Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Policy
CEUs are courses designed to ensure USA Triathlon Certified Coaches keep their knowledge of industry trends, technology and triathlon regulations relevant. CEUs are crucial for professional coaches to stay up-to-date with the most relevant triathlon coaching education as well as ensure each coach is well-rounded. There are two types of CEUs that USAT recognizes: USAT CEUs (courses that USAT runs or is affiliated with) and Non-USAT CEUs (courses held by outside organizations).
All USA Triathlon Certified Coaches are required to earn a minimum of 5 USAT CEUs to maintain their professional coach certification during each 2-year cycle. Level I Certified Coaches must earn a total of 15 CEUs and Level II, Level II Endurance and Level III Certified Coaches must earn a total of 20 CEUs.
It is the responsibility of each certified coach to maintain a record of all documentation for completed CEUs.
Non-USA Triathlon CEUs
USA Triathlon reserves the right to assign or deny a CEU value to Non-USAT seminars and conferences. Non-USAT CEU value is based upon relevancy to triathlon coaching and is assigned by USA Triathlon, not by what another organization assigns. Continuing education does NOT include the daily activities of a coach such as attending training, leading training rides, meeting with athletes, etc.
Coaches are responsible for tracking their CEUs, getting courses accepted for Non-USAT CEUs, and recording CEUs in their recertification application.
Please note that the Non-USAT CEU opportunities listed below are not exclusive, they are simply the most common Non-USAT CEUs earned by coaches. Credit for Non-USAT courses are awarded with a maximum of 5 Non-USAT CEUs per course.
Please note, unless the course is listed on this page, it needs to be reviewed by USA Triathlon Coaching Education Staff by emailing Hope Graham at Hope.Graham@usatriathlon.org.
IRONMAN Coach Certification CEU Value
Beginning in 2020, the IRONMAN Coaching Certification is accepted for 10 USAT CEUs (a 2020 certification issue date is required). Coaches who earned their IRONMAN Coaching Certification in 2019 earn 5 Non-USAT CEUs. Coaches who earned their IRONMAN Coaching Certification before 2019 can use their IRONMAN Coaching Recertification to earn 2.5 Non-USAT CEUs (recertification of any of the certifications accepted for Non-USAT CEUs is worth half of the original certification Non-USAT CEU value).
Non-USAT CEUs for Formal Higher Education
Accepted for 1 Non-USAT CEU per 1 academic credit hour (max of 5 Non-USAT CEUs per course). Attach your transcript to your recertification application (passing grade and course description required).
Credit must be earned from an accredited institution. College courses that are acceptable for continuing education include (but are not limited to): Biology, Chemistry, Kinesiology, Physiology, Anatomy, Exercise Science, Nutrition, Marketing and Physical Education courses (i.e. track, swimming, etc.). College courses that are not acceptable for continuing education include any course beyond the scope of practice for triathlon coaches and courses that do not relate to coaching multisport.
**Recertification of any of the below certifications is worth half of the original certification Non-USAT CEU value.
**Non-USAT CEU amounts subject to change without notice
Course Name |
CEUs Awarded |
Documentation Required |
ACE Youth Fitness Specialist Certification |
5.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) - Certified Personal Trainer (ACSM-CPT), Group Exercise Instructors (ACSM-GEI), Exercise Physiologists (ACSM-EP) or Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP) |
5.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
ACE (American Council on Exercise) - Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Certification, Health Coach Certification or Medical Exercise Specialist |
5.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association) - Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Special Population Specialist (CSPS), Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F) or NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT) |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) - Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT), Nutrition Coach, Corrective Exercise Specialization (NASM-CES) or Performance Enhancement Specialization (NASM-PES) |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association) - Personal Training, Coaching Certification, Nutritionist, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Exercise Therapy Certification, Sports Nutrition, Strength and Conditioning, Transformation Specialist or Youth Fitness |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
The Science of Training Young Athletes | 5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
Personal Trainer Certification |
5.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
Retül Fit 1, Retül Fit 2 (Aero/Mountain) or Retül Technology |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
Bike Fit - F.I.S.T or Serotta International Cycling Institute |
5.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
Indoor Cycling Certification |
5.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
5.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
|
Foundations of Heart Rate Variability by Elite HRV |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
ITU Coaching Certification Level 1, 2, or 3 |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
National Alliance for Youth Sports Certification |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
National Athletic Trainers Association Athletic Trainer Certification |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
Road Runners Club of America Coaching Certification |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
U.S. Masters Swimming Masters Coach Level 1 or 2 |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
USA Swimming/American Swim Coaches Association Coaching Certification |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
UESCA Run Coach Certification | 5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
UESCA Triathlon Coach Certification |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
USA Cycling Level 1 or 2 Coaching Certification |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
USA Cycling Level 3 Coaching Certification | 1.0 | Certificate of Completion |
USA Cycling Coaching Summit |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
USA Track & Field Level 1, 2, or 3 Coaching Certification |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
U.S. Masters Swimming Adult Learn-to-Swim Instructor Certification |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
USA Swimming SafeSport Leadership Conference |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
Precision Nutrition Level 1 or 2 Certification |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
Swim Smooth Certification |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
USA Weightlifting Level 1 or Level 2 |
5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
Stacy Sims - Women Are Not Small Men | 5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
Stacy Sims - Menopause for Athletes | 5.0 | Certificate of Completion |
2020 USA Cycling Coaching Summit |
3.0 | Certificate of Completion |
2020 USA Cycling Jr. Summit |
3.0 | Certificate of Completion |
American Fitness Professionals and Associates Certifications (various) |
3.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
3.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
|
American Swim Coaches Association Certified Stroke Technician Course |
3.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
USA Swimming National Officials Certification (any level or position) |
3.0 | Certificate of Completion |
3.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
|
Functional Dry Needling Course |
3.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
3.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
|
International Sports Science Association Certifications(various) |
3.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
International Youth Conditioning Association Level 1 Youth Fitness Specialist Certification |
3.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
TRX Suspension, Group Suspension, Sports Medicine Suspension and Rip Training Courses |
3.0 | Certificate of Completion |
ITU Facilitator Course Level 1 or 2, Youth Sports Leader, or Paratriathlon Coaching Certificate |
3.0 | Certificate of Completion |
NFHS Concussion in Sports | 3.0 | Certificate of Completion |
NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching |
3.0 | Certificate of Completion |
Total Immersion Certified Coach |
3.0 | Certificate of Completion |
2.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
|
1.0 per hour |
Certificate of Completion |
|
1.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
|
1.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
|
Triathlon Related Book |
2.0 |
Either book exam if available or confirmation of purchase and a write up that includes and explains all the major points of the course then explains how you can use these points to further your coaching. The write-up must be a minimum of a full page, 12 point font, single spaced, and Times New Roman font. One write-up per book. |
2.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
|
How to Coach Kids |
1.0 | Certificate of Completion |
Coaching Girls | 1.0 | Certificate of Completion |
USA Cycling Webinars (archived or live) |
1.0 |
Webinar Email Confirmation & a write-up that includes and explains all the major points of the course then explains how you can use these points to further your coaching. The write-up must be a minimum of a full page, 12 point font, single spaced, and Times New Roman font. One write-up per webinar. |
Water Safety or Lifeguard Certification |
1.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
Doctoral Thesis |
Varies |
Formal Proof |
Academic Internship |
1.0 per 1 academic hour |
Official or Unofficial Transcripts (passing grade and internship description required) |
Formal Higher Education |
1.0 per 1 academic credit hour (max of 5 Non-USAT CEUs per course) |
Official or Unofficial Transcripts (passing grade and course description required) |
ASCM or other medical journal |
1.0 per article |
Certificate of Completion & a write-up that includes and explains all the major points of the journal then explains how you can use these points to further your coaching. The write-up must be a minimum of a full page, 12 point font, single spaced, and Times New Roman font. One write-up per journal. |
Gatorade Sports Science Institute Courses |
1.0 | Certificate of Completion |
First Aid |
1.0 |
Certificate of Completion |
Wilderness First Aid | 1.0 | Certificate of Completion |
3D Coaching Essentials Course
*Please email melissa.otterbein@usatriathlon.org for 10% discount code |
1.0 | Certificate of Completion |
3D Coaching Course for Certification
*Please email melissa.otterbein@usatriathlon.org for 10% discount code |
1.0 | Certificate of Completion |