Continuing Education Information - PDHs & CEUs
What are PDHs?
What are CEUs?
PDH and CEU Disclaimer
CEU Information for AWWA Education Programs
Questions?
Instructions For Printing ACE CEU Certificates (PDF)
Instructions For Printing Specialty Conference, Seminar & Workshop CEU Certificates (PDF)
What are PDHs? 
PDHs are most often used to renew professional engineer licenses. AWWA defines a professional development hour (PDH) as 1 hour of training for time spent in activities related to professional growth and development (a 1 to 1 ratio is used, 1 PDH for 1 hour of attendance). AWWA does not record attendance, maintain a record, or provide Certificates of Completion for PDHs. Most states/provinces allow the individual to track and log his or her own hours of training, and recognize time spent in the following AWWA activities:
- Work done as a member of a volunteer unit (committee, council, task force)
- Delivery of a technical presentation
- Touring a facility
- Visiting the exhibit hall
A PDH Attendance & Time Record is available for individuals to track and log PDHs earned at AWWA education programs, when CEUs are not available. Documentation of PDH accrual is the sole responsibility of the individual. Individuals should keep all supportive documentation such as invitations, meeting and program schedules, meeting minutes, etc., to verify the legitimacy of the PDH record.
PDHs are also recognized for
- Attending a conference/seminar technical session/workshop
- Participation in an exhibit hall education session
Certificates of Completion are available for attending sessions and workshops by following AWWA's CEU procedures if CEUs are being offered for the sessions/workshops. To receive a Certificate of Completion follow the instructions on the complimentary CEU Attendance & Time Record available on-site. States will equate CEUs as PDHs for sessions and workshops by using the following conversion method: 1.0 CEUs = 10 PDHs. (Move the decimal in the CEU value over one digit to the right to convert the number into a PDH value).
Return to top
What are CEUs? 
AWWA defines a continuing education unit (CEU) per the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) Standard. 1.0 CEU is equal to 10 clock or contact hours (meaning time for breaks, lunches, and social meetings, are not included in the final CEU calculation) of training in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.
Education programs awarding CEUs must meet strict training guidelines, and CEUs are awarded for the completion of programs that meet specific criteria, including but not limited to, attendance documentation, clearly stated learning objectives, and an assessment of the learning that took place.
CEUs are most often used to renew water operator licenses. Most states/provinces require the education provider to track and log the individual’s hours of training. Individual states/provinces may use different terminology (credit labels) relative to CEUs, such as training units (TUs), contact hours (CHs), continuing education (CEs), etc. Refer to the Credit Label Conversion Chart. Refer to the AWWA education program list below for opportunities to earn CEUs.
Return to top
PDH and CEU Disclaimer
You may be awarded PDHs/CEUs for AWWA education programs by your state/province. While programs are taught by professionals who are leaders in their field and most programs meet most state/province guidelines for approval, it is the individual's responsibility, prior to attending any education program, to confirm AWWA coursework meets relevancy criteria and current rules established by your state/province for your license and needs. Even though coursework may be approved in a given state/province, another state/province may not deem the coursework relevant. It is also the individual's responsibility to apply to the state/province for PDH/CEU approval with the CEU Certificate of Completion or the PDH Attendance & Time Record provided by AWWA.
AWWA applies for coursework approval in the state/province where the education program is being held, or the states/provinces from which the majority of individuals are attending. Other states/provinces may accept PDH/CEU approval by reciprocity.
Return to top
CEU Information for AWWA Education Programs
Annual Conference & Exposition (ACE): ACE offers CEUs for attending technical sessions that fall under certain professional session tracks, exhibit hall education sessions, and workshops. The individual scans the conference badge into the meeting room's scanner upon entering and exiting the session/workshop. Post ACE (in August), individuals access information posted on this Web page to print off their CEU Certificates of Completion. ACE Information A complimentary PDH Attendance & Time Record is available on-site for recording PDHs.
Specialty Conferences: Several specialty conferences offer CEUs for attending workshops and oral technical sessions. The individual is provided with a CEU Attendance & Time Record that is punched by the room monitor. At the conclusion of the specialty conference, the individual hands in the punched CEU Attendance & Time Record to staff to receive a CEU Certificate of Completion via e-mail. Specialty Conferences Information If CEUs are not applicable to the specialty conference, a complimentary PDH Attendance & Time Record is available on-site for recording PDHs.
Webcasts: Not all states/provinces will award CEUs or PDHs for webcasts, because webcasts are considered “distance learning” (as opposed to “classroom learning/face-to-face instruction” at conferences, seminars, etc.) and attendance cannot be verified by the education training provider. It is the individual’s responsibility to apply to the state/province for CEU/PDH approval, AWWA encourages you to complete the following steps prior to watching a webcast:
- Contact your state/province certification contact to verify that CEUs/PDHs will be awarded. If your agency approves, proceed to step 2.
- Identify a “proctor” who will verify your attendance at the webcast (a supervisor, other staff, etc.).
- Use a sign-in and-out sheet to document attendance on a roster. Download a copy of the Webcast CEU Attendance Roster. The roster should list the webcast’s title, date, and viewing location.
- The proctor should sign the individual’s CEU Certificate of Completion. Download a copy of the Webcast Blank Certificate. The certificate lists the participant's name, webcast’s title, and viewing date.
- At the conclusion of the webcast, provide the state/province with a copy of the Webcast Attendance Roster, Webcast CEU Certificate of Completion, agenda, speaker bios, and all additional materials (handouts, etc.) that were provided to you. (AWWA provides a link to these additional materials along with the URL access to the webcast in an e-mail that goes to the individual who registers). The state will convert the participant's CEU award to the applicable PDH value. More information on webcasts
Seminars: Seminars offer CEUs for attending. The individual is provided with a CEU Certificate of Completion on-site at the conclusion of a seminar. More information on seminars
Workshops: Several workshops offer CEUs for attending oral technical sessions. The individual is provided with a CEU Attendance & Time Record that is punched by the room monitor. At the conclusion of a workshop, the individual hands in the punched CEU Attendance & Time Record to staff to receive a CEU Certificate of Completion via email. More information on workshops If CEUs are not applicable to the workshop, a complimentary PDH Attendance & Time Record is available on-site for recording PDHs.
Online Courses: Several online (AWWA eLearning) courses offer drinking water-related CEUs. At the conclusion of the course, the student is able to print off a CEU Certificate of Completion upon passing the final exam with a grade of 70% +. It is the individual’s responsibility to apply to his/her state/province for CEU/PDH approval.
Please follow these steps prior to signing up for an online course:
- Contact your state/province certification agency to verify that drinking water-related CEUs/PDHs will be awarded. If so, sign up for a course!
If your state/province certification agency says they cannot award CEUs/PDHs for courses taken online because they are considered “distance learning” (as opposed to “classroom learning/face-to-face instruction” at conferences, seminars, etc.) and attendance cannot be verified by the education program provider, AWWA encourages you to ask your state/province if it will accept as proof of your attendance, an Attendance Verification Form, which is a form signed by a proctor attesting to the fact he or she witnessed you taking the course and the test.
If your state/province is agreeable:
- Identify a “proctor” who will verify your attendance while taking the course and the test (a supervisor, manager, etc.).
- Download a copy of the Attendance Verification Form (PDF). Have the proctor fill it out, and submit this form to your state/province certification agency along with your CEU/PDH Certificate of Completion.
More information on online learning.
NEW - AWWA'S CEU TRANSCRIPT
AWWA will maintain your AWWA CEU Transcript for a period of 7 years. AWWA records the CEU value accrued from all of its CEU-worthy events in its transcript tool. Visit "My Account," then click on "My Transcript Information" to access and view your transcript. You can also use this tool as your permanent transcript for recording CEUs accrued from all of your other non-AWWA-related events. Note: If you do not have an AWWA log-in, you will need to create one. This tool is available to everyone, members and non-members alike.
Return to top
Questions?
