The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET): Championing Quality in Lifelong Learning
In a world where professional development is paramount, the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) emerges as a pivotal force, dedicated to upholding the highest standards in continuing education and training programs. Since its inception, IACET, a not-for-profit organization, has stood at the forefront of educational standards, revolutionizing professional development through innovation and leadership. 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.
The Genesis and Evolution of IACET
IACET grew out of a National Task Force on continuing education commissioned by the U. S. Bureau of Education (now the Department of Education) in 1968. The Department of Education task force studied the measurement of non-credit continuing education activities. This marked the beginning of a journey to establish a standard framework for quality learning and development.
Defining the Continuing Education Unit (CEU)
IACET's passion for excellence has driven them to develop the original continuing education unit (CEU), which is ten hours of contact time with approved educational material. The primary purpose of the CEU is to provide a permanent record of the educational accomplishments of an individual who has completed one or more significant non-credit educational experiences.
Since the emergence of measuring noncredit continuing education activities, the terminology of the CEU has since entered the public domain and is unregulated. This terminology is why it is important to distinguish a CEU from an IACET CEU.
The ANSI/IACET Standard for Continuing Education and Training
IACET is responsible for the creation/maintenance of the ANSI/IACET Standard for Continuing Education and Training. The ANSI/IACET Standard for Continuing Education and Training defines a proven model for developing effective and valuable continuing education and training (CE/T) programs and is a proven model for the highest quality learning and is the core of thousands of education programs worldwide. 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.
Read also: PIC: Your Path to Higher Education
Accreditation: A Mark of Excellence
IACET accredits education and training providers that meet strict guidelines originally created in 1968. Any organization that offers CEU’s to learners must provide high-quality training and resources to learners and go through a rigorous accreditation process set by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training. Obtaining an IACET certification is a matter of pride for the organization offering professional development training programs.
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. With IACET continuing education and training (CE/T) accreditation, you can tell the world your company is committed to best practices in adult learning and professional training, and that it has successfully mastered IACET’s rigorous accreditation process.
Benefits of Accreditation
Accreditation is rarely about documentation alone - it’s about clarity, alignment, and consistency across your organization.
When an organization becomes an accredited IACET CEU provider, they also get one more thing: a competitive edge.
The Accreditation Process
The accreditation interview is more than a checkpoint in the process - it’s your opportunity to demonstrate how your organization brings the IACET Standard to life. Preparation makes the difference.
Read also: USA Degree Programs
Workshops and Resources
Our Foundations of IACET Accreditation Workshop in San Antonio creates space to work through the ANSI/IACET 1-2018 Standard in a practical, hands-on, collaborative setting.
IACET's Mission and Impact
The International Association For Continuing Education And Training's (IACET) mission is to advance the global workforce by providing the standard framework for quality learning and development through accreditation. 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.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer opportunities among members within IACET bring together professional training practitioners and leaders to explore the many facets of the CE/T industry. The plethora of perspectives offers an abundance of feedback that helps achieve one of their biggest goals of continual improvement.
The Importance of Quality Continuing Education
In a marketplace where there are many training options and education resources to choose from, it's important to know which ones are worth your time and money prior to making a decision.
Intrinsic Motivation and Engagement
Adult Learning Theory has been telling us this for years: intrinsic motivation drives sustained excellence. When people feel ownership, engagement rises. Burnout drops. If learning feels imposed, compliance-driven, or disconnected from real performance, engagement suffers. But when learners feel relevance, voice, and agency, learning sticks… It wasn’t talent. When skating was controlled (what to eat, what to wear, what music to skate to) the joy disappeared. When she came back on her own terms, choosing to be there, everything shifted.
Read also: Undergraduate Admissions at Oxford
Policies and Systems
Strong policies aren’t just documents - they’re systems that reinforce quality, accountability, and consistency across your organization. Are your current policies simply written - or are they actively guiding daily practice?
Examples of IACET Accredited Providers and Programs
APQC is an accredited IACET provider. APQC is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. APQC’s training curriculum covers KM and PPM essentials, including developing a business case and approaches; essential practitioner tools and techniques; and measuring effectiveness. APQC offers three training formats: facilitated in-person, facilitated online, and self-paced online.
The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) has awarded accreditation status to all CORA courses. CORA is immensely proud of receiving IACET accreditation as a hallmark of our high-quality training for professionals from the education field.
Penn Foster offers affordable online career diploma and certificate programs across high demand fields such as skilled trades, allied health, veterinary, early childhood education, business, and more.
IACET CEUs Across Professions
Professional engineers, certified health and safety professionals, childcare providers, wastewater operators, and management professionals alike are just a small portion of the licensed professions in the United States that require continuing education. Licensed professions and professional designations often require continuing education as part of maintaining certification. Various advisory and state licensing boards dictate the terminology for learning hours and content, but the IACET CEU is one of the most widely accepted forms of continuing education. For engineering training providers, understanding the distinction matters for compliance, credibility, and learner expectations.
tags: #international #association #for #continuing #education #and
