Attending continuing education activites

The most common type of continuing education credit is given for learning activities in which librarians attend workshops, seminars, institutes, conferences, and lectures face to face with the instructor or over the ICN, where no academic credit is given.  These preplanned activites are offered on specific topics offered by agencies, organizations, academic institutions and professional associations such as Iowa Library Services and the Iowa Library Association.

Much of the library-related continuing education sponsored in the state will award a Continuing Education Certificate (either at the end of class or at the end of an online evaluation).

However, there are a number of sponsors, such as national associations, private training companies, local adult and/or city government education progams, that do not offer a CE Certificate.  These offerings may be eligible for continuing education credit.

To obtain credit:

• If a CE certificate is not issued, or you watch a video-taped program, you will need to fill out a Learning Activity Written Summary.  This is an online form that will go to the Continuing Education Consultant at the State Library. 
• After reviewing the information, the form will be e-mailed back to you with the amount of continuing education credit awarded.  This e-mail will serve as a certificate and should be printed and saved with your other continuing education certificates.
• If you are unsure whether an activity qualifies for continuing education credit, please contact the Continuing Education Consultant.

General guidelines for CE credit:

30 minutes of instruction = 0.5 contact hour (minimum awarded)
50 minutes of instruction = 1 contact hour
1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) = 10 contact hours
2 hour roundtable* = 1 contact hour maximum

Please note that participants in the certification program are limited to 5 hours of CE credit for required city government training during their 3 year re-certification period. This limit applies to programs such as CPR, defibrillator, and bloodborne pathogen training.

*This includes conference table talks and any other discussion session where there are no set and/or clear learning objectives.