Programs that offer IEEE Certificates must meet our guidelines for both quality of the technical content of learning materials as well as adherence to IEEE’s strict criteria for educational excellence. All programs that pass this strict process are entitled to award IEEE Continuing Education Units (CEUs), recognized as the standard of excellence for continuing education programs in IEEE’s fields of interest.

One CEU is equal to ten contact hours of instruction in a continuing education activity. Any activity less than one hour in duration is not eligible for CEUs. IEEE CEUs readily translate into PDHs (1 CEU = 10 PDHs).
 

In the United States, many states require professional engineers to obtain Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for maintaining licensure. Through IEEE's continuing education offerings, professional engineers can earn PDH certificates that can be used as evidence of participation in these courses to help meet their requirements. One IEEE PDH is equal to one contact hour of instruction.

Along with CEU and PDH certificates, the IEEE Credentialing Program also offers certificates of completion for approved learning events. These certificates do not provide a unit of measure but do provide a tie-in to the IEEE. Discussion groups or networking events are examples of when this type of certificate may be used.