Certificate Requirements

A Professional Development Certificate in Distance Education is awarded upon successful completion of 20 CEUs. The certificate is awarded by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a leader in distance education, in recognition of your accomplishment in completing a post-baccalaureate program of advanced study.

Earning the Professional Development Certificate requires completion of the following:
(CEU = Continuing Education Unit)

Orientation planning (0.5 CEU).
Completion of the Orientation Module, which includes goal-setting and schedule-planning forms, is the first step in the Certificate Program.
Four core modules (total of 12 CEUs).
The four core modules are required because they provide a base of essential knowledge and skills. If you have a great deal of prior experience in a core area, an alternative course arrangement may be possible.
Your choice of electives (total of 7 CEUs).
The curriculum includes various electives that focus on specific aspects of distance education and training. You choose the electives that meet your needs or interests to round out your program.
A capstone report (0.5 CEU).
After completing 19.5 CEUs, the final step in certification is a capstone report that summarizes your learning experience.

Satisfactory completion of most courses is based on a project or report, with feedback provided by your advisor. The courses conducted via the Internet typically use participation in online activities, including group projects, as the basis for earning completion credits.

Enrollment in courses on a Certificate basis requires that you have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Completion time

The 20 CEUs required for certification represent 200 study hours (1 CEU = 10 hours). The 20 CEUS must be completed within a two-year time limit. If you do not finish the program in two years, you may apply for a six-month extension upon payment of a $50 service fee. Because most people enrolled in the Certificate Program are employed full-time, the completion time considers job and family responsibilities. The average completion time is 12 to 18 months.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Upon completion of any course in our curriculum, you earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs). The CEU is the standard of measurement for the Professional Development Program, and its use meets nationally accepted criteria. One CEU is defined as ten contact hours of participation in an organized, continuing education experience, under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction. CEUs are recorded by the university in recognition of professional development activities, but they cannot be applied toward a college degree.