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CME Vs. CEU

It can be hard to know what kind of continuing education is best for you as a healthcare professional. Do you need credits that will allow you to maintain your license? Or are you looking for something more general that will keep you up-to-date on the latest advances in your field?

Here we’ll explore the difference between CME vs. CEU courses and help you decide which type of continuing education is right for you.

What is a CME course?

A certified medical education (CME) course is a continuing education program that teaches healthcare professionals about certain diseases and how to recognize them. These courses are intended to help doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other providers maintain their state licenses by keeping up with the latest standards of care in their fields.

After successfully completing a CME course covering a specific topic or procedure, providers may be able to receive reimbursement from insurance companies for time spent learning new information. In order for your CME course to qualify you for license renewal or reimbursement, it must follow the standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).

The ACCME ensures that all of its accredited providers meet minimum standards when it comes to being clear about their course objectives, having a learner-centered approach that encourages critical thinking, and staying current with information that is accurate and unbiased.

What is CEU?

Continuing education units (CEUs) are a type of continuing education offered by educational institutions to professionals in regulated fields such as healthcare and law enforcement. Professional associations also offer CEUs for members. They may be used to maintain a state license or simply broaden one’s knowledge about the profession in question through a variety of learning opportunities.

Some licenses do not require CEUs for renewal, but they can help demonstrate an individual’s commitment to the field even if licensing isn’t needed. In order for your continuing education unit courses to qualify you for license renewal or reimbursement, it must follow the standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).

The ACCME ensures that all of its accredited providers meet minimum standards when it comes to being clear about their course objectives, having a learner-centered approach that encourages critical thinking, and staying current with information that is accurate and unbiased.

Advantages of CME:

  • CME courses are generally more specific than CEU courses.
  • Courses can be taken in any order, so there is no need to complete them according to a strict schedule.
  • Some employers offer financial assistance or reimbursement for continuing education requirements through their Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Disadvantages of CME:

  • Not able to enroll in specific courses, all of the CME provider’s courses may count for your license renewal or reimbursement requirement.

Advantages of CEU:

  • Can choose from a variety of disciplines and topics, so you get exactly what you need from an educational perspective. CEUs can also be combined with other continuing medical education (CME) units, so you only have to complete one course.

For example: if your state requires 20 hours of approved continuing education units for license renewal, 5 hours of CME units and 15 hours of CEU units will work equally well.

  • Some providers offer continuing education units that are accepted by specific institutions or employers, which can be helpful if you are looking to get a promotion or advance in your field. CEUs may also have accreditation from the provider’s professional organization.

For example, an attorney who takes 6 hours of CLE courses through an accredited provider could earn 18 hours of CLE credit recognized by their state bar association.

Disadvantages of CEU:

  • Not all professionals need the same amount of continuing education, so it can sometimes be difficult to find enough courses that meet licensure requirements for certain fields without taking more than is needed.
  • If you already have enough hours of CME units to fulfill your requirements, then it may not be worth paying for CEU courses when they are more expensive.
  • With these factors in mind, deciding between a CEU or a CME can be complicated. A good place to start is with accredited providers who have worked closely with the field’s professional organizations so that their courses are recognized by employers and licensing boards alike.

CME Vs. CEU: Which is better?

The choice between CEUs and CMEs is not an easy one. They are both good for keeping your brain active, but they serve different purposes. CEUs focus on expanding knowledge in a particular field and can be done independently of other courses. They can be used to study any subject that interests you, and the topics frequently change so you can learn something new every time.

CMEs are mainly for maintaining and expanding professional skills. They have a more practical application, and the courses tend to be more time-consuming than CEUs. The topics stay fairly consistent, covering basic information that may need updating or going into greater detail on a particular topic that is important in your field.

In general, however, if you are looking to maintain your state license, then choosing from an accredited provider will guarantee that your courses will count toward meeting licensure requirements. If you want to study something more specific in order to expand your knowledge and skill set, a CME course can help you do that.

Conclusion:

If you are looking to maintain your license, a CME course is probably the best choice for you. If you want to learn something new and expand your skillset, go with CEUs. Either way, continuing education courses can help keep your mind sharp as you grow as a professional.

The choice between CMEs and CEUs is not permanent once completed, they may be repeated for credit as many times as needed, or renewals will require that you complete them within a certain amount of time before their expiration date.

Additionally, some providers allow users to keep track of and review all completed courses, so there’s no need to worry about losing records if you switch from an accredited provider one year only to return the next.

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