What is the difference between professional development and continuing education?

At its core, “professional development” is an umbrella term that describes employees learning new skills and knowledge that they can apply to further success in their field. The term “continuing education” describes one type of professional development in which an employee – typically someone who already has completed an academic degree – pursues additional learning from a higher education institution.

What are the differences between CEUs, PDHs, and PDUs?

CEU stands for Continuing Education Unit, which is a ‘currency’ of sorts that helps measure a person’s participation in formal education programs, mostly for training that is related to professional development.

• 1 hour of training = 0.1 CEU
• 10 hours of training = 1.0 CEU

PDH stands for Professional Development Hour. A PDH credit is a contact hour of instruction or presentation; they are frequently required by organizations to maintain one’s professional license or certification.

• 1 hour of training = 1 PDH

By completing MSOE’s Center for Professional Education programs, you earn both PDHs and CEUs.

• 1 hour of training = 1 PDH = 0.1 CEU

PDU stands for Professional Development Unit. The Project Management Institute (PMI) uses PDUs as its measurement for continuing education. To retain an active PMP credential, Project Managers must continuously earn PDUs within predetermined parameters and submit them for PMI approval.

• 1 hour of training = 1 PDU

How do I register for a program or webinar?

MSOE Employees
Submit a program inquiry for the program you’d like to register for, and a CPE team member will contact you directly with next steps. Program enrollment for MSOE employees opens 2 weeks before the program start date based on availability. 

Non-MSOE Employees
Visit cpe.msoe.edu and fill in your primary email address in the boxes under I am a new user. A username and password will be emailed to you upon submission.

You will be redirected to a page asking you to fill out your contact information (name and email, address and telephone, employer information, and privacy). Click submit to create your account.

How do I pay for my program?

• Once you have created a profile, add the program of your choice to your cart.
• Complete any missing/additional information on your student portal to move forward with payment.
• To pay, use your credit/debit card. A receipt confirmation will be sent via email.
• IMPORTANT: If you are paying with a company credit card, make sure the zip code you are listing matches the zip code connected to the account, otherwise the transaction will not go through.

Are there prerequisites or qualifications to register for a CPE program?

There are no prerequisites or qualifications to register for our programs and certificates unless otherwise specified. 

Who can enroll in these programs?

We encourage all working professionals who are interested in upskilling, reskilling, or new-skilling to enroll!

What funding and payment options are available?

We understand that the cost of continuing education can be a significant consideration before registration. As we continuously strive to provide affordable professional development opportunities, we also have identified and established a variety of funding and payment options to help support the cost of enrollment in our programs.

We offer Early Bird Discounts for all of our programs. To take advantage, register for any of those programs up to two weeks before the start date, and at checkout, select the Apply Discount box and choose 'Early Bird Discount' from the drop-down menu to receive 20% off registration. Potential discounts for MSOE alumni are typically advertised in the bimonthly MSOE alumni newsletter. Follow us on LinkedIn or email us to be added to our mailing list to stay abreast of potential discounts!

Request Employer Funding

Many employers support professional development through reimbursement programs, professional development funds, or workforce training budgets. Before enrolling, consider asking your employer whether funding is available to support your participation.

When preparing your request:

• Explain how the program aligns with your organization’s goals and priorities
• Highlight the skills and knowledge you will gain and how they will benefit your team and organization. Provide a clear overview of program costs, schedule, and expected outcomes.
• Consider discussing cost-sharing options if full funding is not available.
• Demonstrate your commitment to applying what you learn in the workplace. 

Use our Letter of Justification template as a starting point for your request. 

Workforce Development Funding (ETPL/WIOA)

The Center for Professional Education offers programs that are approved on Wisconsin's Eligible Training Programs List (ETPL) and may qualify for funding through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Programs with ETPL approval are identified on their individual registration pages. If you are interested in pursuing WIOA funding, visit this website to learn more about eligibility requirements and the application process.

To get started:

• Search our approved programs using the ETPL Program Search.
• Look up your local Wisconsin Job Center to determine your eligibility and learn more about available funding opportunities.

Flexible Payment Options 
Payment plans are available for select programs. When offered, a payment plan can be selected by choosing the invoice option after you add the program to your cart. Note that some programs may require a deposit up front. Payment plan instructions and due dates will be listed on the registration page as well as on your enrollment confirmation email. 

Can I request accommodations for a disability?

Contact MSOE’s Student Accessibility Services (SAS) office to request accommodations. 

How do I cancel my registration?

Navigate to your student portal. On the left-hand side menu, navigate to My Enrollment History and select Request Drop. Your cancellation request will be automatically sent to the CPE team for processing. 

If I am no longer able to attend my program, am I eligible for a refund?

If you withdraw from a program at least 10 business days prior to the start date, you'll receive a full refund.  

What happens if my program is cancelled?

If your program is cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund. The CPE will contact participants directly in advance if a program is cancelled.

Are the programs held online or in person?

We offer programs in a variety of delivery modalities, including online live (also referred to as instructor-led, in-person, online self-paced, and hybrid (combinations of two of the above categories). By clicking on a certain subject category (ex. A.I. / Machine Learning, Project Management) on the landing page, you will be able to browse all available and upcoming programs by delivery modality.

When registering for a program, the drop-down menu under Enroll Now will list whether the class is online live, in-person, or online self-paced.

Are the online programs live or self-paced?

We offer programs in online live (offered online in real time, i.e. synchronous delivery, via Microsoft Teams) and online self-paced (offered online with instruction and content accessible at any time by students without any required real time interactions) formats, as well as programs that are a combination of the two, like our Professional Certificate in Business Essentials. By clicking on a certain subject category (ex. A.I. / Machine Learning, Project Management) on the landing page, you will be able to browse all available and upcoming programs by delivery modality.

What video-conferencing software do I need for online programs?

Microsoft Teams is required for all our online programs.

Is there a dress code for the in-person programs?

A business casual dress code is preferred for our in-person programs.

Who do I contact if I am interested in MSOE providing customized training at my workplace?

Contact Crystal Fey, Associate Director of Business Development, via email or by calling 414-277-7195.

Where can I learn more about MSOE’s FERPA and Directory Information?

Visit this website to learn more about MSOE's FERPA and Directory Information.

Where can I learn more about MSOE’s Privacy Policy?

Visit this website to learn more about MSOE's Privacy Policy.