Continuing education is an all encompassing term within a broad spectrum of post-secondary learning activities and programs. Recognized forms of post-secondary learning activities within the domain include; degree credit courses by non-traditional students, non-degree career training, workforce training, formal personal enrichment courses (both on-campus and online) self-directed learning (such as through Internet interest groups, clubs or personal research activities) and experiential learning as applied to problem solving.

Continuing education generally

General continuing education is similar to adult education, at least in being intended for adult learners, especially those beyond traditional undergraduate college or university age. However, it is not normally considered to include basic instruction such as literacy, English language skills, or programs such as vocational training or GED preparation. Instead, as the term suggests, it is assumed that the student already has an education and is simply continuing it. Libraries are useful resources for adult learners. ... In some educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a Bachelors degree. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... Representation of a university class, 1350s. ... World literacy rates by country The traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write, or the ability to use language to read, write, listen, and speak. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The GED, General Educational Development, or General Equivalence Degree Test, is a test that certifies the taker has attained American or Canadian high school-level academic skills. ...

Frequently, in the United States, continuing education involves enrollment in college/university credit-granting courses, often by students enrolled part-time, and often offered through a division or school of continuing education of a college/university known sometimes as the university extension or extension school. Also frequently in the US, it can mean enrollment in non-credit-granting courses, often taken for personal, non-vocational enrichment (although many non-credit courses can also have a vocational function). Also, in the US, many such non-credit courses are offered by community colleges. In Canada and the United States, a community college, sometimes called a technical college, county college, junior college or a city college, is an educational institution providing higher education and lower-level tertiary education, granting certificates, diplomas, and Associates degrees. ...

The University of Wisconsin, in 1904, was the first academic institution in the US to offer what today would be considered an identifiable continuing education program. In 1969, Empire State College, a unit of the State University of New York, was the first institution in the US to exclusively focus on providing higher education to adult learners. The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public university located in Madison, Wisconsin. ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (see link for calendar). ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... Empire State College, a State University of New York university college, is a multi-site institution that offers higher education to students all over the State of New York as well as the rest of the world. ... The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY (IPA pronunciation: ) is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. ... The University of Cambridge is an institute of higher learning. ...

Continuing education for professionals

Main article: Professional development

Within the domain of Continuing Education, professional continuing education is a specific learning activity generally characterized by the issuance of a certificate or Continuing Education Units (CEU) for the purpose of documenting attendance at a designated seminar or course of instruction. Licensing bodies in a number of fields impose a continuing education requirements on members who hold licenses to practice within a particular profession. These requirements are intended to encourage professionals to expand their knowledge base and stay up-to-date on new developments. Depending on the field, these requirements may be satisfied through college or university coursework, extension courses or conferences and seminars attendance. Professional development refers to vocational education with specific reference to continuing education of the person undertaking it in the area of employment, it may also provide opportunities for other career paths. ... Licensure refers to the granting of a license (in the US, whilst, elsewhere the term registration is used), usually to work in a particular profession. ...

Ten contact hours equals 1 Continuing Education Unit.

Method and format of continuing education

The method of delivery of continuing education can include traditional types of classroom lectures and laboratories. However, much continuing education makes heavy use of distance learning, which not only includes independent study, but which can include videotaped/CD-ROM material, broadcast programming, and online/Internet delivery. In addition to independent study, the use of conference-type group study, which can include study networks (which can, in many instances, meet together online) as well as different types of seminars/workshops, can be used to facilitate learning. A combination of traditional, distance, and conference-type study, or two of these three types, may be used for a particular continuing education course or program. Bottom view of VHS videotape cassette with magnetic tape exposed Videotape is a means of recording images and sound onto magnetic tape as opposed to movie film. ... The CD-ROM (an abbreviation for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (ROM)) is a non-volatile optical data storage medium using the same physical format as audio compact discs, readable by a computer with a CD-ROM drive. ... Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and/or video signals which transmit programs to an audience. ...

See also

 Stages of formal education   (Portal)  

Preschool →	Kindergarten →	Primary →	Middle →	Secondary →	————— Post-secondary —————
					Vocational education	—— Higher education ——
						Undergraduate →	Postgraduate
Also: Early childhood education, Alternative education (Homeschooling), Adult education

• Community college in Canada and the United States
• Lifelong learning
• Workers' Educational Association in the UK and Australia

Image File history File links Nuvola_apps_bookcase. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Image File history File links Nuvola_apps_bookcase. ... Preschool is of, relating to, or for a child past infancy but younger than school age, usually between the ages of two and five (or six). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Middle school (also known as intermediate school or junior high school) covers a period of education that straddles primary education and secondary education, serving as a bridge between the two. ... Secondary education - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... ... A blacksmith is a traditional trade. ... The University of Cambridge is an institute of higher learning. ... In some educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a Bachelors degree. ... Degree ceremony at Cambridge. ... Infant playing with a book. ... Great Neck Village School, an alternative high school in Great Neck, New York, USA Alternative education, also known as non-traditional education or educational alternative, describes an education that is modified or particularized for those having singular needs, such as maladjusted people and gifted children. ... Homeschooling – also called home education or home school – is the education of children at home, typically by parents or guardians, rather than in a public or private school. ... Libraries are useful resources for adult learners. ... In Canada and the United States, a community college, sometimes called a technical college, county college, junior college or a city college, is an educational institution providing higher education and lower-level tertiary education, granting certificates, diplomas, and Associates degrees. ... Lifelong learning is the concept that Its never too soon or too late for learning, a philosophy that has taken root in organisations such as the UK Governments Department for Education and Skills. ... The Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) seeks to provide access to education and lifelong learning for adults from all backgrounds, and in particular those who have previously missed out on education. ...

External links

• Adult and Continuing Education Programs - A directory of programs for those planning to attend college for the first time, or looking to complete a degree.
• Universities of The Web - A large directory of colleges in US and Canada offering continuing education programs.
• Free Continuing Education Search Tool - CourseList.org provides a searchable catalog of continuing education classes and training courses in each city.
• Online Continuing EducationContinuing Education for social workers, mts, marriage family therapist, counselors and nursing professionals -
• Online Continuing Education for Psychologists courses for Psychologists. APA Accredited courses. All reading and test material are provided online.