What IS a CEU?

“I was on your website, and I saw your free CE courses. But do you provide free CEUs?” she asked. I wanted to tell her, “Yes!”, but I couldn’t. “Nope,” I said, “we don’t have CEUs… we have CE Courses (Continuing Ed courses), CECs (Continuing Education Credits), CEHs (Continuing Education Hours), and CECHs (Continuing Education Credit Hours).” And then I explained further, which I’ll outline for you below… it all comes down to the definition of the term ‘CEU’.

Clearly Clinical doesn’t provide CEUs (Continuing Education Units) for psychologists, therapists, social workers, clinical counselors, or addiction counselors. Why? Because we aren’t allowed to call our CE courses that. Yes, we’re a proud approved CE provider with the APA, NBCC, NAADAC, CAMFT, and CCAPP. However, every single organization I’ve named above specifically disallows use of the term ‘CEU’. In their eyes, the word ‘unit’ is misleading to consumers… it makes it seem like a Continuing Ed course is more like a college course (which are measured in ‘units’) than a training that takes a limited number of hours to complete. Instead, they instruct CE providers (like us) to use the term CEH, CEC, or CECH. It makes sense, when you know the backstory.

When you’re trying to find quality Continuing Ed courses, it makes things complicated. Why? Because everyone calls them CEUs! But WE CE providers don’t… any CE provider who is actually following the guidelines doesn’t call them CEUs, as you may have noticed. (Let’s be honest here… I still think of them in my head as CEUs… old habits die hard). It comes down to semantics, the definition of the words that form ‘CEU’, and industry colloquialisms.

So there you have it. That’s why Clearly Clinical doesn’t call our courses CEU courses, and we call them CE courses instead. And we’re delighted to have you come and try out our free podcast CEH/CEC/CECH courses here: Clearly Clinical Free Podcast CE Courses. We currently have four free podcast CE courses there (including featuring Dr. Scott. Miller, and will be adding more regularly (including one featuring none other than Dr. Julie Gottman!).

We’re also required to put this statements below, in case you’re wondering. The CE approval bodies are really looking after you, the consumer, to make sure that you’re working with companies who do what they say they do (but don’t use the word ‘CEU’!), and are reputable. Plus, we kinda love sharing these statements because we’re really proud of them and we’ve worked really hard to be able to give you the high-quality, low-cost, interesting podcast CE courses that we do!

APA: Clearly Clinical is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Clearly Clinical maintains responsibility for this program and its content.  NBCC: Clearly Clinical has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider; ACEP #6954. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Clearly Clinical is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. NAADAC: Courses have been approved by Clearly Clinical, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. Clearly Clinical is responsible for all aspects of the programing; NAADAC Provider #180654. CAMFT CEPA: Courses meet the qualifications for continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences; Clearly Clinical is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for California LMFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, and LPCCs. Clearly Clinical maintains responsibility for this program and its content; CAMFT-CEPA #99380.  CCAPP: Clearly Clinical is approved by California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals-EI; CCAPP-EI #5-17-274-1119.