About Us

Since its inception, the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), a not-for-profit organization, has stood at the forefront of educational standards, revolutionizing professional development through innovation and leadership. With the creation of the Continuing Education Unit (CEU) in 1968, IACET not only pioneered a new way for professionals to gain recognition for their educational pursuits but also set a global benchmark for learning excellence.

Today, as an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards Development Organization, IACET continues to champion the cause of lifelong learning, ensuring that education is accessible, relevant, and of the highest quality. Through its rigorous accreditation standards and a diverse network of providers, IACET empowers organizations around the world to deliver transformative educational experiences that foster continuous improvement and personal growth.

Over 600

Accredited Providers

More than 11 Million

learners impacted annually

300+

industries served 

Dozens

of countries worldwide

An International Reach

IACET's mission to train a global workforce means that providers across the world have been able to achieve the IACET Accreditation. With providers across the globe, IACET maintains an internationally recognized standard for continuing education and training.

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World map with countries having IACET providers highlighted in green.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Not all Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are created equal. While the term “CEU” is in the public domain and used by many organizations to describe their professional training hours, only true accredited CEUs meet our rigorous standards, demonstrating an organization’s commitment to quality and continuous improvement.

How can organizations deliver—and adult learners receive—the high-quality continuing education needed to maintain professional memberships, certifications, or licensing? And how can records of these educational experiences be reliably accumulated, updated, and transferred?

The Continuing Education Unit or CEU was created and defined in 1970 after IACET and the U.S. Department of Education task force studied the measurement of non-credit continuing education activities. The continuing education unit (CEU) was designed to:

  • Provide a standard unit of measurement for continuing education and training,
  • Quantify continuing education and training (CE/T) activities, and
  • Accommodate for the diversity of providers, activities, and purposes in adult education.

The IACET and U.S. Department of Education task force defined the CEU standard of measurement as:

1 CEU = 10 contact hours

of participation in organized continuing education and training experience, delivered under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified instruction. CEUs can often be converted into other measurements, such as Professional Development Hours or Continuing Education Credits, depending on the organization and/or regulating body.

Aligning to the ANSI/IACET Standard for Continuing Education and Training builds confidence for adult learners by ensuring that the training programs they engage in truly meet rigorous quality benchmarks. When learners participate in a program offered by an IACET Accredited Provider, they can trust that the training adheres to a globally recognized framework of excellence. This means the provider’s CE/T program has met all nine essential elements of the standard, delivering a consistent and superior educational experience.

The resulting credit award – an accredited CEU - assures employers, credentialing associations, licensing bodies, and other stakeholders that your learners have completed a high-quality training program that aligns with the national standard for continuing education and training.

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 is offered through an accredited training provider? That the processes used in its development adhere to best practices in instructional design? IACET, the Council on the Continuing Education Unit (CCEU), and a U.S. Department of Education task force were created to address questions like these. 

Our history includes the development of the original Continuing Education Unit (CEU) and creation and maintenance of the ANSI/IACET Standard for Continuing Education and Training. IACET uses the ANSI/IACET Standard, in-depth research on the learning process and a nationwide network of experts to help continuing education and training providers to develop a framework for continuous improvement and a superior learning experience. View a timeline of IACET's history.

ANSI logoThe International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) is the developer of the original Continuing Education Unit (CEU) and today ensures that providers of continuing education and training can prove they provide high-quality instruction by following the ANSI/IACET 1-2018 Standard for Continuing Education and Training through a rigorous accreditation process. The Standard is a universal model for learning process excellence. It defines a proven model for developing effective and valuable continuing education and training (CE/T) programs by measuring a provider's training program from procedure to process to result.

Because the ANSI/IACET Standard focuses on how continuing education and training programs are developed - not what they cover - it provides a certifiable framework of researched and proven best practices that can be applied across disciplines and industries. It measures all aspects of a CE/T provider’s program development across nine nationally recognized categories.  This has allowed for the ANSI/IACET Standard for Continuing Education and Training to be recognized as the official standard for CE/T in the world.  Become an IACET Accredited Provider within the competitive marketplace and be recognized by a reputable organization certifying your commitment to high-quality, excellence in education.

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Our Members

IACET Accredited Providers

Providers of continuing education and training who have completed our rigorous audit and have proven their commitment to high quality continuing education and training

Industry Leaders

Individuals of all industries who understand that advancing their industry requires a workforce that has been provided high quality continuing education and training opportunities

Industry Regulators

Regulators who wish to protect the public by ensuring that industry professionals are improving and maintaining skills through continuing education and training opportunities

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