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Continuing Education Unit (CEU) FAQ

What are Continuing Education Units (CEUs)?

CEUs are standardized credits awarded for participation in professional development and continuing education courses. They help professionals maintain their licenses and certifications, and ensure their skills and knowledge remain up-to-date.

What do I do if this is my first CEU program? 

If this is your first CEU program, please email [email protected] or contact Carolyn Howard at 919.513.2798.

You can also send an inquiry to:

Contact Us

Campus CEU Coordinator
NC State Continuing and Lifelong Education

Office of Professional Development
NC State University
Campus Box 7401
Raleigh, NC 27695-7401

Where is CEU information reported?

All CEU information for your program is now processed through REPORTER, NC State’s registration and reporting system. This information becomes a part of every participant’s record in REPORTER and is available by request on an official NC State transcript for a fee of $15. 

Request an official CEU transcript

What are the CEU billing procedures?

You will be billed $25 per participant for your CEU program through REPORTER. Rosters are due within 10 business days of the completion of the course. If there are circumstances that do not allow you to submit a roster within that time, please contact [email protected] to discuss. If we do not hear from you, CEUs will not be awarded. If your course does not take place, please cancel the instance in REPORTER.

What are the program criteria for awarding the CEU?

CEUs will be awarded to courses that are planned and organized to provide systematic instruction and sponsored by an NC State academic or administrative unit that is qualified to assess the quality of the program content and qualification of the instructor or presenters. There must be documented evidence of the following criteria:

Needs Identification
The non-credit activity must be planned in response to identified needs of a target population by NC State faculty or staff having content expertise. Non-NC State entities also require an acting NC State faculty or staff member to act as a content specialist to approve their curriculum.

Learning Outcomes
The sponsor of the program must provide clear statements of educational objectives in terms of learning outcomes, i.e., new knowledge, skills, attitudes or performance objectives to be realized as a result of the program. Performance objectives generally refer to specific outputs of learner efforts, such as being able to install boards and chips into a computer.

Content and Methodology
Program content should be logically organized and the format, duration and instructional information presented in a systematic way consistent with the learning outcomes.

Instruction
Instructors must be competent in the program subject matter by virtue of their education or training, professional experience or demonstrated knowledge and they must know the purpose and the intended learning outcomes of the CEU program.

Requirements for Satisfactory Completion
There must be provision for registration of individual participants, procedures for awarding CEUs to individual participants and attendance and competency requirements for satisfactory completion of the program must be established and announced prior to offering the program.

Assessment of Learning Outcomes
Assessment procedures will depend on the intended learning outcomes and must be established as part of the planning process.

Program Evaluation
Evaluation criteria must be established prior to the start of the program and should measure all aspects of the program including the administration and operation of the continuing education experience as a whole.

Facilities and Learning Support
The program sponsor should ensure that appropriate learning space, reference materials and equipment are consistent with the purpose of each learning experience.

NC State Faculty/ Extension Content Specialist(s)
Individuals having activity content expertise who have reviewed and documented the program content as being acceptable by the university, are considered to be content specialists. Contact the Office of Professional Development at [email protected], if you need assistance or a referral to the appropriate NC State faculty or specialist.

How are CEUs awarded?

NC State University is the sponsoring organization that awards CEUs, assumes administrative responsibility for ensuring that continuing education experiences meet the criteria for awarding CEUs and maintains a permanent record system.

One Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is awarded for each 10 contact hours of instruction included in a specified continuing education program or activity.

The number of contact hours of instruction and appropriate CEUs to be awarded are determined prior to conducting a learning experience and only after the purpose and intended learning outcomes, requirements for satisfactory completion, content and content level, format, instructional methodology, instructional staff and schedule have been established. A decision to award the CEU cannot be made after the program or activity has been offered.

Only the number of completed instructional hours is considered in assigning CEUs. For example, 1.7 CEUs are assigned for a learning experience with a total of 17, 17.50, or 17.75 contact hours. Any fractional portion of an instructional hour calculated for the total program is disregarded.

To determine the number of contact hours, count the hours in the program and subtract refreshment breaks, lunches and other activities not directly part of the instructional experience.

Calculations of contact hours involved in a continuing education experience may include the following elements: 

  • Classroom or meeting session time with direct participation between the learner and instructor or discussion leader.
  • Activities that use methods of instruction such as supervised independent study, directed reading or project-based assignments. 
  • Field trips (minus travel and other administrative time. 
  • Other experiential course activities but only on a basis of at least two experiential hours required for each contact hour of instruction.

What activities are not awarded CEUs?

Any pre-recorded class, workshop, or webinar delivered via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex or any other video streaming service is not eligible for CEU credit.

Other ineligible activities include:

  • Committee meetings or other business activities. 
  • Policy assignments.
  • Delegate assemblies or similar meetings for policy-making purposes. 
  • Attendance at an entertainment or recreational lecture series. 
  • Cultural performances and social activities. 
  • Work experience. 
  • On-the-job training or apprenticeships — unless structured as part of a planned educational experience that fulfills these program criteria. 
  • Study. 
  • Assigned readings. 
  • Reports. 
  • Written assignments. 
  • Other related activities outside of the class or meeting schedule.  

What is the CEU approval form procedure?

Initial Contact
CEU submissions are due 10 business days before the scheduled date of activity. This information must be approved by an affiliated NC State content specialist. The procedures below are a guide for completing the application form, and all required forms can be found below. These forms can be completed and uploaded into REPORTER or completed directly in REPORTER. 

  1. Draft Design Document
  2. Draft of Agenda
  3. Draft of Evaluation Form
  4. Needs-Evidence Work List

How do I obtain a CEU transcript?

Requests for transcripts must be made in REPORTER. The cost for a transcript is $15.

What is the transcript refund or cancellation policy in REPORTER?

Please be advised that if a CEU transcript request is made and it is determined that the requestor has not earned CEUs, a full refund will be given to the requestor.