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Why do I continue taking Continuing Education Units CEUs after earning my certification?
How often must I recertify my PLANET certification?
When do I send my Continuing Education Units (CEU) Submission Form to PLANET?
How do I record my CEUs?
Do I have to send in all of my documentation with my Continuing Education Units (CEU) Submission Form to PLANET?
Am I required to complete Service CEUs?
Do I earn CEUs for viewing exhibits at a conference or trade show?
Can I get CEU credits for ALL my educational or service activities? 
Why are there limitations to the CEU credits I can earn?
How do I ensure that I have enough CEUs to recertify?
How does PLANET enforce or monitor the recertification process?
What backup documents satisfy a recertification audit?
Where can I learn about current seminars, courses and opportunities to obtain CEUs?
How do I obtain a copy of the PLANET Recertification Requirements information sheet?

Question: Why do I continue taking Continuing Education Units (CEUs) after earning my certification?
Answer: Recertification is a major component of good certification programs and is considered a best practice across the certification industry.  The recertification process is being introduced into the PLANET certification program as a result of the 2007 Certification Strategic Plan indicating that PLANET’s certification program should meet or exceed the certification industry’s best practices as defined by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) standards.  The NCCA Standards state that certification programs must include some form of recertification provisions. 

Continual professional development activities are essential if certified individuals are to understand and accommodate changes in the green industry.  Therefore, to retain PLANET certifications, individuals must accumulate 24 CEUs every two years and submit a completed Continuing Education Units (CEU) Submission Form to the PLANET office by the end of their recertification period. 

Question:  How often must I recertify my PLANET certification?
Answer: Individuals must recertify their PLANET certifications at two-year intervals.  Your certification wallet card will show the “Recertification Required By” date, which indicates the end of your recertification cycle. 

Question: When do I send my Continuing Education Units (CEU) Submission Form to PLANET?
Answer: Your completed Continuing Education Units (CEU) Submission Form and Recertification Fee must be submitted by December 31 at the end of your two-year certification renewal cycle.

Question: How do I record my CEUs?
Answer: CEUs are to be reported on the Continuing Education Units (CEU) Submission Form. The completed Continuing Education Units (CEU) Submission Form is mailed or faxed to the PLANET office.

Question: Do I have to send all of my documentation with my Continuing Education Units (CEU) Submission Form to PLANET?
Answer: Unless otherwise noted, PLANET only requires that the completed Continuing Education Units (CEU) Submission Form be submitted for recertification, along with the Recertification fee.  However, certified individuals must keep a file of their CEU documentation because a percentage of forms will be audited each year.  Documentation requirements for the various CEU options are available on the PLANET Recertification Requirements information sheet.

Question: Am I required to complete Service CEUs?
Answer: No, you are not required to report any Service CEUs.  It is an optional alternative to up to 8 of the Education CEUs.

Question: Do I earn CEUs for viewing exhibits at a conference or tradeshow?
Answer: No, time on the tradeshow floor does not earn CEUs.  To earn CEUs at events with a tradeshow component, you must record your attendance at the appropriate educational sessions. 

Question: Can I get CEU credits for ALL my educational or service activities?
Answer: Not entirely. You must follow the requirements listed on the PLANET Recertification Requirements, which include limitations in the Service categories for CEU credits.

Question: Why are there limitations to the CEU credits I can earn?
Answer: PLANET values the service that certified individuals give back to their industry and their communities, but limits the CEU credits available from service categories in order to emphasize the five educational categories as a part of the certified individual’s professional development.

Question: How do I ensure that I have enough CEUs to recertify?
Answer: If you wait until the last few months to start accumulating CEUs, it is unlikely you will be able to complete the requirements.  If you reside in an area that doesn’t offer much locally, you should plan to attend a state or national event, or check online for Webinars, etc.  Study the PLANET Recertification Requirements sheet, which was revised in May 2010 with an added fifth category in education and a fourth service category—more opportunities to earn CEUs! Consider opportunities available in all five education categories, don’t limit yourself to one category.  Some In-house training may also qualify when submitted for pre-approval by PLANET.  

Question: How does PLANET enforce or monitor the recertification process?
Answer: PLANET randomly selects a sample of certified individuals submitting recertification forms for audit.  Those selected for audit are asked to provide the backup documentation as evidence of their participation in the CEU activities listed on the form.  This is why it is important to collect and keep the necessary paperwork listed in the “Documentation Required” section for each CEU category on the PLANET Recertification Requirements information sheet.

Question: What backup documents satisfy a recertification audit?
Answer: The following are examples of the types of documents PLANET will accept as backup documentation. This is not an all inclusive list; similar types of evidence can be provided.

• Copies of program brochures listing the agenda, time, date and other information pertinent to the course or activity, including notations on sessions attended
• Certificates issued to participants by a presenter/sponsor of qualifying events
• Official transcript if the activity is a formal course

Question: Where can I learn about current seminars, courses and opportunities to obtain CEUs?
Answer: Organizations offering courses have the option to submit their conference’s schedule of events to PLANET for review in advance.  PLANET will list events that have been submitted for pre-approval on the website with the maximum number of CEUs possible. Associations not in the green industry and other organizations may submit their educational or professional development offerings to PLANET and provide appropriate information. 

Question: How do I obtain a copy of the PLANET Recertification Requirements information sheet?
Answer: The PLANET Recertification Requirements information sheet is available for download.