Credit: The C.E.U. of North America and the C.A.T.S. of Europe.

In the world of Education today the Certified Teachers or Professor is not permitted to issue College Diplomas or Degrees. We are permitted to teach the material, test the students ability and issue Certificates of Study in academic subjects or a Certificate of Training in the skilled crafts to such persons with developed skills. This would include the Auto Mechanic, Plumbers, Electrician etc. There are two primary systems, the C.E.U. in North America and the C.A.T.S. in the United Kingdom and much of Europe. Lets look at these important systems of credit: C.E.U. (Continuing education unit), of North America. A Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a measure used in continuing education programs, particularly those required in a licensed profession in order for the professional to maintain the license. Examples of people who need CEUs include architects, engineers, educators, nurses, mental health professionals, and social workers. Generally, a CEU is defined as ten hours of participation in a recognized continuing education program, with qualified instruction and sponsorship. CEU records are widely used to provide evidence of completion of continuing education requirements mandated by certification bodies, professional societies, or governmental licensing boards. The records also provide employers with information on training pertinent to particular occupations. Such bodies include the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), American Medical Association (AMA), American Pain Society (APS), International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), and thousands like them. The term CEU is in the public domain. Any organization may award a traditional CEU without requiring any accreditation. With a traditional CEU an employer or other organization must decide on an individual basis whether to honor the CEU from a training provider. In my own experience I have never had a student return to report that the Certificate was not honored. Certain CEU providers have not always adhered to high standards, and the lack of standards for specific fields, has resulted in closer scrutney of those training programs that use the CEU, therefore some accrediting organizations have been created to standardize what a CEU means. One of these is the International Association for Continuing Education & Training (IACET) which offers the most industry wide accreditation of CEUs. Specific industries, such as nursing, health, etc have their own accrediting processes for CEUs. Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuing_education_unit The Cats Point System of the United Kingdom and Europe. CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme) points system) The following information is from the University of Oxford, England. What are CATS points? The CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme) points system is recognized by many UK Higher Education institutions as a method of quantifying credit for a particular course. To attain an Undergraduate degree you would need to accumulate: 120 points at FHEQ Level 4 (equivalent to the 1st year of an undergraduate degree also known as 'Certificate') 120 points at FHEQ Level 5 (equivalent to the 2nd year of an undergraduate degree also known as 'Diploma') 120 points at FHEQ Level 6 (equivalent to the 3rd year of an undergraduate degree also known as 'Advanced Diploma') *Please note that some of the Department's Undergraduate Advanced Diplomas are worth 60 CATS point at FHEQ Level 6. Therefore an Undergraduate Degree usually = Undergraduate Certificate + Undergraduate Diploma + Undergraduate Advanced Diploma (although it is a little more complicated in practice). The University of Oxford does not award part-time Undergraduate Degrees but individually the Department for Continuing Education's Undergraduate Certificates, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas mirror the level and experience of full time degree courses but cannot be combined into a degree at Oxford (with the exception of the Department's Foundation Certificates). Nevertheless, many students my be able to transfer their OUDCE credit to other University degree courses. In general terms most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 CATS points assigned to them. 10 CATS points at FHEQ. Level 4, usually, but not always, consist of ten 2-hour sessions. 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually, but not always, consist of twenty 2-hour sessions at the same level. The basic CATS calculation is that for every 2 hours of tuition you are given you will engage in eight hours of private study. All OUDCE accredited weekly classes are at FHEQ Level 4, which is the level equivalent to that of the first year of an undergraduate degree. External examiners moderate all OUDCE weekly classes. The Department's Undergraduate Foundation Certificate in English Language and Literature and Undergraduate Foundation Certificate in History provide a structured learning path and may enable you to join the second year of an undergraduate degree. They are accredited with 120 CATS at FHEQ Level 4. Some of the Department's certificate and diploma courses are accredited with 120 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 & 5. These give a more structured learning path and may enable you to join the 2nd year of an undergraduate degree. For further guidance on the CATS system please contact the Student Adviser on 01865 280355 in the U.K.. Source: University of Oxford at: http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/students/currentstudents/faq/cats.php Re: CATS points FAQ and Glossary of Oxford terms