How to Convert CEUs to PDUs

A Continuing Education Unit, or CEU, is awarded to a student for participation in a non-credit continuing education program, such as a workshop, seminar or a series of classes. To offer CEUs, a program must meet the guidelines set by an educational board, most commonly the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). Professional Development Units -- known as PDUs or PDHs -- can be awarded for the same types of non-credit courses as the CEU; however, they also may be awarded for less formal learning activities, such as attendance at speaker tours and webinars. Because the PDU is a less formal unit than the CEU, a student can readily convert CEUs to PDUs.

One CEU is awarded for 10 contact hours of participation in an approved program. The College Board defines a contact hour as "one 60-minute interaction between an instructor and the participant." One CEU is equal to 10 PDUs, and one PDU is earned for one hour of study. This means that CEUs and PDUs are earned at the same hourly rate. You can quickly convert CEUs to PDUs by multiplying the CEUs by 10. So, if you just finished a course that awarded you 6 CEUs, you could convert those CEUs to 60 PDUs.