Why the units get confused
Course pages often say a course is worth some number of credits or hours without saying whose unit it is. A continuing education unit from an accredited provider, a CPD hour logged for a professional body, a PMI professional development unit and a college credit recommendation all measure different things, are awarded by different organisations and are accepted by different gatekeepers.
The question to ask is never "how many credits is this?" but "credits in whose system, and does the body I report to accept them?"
Glossary
| Term | Definition | Who controls it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| IACET CEU | 1 CEU = 10 contact hours of participation in organised continuing education under responsible sponsorship and qualified instruction | Only IACET Accredited Providers may offer IACET CEUs; IACET does not approve individual courses outside accreditation | IACET |
| CPD | The learning activities professionals engage in to develop and enhance their abilities, from formal courses to self-directed study | Professional bodies set requirements, typically a number of hours a year | The CPD Certification Service |
| CPD hour or point | Most bodies count CPD in hours; where points or credits are used they usually match hours one to one | Your professional body | The CPD Certification Service |
| CPD accreditation | Independent assessment of how a learning activity is delivered, intended to show attendees it meets a quality standard | Accrediting organisations such as The CPD Certification Service | The CPD Certification Service |
| PMI PDU | One PDU equals 1 hour of training or giving back; activities under an hour count in quarter-hour increments | PMI, for its own certifications | PMI CCR Handbook |
| ACE credit recommendation | A college credit figure recommended after an ACE learning evaluation, listed in the ACE National Guide | Each college applies its own transfer credit policy | ACE; Microsoft |
Details that change the answer
IACET's FAQ says only an Accredited Provider can use the IACET logo and offer IACET CEUs, and that an accredited organisation cannot authorise another organisation to offer them. Before you pay for a course because it advertises CEUs, IACET advises confirming the organisation is on its Accredited Providers list.
PMI's CCR Handbook, last updated April 2026, sets three-year cycles. The PMP requires 60 PDUs per cycle, with at least 35 in Education and at most 25 for Giving Back to the Profession. The CAPM requires 15 PDUs, with at least 9 Education and at most 6 Giving Back. Five others, including the PMI-ACP, PMI-RMP and PMI-SP, require 30. The Education minimum is further split across the PMI Talent Triangle: for the PMP at least 8 PDUs each in Ways of Working, Power Skills and Business Acumen, and for the CAPM at least 2 in each.
ACE's National Guide lists over 36,000 evaluated courses and exams from over 130 organisations, each with a recommended credits figure. ACE's student page says each college has its own transfer credit policy and learners are responsible for understanding it, and Microsoft notes a college does not need to be an ACE member to accept ACE recommendations. On Coursera, the IBM Data Science Professional Certificate page says completers can earn up to 12 college credits, based on an ACE recommendation, and that acceptance is up to each institution.
Alison's help centre says courses on Alison are being accredited by CPD UK, so a certificate from an accredited course can be used as part of your CPD requirements, and advises checking your organisation's guidelines. It does not state hours per course on that page.
Worked example: one 20-hour course, four answers
Suppose a project management course involves 20 hours of instruction. The arithmetic below is ours; acceptance depends on the provider and the body you report to.
| Unit | What 20 hours could become | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| IACET CEU | 2.0 CEUs (20 contact hours divided by 10) | Only if the provider is an IACET Accredited Provider and awards CEUs for this course |
| CPD hours | 20 CPD hours or points at the usual one-to-one ratio | Only if your professional body accepts this kind of activity; some require accredited or structured CPD |
| PMI PDUs | 20 Education PDUs at 1 PDU per hour | For a PMP that is 20 of the 60 needed per cycle, but a single-topic course cannot cover the 8-PDU minimum in each Talent Triangle area; for a CAPM it exceeds the 15 total, but the 2-PDU minimum in each area still applies |
| ACE credit | No conversion from hours | Only items ACE has evaluated carry a recommendation, expressed as a fixed credit figure, and the college decides |
Checklist before you buy for credit
A course that is ideal for learning can still be worthless for a renewal requirement if the unit does not match. Confirming first costs an email.
- Find the rule from the body you report to: your licensing board, professional body, PMI or college registrar.
- Check which units it accepts and whether it requires accredited providers or specific subject areas.
- For IACET CEUs, look the provider up on IACET's Accredited Providers list.
- For CPD, confirm whether your body accepts self-directed online learning and how many hours a year it requires.
- For PMI, confirm the activity fits the Education category and keep evidence of the hours.
- For ACE credit, find the exact item in the ACE National Guide and ask the college in writing whether it will apply to your programme.
- Keep the certificate, the hours statement and any accreditation reference together in one folder.
Questions before you decide
How many hours is one CEU?
IACET defines one CEU as 10 contact hours of participation in organised continuing education. Only IACET Accredited Providers may award IACET CEUs.
Is a CPD point the same as an hour?
Usually. The CPD Certification Service says most professional bodies count CPD in hours, and where points or credits are used they usually match hours one to one.
How many PDUs do I need to renew the PMP?
PMI's CCR Handbook, updated April 2026, requires 60 PDUs every three years for the PMP, with at least 35 in Education and no more than 25 for Giving Back.
Does an ACE credit recommendation guarantee college credit?
No. ACE says each college has its own transfer credit policy, and Coursera's IBM Data Science page says acceptance of credit recommendations is up to each institution.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- IACET: home page (CEU definition) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- IACET: accreditation frequently asked questions Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- The CPD Certification Service: CPD explained Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- PMI: Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) Handbook, last updated April 2026 Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- American Council on Education: Credit and transcripts for students Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- American Council on Education: National Guide Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Microsoft Learn: College credit for certification exams (transcript sharing) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Coursera: IBM Data Science Professional Certificate Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: Are Alison courses CPD accredited/recognised? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.