CEU
Continuing Education Units

About CEU

The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a standardized recognition of continuing education activities that meet real needs for both individuals and organizations. The CEU is a quality standard in education and continuing training that should be promoted everywhere.

The CEU is a measure that ensures the value and adherence to SOFEDUC’s Quality Standards in the planning, organization, delivery, and evaluation of continuing education activities.

Fundamental Principles of the Continuing Education Unit (CEU)

In an environment marked by numerous transformations in recent years and in response to various challenges, anyone with the motivation to grow can learn throughout their lifetime.

Both the training organization and the learner seek to ensure the recognition of the quality of the training, as well as the time and financial investment involved, in order to stand out in the marketplace. In this context, the Continuing Education Unit (CEU) clearly positions itself as:

A standardized form of recognition for training and continuing education activities in which adults participate throughout their lives;
A guarantee of compliance with Quality Standards for training and education activities;
A commitment to sound pedagogical and administrative practices, with regular audits conducted by SOFEDUC.

An organization accredited by SOFEDUC acquires the status of Institutional Member. By displaying this status (Institutional Member logo) and issuing CEUs, it publicly demonstrates its adherence to SOFEDUC’s Quality Standards and guidelines.

For the learner, CEUs offered by a SOFEDUC-accredited organization represent:

A seal of quality for the continuing education they receive;
Training designed with the learner’s needs in mind, the material to be acquired, a range of teaching strategies, and the opportunity for the learner to assess the acquisition of new knowledge;
A training format adapted to the content and the target audience;
Instructors with the pedagogical skills and subject matter knowledge required to deliver high-quality training;
An audit and accreditation process of the training organization conducted by a recognized external body—SOFEDUC—ensuring the quality of the continuing education.

SOFEDUC’s standards

Ten Quality Standards, attesting to sound pedagogical and administrative practices required by SOFEDUC, must be respected by organizations wishing to offer continuing education and training activities recognized by the Continuing Education Unit (CEU) standard.

Standard 1 – Training Needs Each training activity is planned based on the needs identified for an individual or a specific group of individuals.

Activities required for each activity or training program:

Each training activity is planned according to the needs that have been identified for a person or specific category of persons.
Activities required for each activity or training program;
Formulate training needs in terms of gaps to be filled, that is to say, the lack or inadequacy in terms of knowledge, skills, attitudes or the performance of persons to be trained;
Identify sources of information (ex. organizational planning, market studies, official documents of governmental or para-governmental committees, survey with students or employers, links with the company’s strategic objectives);
Use several different sources of information;
Establish an identification process of needs with validation mechanisms and adjustments (survey with participants who received training, measuring employer satisfaction);
Encourage potential participants to take part in the process (if the group participants context allows it).

Standard 2 – Learning Objectives / Competencies For each training program, clear and concise statements describe the intended learning objectives in terms of skills and competencies.

Activities required for each activity or training program:

Base the objectives on identified training needs;
Clearly state in writing, in terms of competencies, what is expected of the participant by the end of the training activity;
Use skill-based objectives as measurable criteria, expressed clearly and concisely, and designed to support the acquisition of the targeted competencies;
Include multiple objectives, but a realistic number based on the scope of the program, the time available, and the variety of planned activities;
Present the training objectives to participants at the beginning or before each training activity or program;
Implement a process for validating and adjusting the objectives.

Standard 3 – Instructor Each training activity is designed, supervised, and delivered by a competent instructor.

Activities required for each activity or training program:

Select the instructor or team of instructors based on the following criteria:
- Have acquired instructional competence through formal learning or experiential knowledge;
- Expertly master a variety of teaching strategies that support learners in acquiring competencies;
- Expertly master the content that provides context and resources (skills, knowledge, techniques, strategies, culture) for the competencies to be acquired;

Support and supervise instructors, notably by:

Providing feedback mechanisms on their performance;
Ensuring that instructors continue to develop their skills through various means (individual or group training, incentives, etc.);

Standard 4 – Training Content For each activity, the training content is appropriate in relation to the targeted learning objectives.

Activities required for each activity or training program:

Develop training content aligned with Standard 1 — analysis of needs;
Create a training plan whose content is aligned with the learning objectives;
Ensure the delivery of content that corresponds to the current state of knowledge;
Implement a content monitoring process to ensure updates are regularly made.

Standard 5 – Training Strategies Training strategies conform to widely recognized models to ensure the achievement of learning objectives, taking into account learners’ time constraints and the content.

Activities required for each activity or training program:

Present the training plan including strategies aligned with the learning objectives;
Use a variety of training strategies that value the knowledge or experiences of the participants;
Conduct multiple varied learning activities;
Provide continuous feedback to participants;
Implement a process to monitor training strategies to ensure they are kept up to date.

Standard 6 – Assessment of Learning When a training activity or program results in the issuance of CEU, participants must demonstrate that they have achieved the learning objectives.

Activities required for each activity or training program:

Specify whether the activity grants a certificate of CEU completion or a participation certificate (without CEU);
Specify the evaluation methods in the training plan, including the type, procedures, and criteria;
Ensure that learning objectives are met for programs or activities that lead to a CEU completion certificate;
Provide results to participants promptly;
Align evaluation situations as closely as possible with real-world contexts where the learning will be applied;
Implement a follow-up mechanism for learning assessment (depending on the organization’s or client’s context).

Standard 7 – Evaluation of the Training Activity or Program Each training activity or program is evaluated by every learner. Each training activity must take place in an environment conducive to learning, whether in-person or remote.

Activities required for each activity or training program:

Collect learners’ evaluations on the following topics: training plan, alignment of objectives, content, methods and training strategies, quality of the learning environment, and relevance of the training to the workplace;
Collect evaluations from instructors and clients regarding the training activity;
Evaluate the training activity during and at the end of its delivery;
Assess the appropriateness of the learning environment chosen by the training organization according to the type and subject of the training offered;
Compile and keep evaluation records;
Share the collected evaluation information with instructors and other stakeholders;
Use the collected evaluation information for continuous improvement and updating of the training programs.

Standard 8 – Responsible Unit The accredited organization designates a “responsible unit” to ensure the development and administration of training activities.

Activities required for each activity or training program:

Identify the unit within the Member organization;
Detail the responsibilities of the unit regarding the training mandate;
Provide the names of the individuals responsible for the unit and the SOFEDUC contact person;
Explain the procedures in place for training within the organization;
Describe the processes that ensure the stability and continuity of training services;
Specify the responsibilities of each individual involved in the accredited organization’s training services;
If applicable, explain the link between the training process and other processes aimed at achieving the organization’s objectives (human resources management, development plan, production);
Regularly evaluate the satisfaction of clients and business partners.

Standard 9 – Continuous Improvement System As any learning organization should, the accredited organization maintains a continuous improvement system to ensure the quality of its training services and compliance with the CEU awarding standards.

Activities required for each activity or training program:

Establish a training management system including the following activities: planning, management, training, evaluation, and communication;
Integrate into future training the analysis of information gathered under Standard 7 — Evaluation of the Training Activity or Program;
Have a written procedure specifying the monitoring mechanisms required by the standard on learning assessment for issuing certificates of completion and CEUs;
A re-accreditation visit (audit) of the Member takes place every five years. This visit is conducted by an expert designated by SOFEDUC to verify compliance with CEU awarding standards and the continuous quality improvement process of continuing education services;
– Conduct long-term follow-up on the continuous improvement of training services;
Participate in SOFEDUC’s reflection on training quality (study days, SOFEDUC activities, sharing expertise, etc.);
Annually set one or more measurable objectives to improve one or more andragogical or management aspects related to continuing education.

Standard 10 – Participant Records The accredited organization keeps a complete record of each training activity for a minimum of 7 years and provides a copy of the certificate of participation or completion to each participant.

Activities required for each activity or training program:

Keep a complete record for each training activity;
Implement a process for issuing certificates and providing access to participants’ records;
Establish a system to maintain a cumulative file for each participant.

Seal of Quality SOFEDUC

This graphic symbol, for the exclusive use of Institutional Members (members accredited by SOFEDUC), is a registered SOFEDUC trademark that certifies compliance with the rules for awarding CEUs at the conclusion of a training activity that meets SOFEDUC’s Quality Standards, including the assessment of learning.

The accredited training organization issues a certificate of completion bearing the SOFEDUC seal with the CEU acronym to participants who have achieved the learning objectives.

In cases where all Standards are met but no learning assessment has taken place, a participation certificate may be issued without the CEU acronym.

Use both seals with either the certificate of completion or the certificate of participation.

Who accepts CEU ?

The Continuing Education Unit (CEU), established by SOFEDUC since 1988, is well known and recognized in Quebec, Canada, and internationally.

With the aim of harmonizing quality standards in education and continuing training, many professional orders, associations, professional groups, private, public, and semi-public organizations recognize CEUs as a mark of excellence that validates the pedagogical and administrative processes of training.

The implementation of SOFEDUC’s CEU system helps consolidate quality standards in education and continuing training as well as the registration of acquired skills in company competency registries.

Increasingly, members of professional orders are required to obtain CEUs to justify their mandatory training hours.

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