continuing education board

ACA awards Continuing Education Credits (CECs) for all endorsed educational programs, as well as other ACA-approved learning experiences that meet the required criteria. CECs serve as a tracking tool for individuals to document their involvement in various professional development activities. These credits are often compatible with Continuing Education Units (CEUs), commonly used in other professional certification programs like teaching and healthcare. Each CEC represents one hour of engaged learning and can be easily tracked by ACA members through their educational history and personalized professional development portfolio.

 

adult learners sitting outside

CECs are valuable for individuals looking to build a professional development plan that aligns with their career goals. This plan can include CECs along with other types of evidence such as work and volunteer experience, project samples, and learning activities. CECs are commonly used to demonstrate progress toward personal benchmarks and professional goals. They also play a crucial role in structured educational experiences related to certificates of added qualification, specialty certificates, and other professional certifications.

To access, save, and/or print your ACA education history transcript click here.

For transcript questions or errors email us at [email protected]. 

 

Do I need credits if I'm not pursuing certification or additional qualifications right now?

Even if you’re not working toward certification, continuing education credits (CECs) help you set personal professional development goals. They also show potential employers that you’re committed to ongoing growth, which may be considered during performance evaluations.

I’m a teacher. Will ACA credits be accepted by my state?

State requirements vary, so check with your state’s continuing education program. Most states have a petition process, so it's a good idea to keep your documentation on hand.

What’s the difference between a CEC and a CEU?

  • CEUs: Tied to certifications and licensure.

  • CECs: For ongoing learning and professional development, such as certificates of added qualifications (CAQs).

Will ACA accept credits from non-ACA endorsed conferences?

Yes. Email us at [email protected] to initiate this process. 

Why do some events offer more time than the CECs available?

ACA awards credits based on actual educational contact hours. Time spent during meals or social breaks isn’t counted, but any educational content that follows meals does count.

I attended the ACA National Conference but didn’t attend every session. What should I do?

The ACA trust system operates on the honor system. If the recorded hours don’t reflect your participation, you can manually adjust your transcript.

My organization offers CEUs. Why should I also offer CECs through ACA?

Offering ACA-endorsed CECs expands your audience. While CEUs may be more familiar to your core group, CECs appeal to a broader range of professionals.

If I want ACA to endorse my two-day conference, do you notify participants about CECs?

As the organizer, you’ll notify participants about the CECs earned. ACA will review your program and provide the appropriate number of CECs based on the educational contact hours.

Do participants need to petition ACA for credits if we align our Fall Conference with ACA guidelines?

No petition is required if your event is aligned or endorsed by ACA. If the event is managed outside ACA’s system, an administrative step is needed to ensure credits are added to participants' transcripts.

Should I pursue educational endorsement for my Field Office events?

Yes, events hosted by ACA Field and Affiliate Offices can go through the alignment process, which ensures the event meets ACA’s educational standards.

Can I review past endorsed events to see if my event is suitable for ACA Educational Endorsement?

Yes. You can visit our website to explore past endorsed events and see what meets ACA’s criteria.

 

ACA follows a widely recognized standard where 1 contact hour = 1 CEC. All ACA-endorsed educational experiences award continuing education credits, with a minimum of 0.25 CECs for every 15 minutes of instruction.

Examples of CECs and How They're Calculated:

  • A conference offers a 75-minute session and a 2-hour session. The learner earns:

    • 1.25 CECs for the 75-minute session
    • 2 CECs for the 2-hour session

  • A meeting features a 90-minute lunch with a keynote speaker for 30 minutes. The learner earns:

    • 0.5 CEC for the keynote

  • A workshop includes 60 minutes of instruction followed by 30 minutes of individual practice. The learner earns:

    • 1.5 CECs for the workshop

  • A 90-minute Open Forum Discussion at a conference does not provide a structured learning experience, so no CECs are awarded.

  • A 45-minute webinar results in:

    • 0.75 CEC

CECs are part of the Educational Endorsement Program (EEP).

  • Requesting Credit: Individuals can request that other professional associations accept ACA CECs through a process known as "petitioning for credit." This process is managed entirely by the individual.

  • Documentation: The individual is responsible for completing and submitting the necessary documentation.

  • Automatic Tracking: ACA members have their CECs automatically tracked for endorsed educational experiences. This tracking is reflected in their ACA Educational History.

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