ACF Continuing Education Hour Guidelines

ACF follows CEH guidelines as established by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET). Opportunities must be educational in nature. Business and committee meetings conducted primarily for information sharing purposes do not typically qualify for CEHs. Job-related activities do not qualify unless an educational in-house training is held.

To ensure the quality of educational content, we recommend that half of the professional development activities come from ACF and/or ACF-approved providers. Visit the Recertification page for requirements by certification level.

The following activities are generally accepted as CEH opportunities. CEH Reference Guide

Professional Development Activities

  • ACF Online Learning Center: CEHs vary per course. No documentation is needed. CEHs are uploaded automatically to ACF member profile.
  • ACF conferences and annual convention: hour-for-hour of educational content. Excluded from CEHs are attending regional forums, AAC Fellow’s meeting, networking breaks, competitions, award and meal functions, competitor’s meetings and social events. No documentation is needed. CEHs are uploaded within 2-3 weeks to ACF member profiles of registered attendees.
  • Chapter meetings /programs: hour-for-hour of educational content. Credit is not awarded to chapter meetings that are primarily for information sharing purposes. Submit ACF certificate of participation. Note: chapter presidents have access to ACF certificate of participation on the president’s portal.
  • Culinary demonstrations: as stand-alone sessions or part of a conference: hour-for hour of educational content. Discussion and Q&A time can be included as part of the CEH credit. Submit a certificate/letter of participation. For programs that are not ACF-approved, provide a program outline with learning objectives and presenter qualifications/job title.
  • Employer in-service training: hour-for-hour of educational content. Credit is not awarded for new employee orientations, company business meetings or job-related activities. Submit certificate of participation or verification letter. For programs that are not ACF-approved, provide a program outline with learning objectives and presenter qualifications/job title.
  • Formal educational courses from an accredited institution/school, including online and distance learning. One semester credit is equal to 16 CEH. Submit transcript or official letter documenting registration to class(es).
  • Hands-on workshops as stand-alone sessions or part of a conference: hour-for hour of educational content. Discussion and Q&A time can be included as part of the CEH credit. Submit a certificate/letter of participation. For programs that are not ACF-approved, provide a program outline with learning objectives and presenter qualifications/job title.
  • Presenter/demonstrator at an industry-related conference, chapter meeting, school, webinar, television and radio: five CEHs will be awarded per presentation/demonstration, no more than three times per year. Submit copy of program guide, link, video or verification letter by event organizer.
  • Published works of original content in a professional or trade journal at the regional, state or national level earn 5 CEHs, articles in local or chapter publications earn 3 CEHs and an authored book up to 200 pages earns 10 CEHs, over 200 page earns 20 CEHs. Submit copy of article or copy of book title, table of contents and publisher information.
  • Seminars, including live and online classes: as stand-alone sessions or part of a conference: hour-for hour of educational content. Discussion and Q&A time can be included as part of the CEH credit. Submit a certificate/letter of participation. For programs that are not ACF-approved, provide a program outline with learning objectives and presenter qualifications/job title.
  • Tastings /tours must include an educational component facilitated by a qualified representative: credit will be given for the educational component only. Submit a certificate/letter of participation. For programs that are not ACF-approved, provide a program outline with learning objectives and presenter qualifications/job title.
  • Trade /foodshow exhibits: up to three CEHs for one industry-related tradeshow per year. Submit registration or copy of exhibit badge for industry-related trade/foodshow. For programs that are not ACF-approved, provide a copy of the program schedule.

Leadership Assignments

  • National board members, ACF/industry-related organization: 18 CEHs per year. For ACF, no documentation is needed; CEHs are uploaded automatically to ACF’s database. For industry-related organizations, submit appointment letter.
  • National commission /committee /taskforce, ACF/ industry-related organization: 12 CEHs per year. For ACF, no documentation is needed; CEHs are uploaded automatically to ACF’s database. For industry-related organizations, submit appointment letter.
  • Local chapter officers and committee chairs, ACF/industry-related organizations 12 CEHs per year. For ACF, no documentation is needed; CEHs are uploaded automatically to ACF’s database. For industry-related organizations, submit appointment letter.
  • Advisory members on school or industry-related boards: 6 hours per year. Submit verification letter for each full calendar year served.
  • ACFEF apprenticeship supervising chefs: 12 CEHs per year. Apprenticeship program coordinators will need to send an email to the national office with a list of supervising chefs that are ACF members and have supervised apprentices for the entire calendar year.
  • ACFEF accreditation site visit team members, postsecondary: 12 CEHs per visit. No documentation is needed. CEHs are uploaded automatically to ACF’s database.
  • ACFEF site visit team members, secondary, apprenticeship and quality programs: 6 CEHs per visit. No documentation is needed. CEHs are uploaded automatically to ACF’s database.
  • ACF certification practical exam evaluators/administrators: 12 hours per exam. No documentation is needed. CEHs are uploaded automatically to ACF’s database.
  • Advisory members on school or industry-related boards: 6 hours per year. Submit verification letter for each full calendar year served.
  • ACF Culinary Team USA team manager: 30 CEHs per year; team coach or advisor: 18 CEHs per year. No documentation is needed. CEHs are uploaded automatically to ACF’s database.
  • Other leadership positions: CEHs to be determined by ACF professional development. Submit appointment letter.

Culinary Salons /Competitions

  • Competitors of ACF-/NICA-sanctioned competitions, including knowledge bowl: 3 CEHs for participating, 6 CEHs for bronze, 12 CEHs for silver and 18 CEHs for gold. No documentation is needed. CEHs are uploaded automatically to ACF’s database.
  • Competitors of international competitions, including the Culinary World Cup and IKA: 6 CEHs for participating, 12 CEHs for bronze, 18 CEHs for silver and 24 CEHs for gold. Submit certificate.
  • Judges of ACF-/NICA-sanctioned competitions, including knowledge bowl, earn 6 CEHs for first day, 3 CEHs for each additional day. No documentation is needed. CEHs are uploaded automatically to ACF’s database.
  • Judges of ACF pre-approved culinary competitions, including ProStart and SkillsUSA, earn 6 CEHs for first day, 3 CEHs for each additional day. Submit verification letter.
  • Judges of international competitions, including the Culinary World Cup and IKA, earn 12 CEHs per competition. Submit verification letter.
  • Culinary salon/competition chair of ACF-/NICA-sanctioned competitions earn 6 CEHs per competition. No documentation is needed. CEHs are uploaded automatically to ACF’s database.
  • ACF student team coaches and co-coaches, includes knowledge bowl: 18 CEHs per year. No documentation is needed. CEHs are uploaded automatically to ACF’s database.
  • Other competition activities: CEHs to be determined by ACF professional development. Submit verification from program coordinator.

Volunteer Activities

  • Communication outreach activities: up to 8 CEHs per day. Submit verification from program coordinator.
  • ACF/industry-related events and competitions: up to 8 CEHs per day. Submit verification from program coordinator.
  • Chapter meeting participation, ACF/industry-related organization: hour for hour, up to 4 CEHs per meeting. Submit letter from chapter president.
  • Other volunteer activities: CEHs to be determined by ACF professional development. Submit verification from program coordinator.

Criteria

  • Credit is awarded on an hour-for-hour basis of industry-related content unless otherwise denoted.
  • A program must meet a minimum of 30 minutes of educational content. If a stand-alone program is less than 30 minutes, no credit can be given.
  • After the first 30 minutes of credit, credit may be given in quarter hour (.25 CEH) increments.
  • Only educational content time qualifies. Introductory remarks, business updates, travel time and breaks are not included when calculating CEHs.
  • Program/event must have clearly defined learning outcomes and follow the guidelines listed below. Activities outside the guidelines must be approved by ACF’s Professional Development department.
  • Programs/events that are not pre-approved for CEHs by ACF may need to include additional documentation with the CEH submission form or (re-)certification application.
  • Chapter presidents are authorized to award CEHs for programs up to two hours in length in accordance with these guidelines without ACF approval.