NC Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development

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CEUs and Early Educators

Commitment to Informing Practice

To support the advancement of the state’s early childhood professional development system to be inclusive of in-depth trainings that are structured to impact practice, North Carolina’s early childhood partners have worked together to lay the foundation for a professional development system inclusive of CEUs.

CEU Definition

A 1.0 CEU or continuing education unit is equivalent to 10 hours of pre-planned, cohesive training guided by learning objectives and learner assessments.

CEU Supply

CEUs are growing quickly in NC. Click on the CEU Events Calendar in the blue bar at the top of the page to access options available across the state.

Certification Renewal Requirements & CEUs

Highlight the Certification & Licensure on the left of your screen and click on EEC Renewal to access information about individual certification renewal requirements.

Use of CEUs for DCDEE Contact Hours

If the adult educator providing CEUs is endorsed by the Institute, DCDEE will accept the CEUs as in-service training hours if they meet the requirements for the individual’s professional development for facility licensure. This will allow use of the CEU documentation for both EEC renewal and DCDEE facility licensure.

To offer training for contact hours only, click here to access more information.
DCDEE requirements for in-service training requires annual training hours, which may include CEUs and college credits.
Trainers should contact the DCDEE In-service Training Consultant at (919) 662-4567 with questions. Trainers are encouraged to first visit the link below prior to contacting DCDEE.

http://ncchildcare.dhhs.state.nc.us/providers/pv_inservicetraining.asp

CEUs for EEC Renewal

EEC CEUs – Five-hour Minimum

CEUs are used by many professions as a source of ongoing training. Public school teachers who have a bachelor’s degree may take 1 hour CEU sessions that build up on their 4-year college education. The vast majority of the child care field does not yet hold a college degree, requiring that more indepth training be provided.

CEUs of 5 hours or more with content approved by an EEC recognized body may be used to meet EEC renewal requirements.

CEU Announcement Sample

Download sample CEU announcement description to help you share important information certified Early Educators are seeking in advertising your sessions.

Documenting a CEU

Documentation of a CEU for EEC renewal must include:

date(s) of session
session name
location(s) where session(s) are held
instructor name(s)
number of hours CEUs offered
CEU granting body (public school, regionally accredited (community college or university or IACET approved body)

Note: An official transcript may be used to document CEUs provided by a regionally accredited community college or university.

Approving Bodies for CEU Content for EEC Renewal

Quality control measures and approval processes utilized by the existing systems offering CEUs to many professions will approve the CEU content for EEC renewal purposes. Adult educators who are interested in offering CEUs for EEC renewal are strongly encouraged to contact the approval body you will work with to have your CEUs approved PRIOR to designing or offering your session to assure you meet their guidelines for CEU content.

Approving bodies for CEU content for EEC Renewal recognized by the Institute include:

A regionally accredited community college or university or
A local education agency (LEA) or
A member of the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (www.iacet.org)

Quick Tips

CEU Quick Notes

1 CEU = 10 contact hours
CEUs for EEC renewal must = .5 CEU at a minimum.
CEUs offer more than training and less than a college course.
CEUs have a similar cost to workshops (see below).
CEUs are one type of continuing education for EEC renewal.
College courses, CEUs or a combination of both can be used to meet EEC renewal requirements.
CEUs may be offered at one time or over several sessions, over a long period of time or at a conference as a defined track.
Quality may vary. Shop wisely!
CEUs are typically taught by instructors with a Bachelor’s degree or higher, are seasoned adult educators with experience and knowledge in the subject area.

CEU Topic Areas

What are the DCDEE nine topic areas?

Planning a safe, healthy learning environment
Children’s physical & intellectual development
Children’s social & emotional development
Productive relationships with families
Program management
Professionalism
Observing & recording children’s behavior
Child growth development
Inclusion of children with special needs

Sample CEU Outlines