Continuing Education - Frequently Asked Questions

Contact

Carrie Harper
Senior Director, Professional Development & Credentialing
Business Development, Programs & Industry Relations
Associated General Contractors of America
2300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 400
Arlington, VA 22201
USA
Phone: (703) 837-5316
Fax: (703) 837-5402
http://www.agc.org

With ongoing advancements in construction technologies, processes and best practices, the importance of professional development can't be overemphasized. Only by continually arming yourself with knowledge in the profession can you hope to stay effective in your career.

AGC of America offers a wealth of professional development opportunities, from its annual convention to its Project Manager Course, from webinars to the Training and Development Conference. These programs give you, the construction professional, the chance to learn more about your chosen profession, network with your peers, and in many cases earn CEUs as well.

According to the CE News 10th Annual Salary Survey, paid training for continuing education credits ranks third among desired benefits by employees of both public and private engineering companies; this also ranked third in the 2007 survey.

What's in it for me? How does continuing education help me?

  • Licensing - Most states require licensees to earn continuing education credits. Do you know your mandatory continuing education requirements?
  • Back to School - Are you considering going back to school to earn a bachelors or advanced degree? IACET continuing education units are easily transferable to a number of universities and colleges.
  • Career Growth - Pump up your qualifications and stand out from the competition when looking for a new jobs or a promotion.
  • Learn from the Best - Be trained by people who have been there before and know how to succeed.

What is IACET? What does it mean that AGC is an IACET Authorized Provider?

IACET, the International Association for Continuing Education and Training, is a non-profit group dedicated to quality continuing education and training programs. Its certification is the standard learners seek for quality when they choose a provider. The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is in the public domain, so any organization can claim to offer CEUs. IACET Authorized Providers undergo a comprehensive authorization process that differentiates their educational offerings from that of their un-authorized competitors. Only IACET Authorized Providers can offer the IACET CEU, the hallmark of quality in continuing education and training. In December 2007, AGC of America was approved as an IACET Authorized Provider that adheres to the ANSI/IACET Standards. For more information on IACET, go to www.iacet.org.

What is AIA? What is AIA CES? What does it mean that AGC is an AIA CES Registered Provider?

Based in Washington, D.C., the American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners. AIA CES is the Continuing Education System developed by the AIA to emphasize learning and record participation in professional learning activities. Architects look to the AIA CES to identify quality professional development programs to keep current and master new knowledge and skills. In June 2006, AGC of America was approved as an AIA CES Registered Provider that adheres to the AIA CES standards. These standards address processes for designing, developing, and delivering continuing education and training programs. For more information on AIA CES, go to www.aia.org/ces_default.

How are CEUs/LUs calculated? What constitutes one CEU/LU?

IACET CEUs are regulated by ANSI-IACET standards and are the standard unit of measure for continuing adult education. One CEU = Ten contact hours of participation in organized continuing education/training event

CEUs may be expressed in tenths of a CEU (for example, 3 contact hours is equal to 0.3 CEUs).

General rules for determination include:

  • 60 minutes = 1 hour = 0.1 CEUs
  • 45 to 59 minutes will be rounded up to 1 hour = 0.1 CEUs
  • Anything less than 45 minutes will not be counted.

How are AIA LU's calculated? What constitutes one LU?

The AIA records continuing education credit in learning unit (LU) hours. One LU hour = One contact hour.

What is the relationship between IACET CEUs and AIA LUs?

One IACET CEU is equal to 10 contact hours or 10 AIA LU hours.

What AGC courses offer CEUs/LUs?

Eventually all of our courses will offer CEUs/LUs; currently the following courses offer CEUs:

What are the requirements to receive credits?

  • Each participant must sign a check-in roster at the program location.
  • Participant must attend 95% of the course in order to receive credits.
  • Partial credit for partial attendance will not be awarded.
  • At the conclusion of the program, all participants must successfully (over 75%) complete an online evaluation of the materials learned and a course assessment.

How do I know how many credits I've received?

For CEUs: Once you've successfully completed your online evaluation you will receive a certificate with the number of CEU's learned and the number of contact hours. A record of each participant's attendance will be kept by AGC. If you would like to purchase a copy of your transcript, please contact the AGC registrar.

For LUs: Once you have completed the course and the evaluation, you will receive an email asking you the following: if you are interested in AIA LU's, whether you are an AIA member and if so to submit your AIA member number.

What if I need PDHs, CLEs or another type of continuing education credit?

Most professional boards and other accrediting bodies have a way to convert IACET CEUs to the unit that they require. We recommend you verify this with the professional board or other accrediting body before attending the course.