continuing education program

Formal lectures, courses, seminars, webinars, or any other similar type of educational program designed to educate an individual and give him or her further skills or knowledge to be applied in his or her line of work. These programs are intended to educate persons on new advancements, or to build upon a person's expertise in a given field. These may be optional for some trades, but in other circumstances can be required to maintain status, certification, or licensure. For example, practicing CPAs must have a certain number of education hours completed before a certain date in order to keep their license (though individual states have different requirements).