The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a nationally recognized measure of participation in an approved non-credit continuing education program.  It is used to document learning that differs from the traditional academic learning experience and has become vital as a means of determining the value of a continuing education learning experience.

One Continuing Education Unit (1.0) is defined as ten (10) contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.

CEU Credit Eligibilities

Courses Available for CEU Credit

All non-credit courses and programs submitted for Continuing Education Unit approval must meet the following criteria:

  • be held in an organized and structured setting
  • be planned to fulfill a specific educational need
  • have a clear purpose and objective
  • have qualified instructional personnel directly involved in conducting the course or educational activity
  • have specific performance requirements for the awarding of CEU’s to participants prior to the offering of the course or educational activity
  • have a participant evaluation process

Programs Eligible for CEU Credit

  • Seminars, workshops, short courses, certificate programs, and educational trainings with a scheduled meeting time
  • Activities that use methods of instruction such as: supervised online independent study, directed reading, or project-based assignments
  • License renewal programs and paraprofessional training programs

Programs Ineligible for CEU Credit

  • Committee meetings or other business meeting type activities
  • Entertainment or recreational/athletic activities
  • Cultural performances and social events
  • Work experience, on-the-job training or apprenticeships


If your program abides by the above guidelines, please see below for information on how to go about applying for CEUs for your training.

Steps to take before the training...

All CEU approval requests must be submitted at least 14 days prior to the initial offering date of the program. This requirement can only be waived upon request if there are extenuating circumstances. All of the following must be submitted in order for a program to be approved:

  • a completed CEU Approval Form
  • a program timed agenda/schedule
  • all instructor/speaker vitas or resumes
  • any other pertinent program materials (program brochure, flyer, or website address)

Things to Remember:

  • All course approvals are good for only the approved dates. If you plan on having the same program on multiple days throughout the school year, please make note of all dates.
  • Completed CEU approval request forms will be reviewed for approval within three business days.

Click the following link to be directed to the CEU Approval Form:
https://www.northmsec.com/ceu-information/ceu-approval-form/

Steps to take during/after the training...

After the training, the following items will need to take place:

  • Each participants that completed the training, must receive a certificate of completion/proof of attendance from the facilitator.
  • The facilitator will send a credit application link, that NMEC will provide to the facilitator once the workshop is approved for CEUs.  The Participants will be ask to upload their proof of attendance when completing the credit application

Participants have 30 days after the training to apply and pay for the CEUs.

Other Important Questions/Answers…

I have a year-long program that I want my participants to earn CEU credit for. How does that work?

Effective July 1, 2016

Events that are year-long (e.g. school professional development, special events, etc.) for which districts are wanting to provide CEU credit, the district must submit their credit packets per semester, versus per year.

For example, if your PLC group meets every month for a few hours, and you want those group members to receive CEU credit, you will have to submit those sign-in sheets, CEU applications, and evaluation forms at the end of December for August – December meetings and then again at the end of June for January – June meetings. For these kinds of year-long sessions, said CEU credit will be issued per semester (December and June).

How long do I, or my participants, have to apply for CEUs after a workshop?

For organizational reasons, we prefer to only take applications right after the session; however, we allow a maximum of one (1) month to apply for the CEUs, SEMIs, and OSLs from the last day of the session or from the participant’s Certificate of Completion date.

When will my participants get their credits?

CEUs: Once NMEC has received the CEU application and payment, NMEC’s goal is to have CEUs processed into the participants MS RESA services account within 7-10 business day.

SEMIs/OSLs:  Credits will be submitted to the participants MECCA account 30 days after the training.

Where can I find my CEUs?

Effective July 1, 2017

  • Login to your msresaservices.com. (using the email address you received the registration confirmation from). (Do not create an account, you already have an account)
  • Click on Registration History.
  • IF THE EVENT IS IN YOUR REGISTRATION HISTORY: Click on the blue registration ID to the left of the event. From there, if the certificate has been issued, you will see “Download CEU Certificate.”
  • IF THE EVENT IS NOT IN YOUR REGISTRATION HISTORY: Your credit application has not been processed yet.