organization.

• The task force grows into the Council on the Continuing Education Unit (CCEU), which is encouraged to become a certifying body.

• The CEU is born and standardized as 10 contact hours

• IACET's story begins with a U.S. Department of Education task force and a challenge: Is it feasible to measure noncredit continuing education activities?

The IACET Team

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Executive Director

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Senior Director of Programs

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Coordinator, Member Services

Trish Smith, Senior Vice President, Fundraising & Partnerships

Andy Schwartz, Associate Vice President, Public Relations

Jessica Conyers, Manager, Creative Services

Mary Katherine Saladino, Events Manager

Penny Pierce, Controller