Trainers, faculty, professoinal development providers and instructors are all adult educators. Adult educators may provide learning opportunities for college credits, contact hours or continuing education units (CEUs).
HistoryResearch has shown that the application of what is learned in a training session is supported when participants are self-directed learners, content is grounded in their experience and sessions allow participants to learn new information, apply it, reflect on using it and then gain feedback to further inform practice. One-hour workshop formats are not able to provide the depth needed to support adult learners making the critical connection between what is learned and application in the early care and education setting. In 2008, the NC Institute for Child Development Professionals (Institute) implemented an individual certification for early educators working directly with or on the behalf of children ages birth to twelve. Early Educator Certification (EEC) is an educational assessment based on a standardized scale of levels, based on formal education benchmarks. EEC requires that certified early educators earn continuing education units (CEUs), college credits or a combination of credits to remain certified for a period of three or five years. The validity period is based on the individual’s education level. As of May 2012, over 22,000 early educators or half of the teaching workforce, are certified. 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. The Institute is working with its partners and the provider community to share the why — research about continuing education and what matters for early educators, the how — strategies for aligning and integrating CEUs into existing and tandem systems and tools which support individuals building high quality CEU sessions will be provided to participants using a lecture style approach,, and the who — information about North Carolina’s Adult Educator Endorsement process for those interested in providing CEUs for EEC renewal. CEU Development Training for Adult Educators Train-the-trainer sessions will be provided online throughout the year to increase the supply of high quality CEUs available for certified Early Educators. Click here to learn more. Evidence Base for CEUs
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Professional Development EndorsementLooking for information on the Professional Development Endorsement? This content has been moved. Learn more here. CEUs for Endorsed PD Providers Sample Sources
Seeking CEU Content Approval The endorsement of an Adult Educator by the Institute and/or the development of a CEU does not automatically guarantee an approving body will provide CEUs for the content. It is strongly advised that CEU developers first check with an approving body from which you will seek CEU approval prior to development of a CEU to ensure alignment of content with the approving body’s respective requirements. Visit the Continuing Education, CEU Guidelines & Documents section to learn more. Recognized bodies that are eligible to grant CEUs for EEC renewal include regionally accredited colleges and universities, LEAs and bodies approved by IACET. Entities may choose to provide CEUs for a session and/or hire adult educators who meet their required criteria, often reflective of the field’s guidelines (Adult Educator Endorsement) to provide a CEU session as the content expert.
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