Continuing Education Unit (CEU)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the CEDIA Continuing Education Unit Program?
A. A tool used to ensure that CEDIA Certified Professionals continue to develop their industry and/or technical knowledge base.
Q. What is a CEU?
A. A numeric value placed on educational courses based on content and length of course.
Q. How long does a CEDIA certification stay valid?
A. CEDIA Certification is awarded to individuals for a period of 36 months.
Q. Can I be grandfathered CEUs?
A. CEDIA granted a 12-month extension of the requirement to all individuals certified in 2003 and 2005. All other Certified Professionals will be held to the three-year requirement.
Q. How do I maintain my CEDIA Certification via CEUs?
A. Prior to the conclusion of the 36-month cycle, CEDIA Certified Professionals must provide documentation of obtaining at least 30 CEUs through continuing education. Of those 30 required CEUs, no more than 15 units may be obtained via manufacturer education.
Q. What is the CEDIA CEU award structure?
A. Award Structure
- CEDIA CEU accredited courses conducted at CEDIA events will award one (1) CEU per hour of instruction.
- CEDIA CEU accredited seminars will award one half (.5) CEU per hour of instruction.
- Product oriented courses will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and upon approval will award one quarter (.25) CEU per hour of instruction.
- Authorised courses conducted at Educational Institutes will award 10 CEUs for undergraduate courses 3-4 semester hours and 20 CEUs for graduate level courses 3-4 semester hours.
- CEDIA education instructors are awarded CEUs based on a two time factor for unique classes taught per venue.
- CEDIA committee volunteers earn (3) CEUs per volunteer position each year of volunteer work.
Q. What if I am not able to fulfill the 30 CEU requirement within 36 months?
A. CEDIA Certified Professionals who do not fulfill the required continuing education units have within 12 months prior to the expiration date to take and pass the highest level examination attained at a charge to be eligible to maintain their certification for an additional 36 months.
Q. Can I obtain CEUs by taking courses that are not taught at CEDIA events?
A. Yes. It will be the responsibility of the CEDIA Certified Professional to submit the CEU Petition Form to be awarded CEUs for education obtained. If the individual has identified a course that has not been approved for CEU awards, CEDIA staff will forward the CEU Petition Form to CEDIA Education Team for authorisation of CEUs. If the CEDIA Education Team authorises the course for CEUs, the course will then be placed in a database for future CEU awards. The CEDIA Education Team will evaluate each submission on its length, course description and learning objectives.
Q. Do I need to show proof of any courses that I am taking that are not taught at CEDIA events?
A. Yes. All CEDIA Certified Professionals should retain hard copy proof of completion, such as a certificate of completion, an obtained certification record or an education transcript. CEDIA reserves the right to audit the CEU program by requesting that the CEDIA Professionals provide proof of training.
Q. Will my current CEDIA Certification remain valid if I obtain an additional CEDIA certification?
A. Yes. If an individual obtains additional CEDIA Certifications, they are required to maintain 30 CEUs according to their most recent certification received and all of their CEDIA Certifications are valid. CEUs awarded to CEDIA Certified Professionals only count toward that individual’s current certification. If an individual becomes certified at a higher level, all previously earned CEUs will not count toward maintaining that higher level certification. In other words, the clock starts over when you achieve a new level of certification
Q. Do all courses taught at CEDIA events count toward the 30 CEU requirement?
A. No. CEDIA’s Boot Camp education program and CEDIA Certification Preparation Seminars do not award CEUs to students. A maximum of five CEUs will be issued against any course without prior approval of the CEDIA Certification Action Team.
Q. How can organisations become a CEDIA CEU Provider?
A. Organisations wishing to become a CEU provider may submit educational courses to CEDIA for pre-approved CEU awards. Organizations requesting to become CEDIA CEU providers must complete and submit the Certification CEU Provider Petition Form for approval by the CEDIA Education Team. CEU providers must petition annually to maintain their CEU Provider status. This step is crucial as it ensures that the CEU Providers educational course is in keeping with standards set by CEDIA. CEU Providers shall be listed on CEDIA’s web site. If the Certification CEU Action Team authorises the course for CEUs, the course will then be placed in a database for future CEU awards. The CEDIA Education Team will evaluate each submission on its length, course description and learning objectives.
