One of the biggest questions professionals ask when starting a course business is:
“Should I offer official continuing education (CE) credits with my course?”
It’s a fair question. Many professionals need CE credits for licensing and career advancement, and offering accredited courses can be a huge selling point. But before you rush into the accreditation process, you need to understand both the pros and cons.
Because while CE accreditation can increase profitability, it also comes with headaches—extra regulations, compliance burdens, and decreased business autonomy.
So, should YOU go down this path? Let’s break it down.
The Pros of Offering CE Credits in Your Course Business
1. Increases Perceived Value and Sales Potential
One of the biggest advantages of CE accreditation is that it instantly makes your course more appealing to professionals who are required to complete continuing education.
- Many professionals NEED CE to maintain their licenses.
- Employers often reimburse for CE courses.
- CE courses justify a higher price tag.
For example, a non-CE course on advanced legal writing for attorneys might sell for $497. But that same course with official CLE (Continuing Legal Education) credits? Easily $997-$2,000+.
Higher perceived value = higher pricing power.
2. Expands Your Potential Market
Some professionals ONLY buy courses that provide CE credits because their employer covers the cost.
This means:
✔ You tap into employer-funded budgets instead of just individual buyers.
✔ You become a go-to education provider for professionals needing CE every year.
✔ Your courses can qualify for government or corporate training programs.
3. Helps Build Authority in Your Industry
Accredited courses carry credibility. Being a CE provider tells your audience:
“I’m a recognized expert in my field.”
This can increase trust and help establish your course business as a leading provider within your profession.
4. Creates Recurring Revenue Opportunities
Many professionals need CE every year to maintain their license. This means:
- If your course offers CE, you can sell it to the same customers year after year.
- A CE-accredited membership site can generate predictable, recurring income.
Think about it: Would you rather sell one course to a student once, or have them come back every single year because they need updated CE credits?
The Cons of Offering CE Credits in Your Course Business
Now, while offering CE sounds great on paper, it’s NOT always worth it.
Here’s why:
1. Accreditation is a Time-Consuming, Bureaucratic Process
Getting official CE approval isn’t as simple as checking a box.
- You’ll need to go through multiple layers of bureaucracy.
- Every profession has different accrediting bodies with different rules.
- Some fields require months of paperwork, approvals, and fees before you’re officially accredited.
For example:
– Lawyers (CLE) – Accreditation varies by state and requires separate approval for different jurisdictions.
– Healthcare Professionals (CME, CEU, etc.) – Often require strict curriculum oversight and annual renewals.
– Financial & Business Professions – Organizations like CFP, CPA, and CFA have complex compliance standards.
If you’re looking to launch your course quickly, going through CE accreditation can slow you down significantly.
2. More Rules = Less Business Freedom
One of the best parts of owning a course business is the autonomy.
YOU decide:
✔ What you teach.
✔ How you structure your content.
✔ How you market and price your courses.
But the second you become CE-accredited, you start playing by THEIR rules, not yours.
- Some accrediting bodies dictate what you can and can’t teach.
- Many require specific learning objectives, formats, and testing.
- Some even control your pricing and refund policies.
Translation? You lose creative and operational control over your business.
3. CE Accreditation Adds Extra Costs & Admin Work
Accreditation isn’t free.
– Application Fees – Some organizations charge $1,000+ just to apply.
– Renewal Fees – Many require annual renewal costs just to stay accredited.
– Compliance Reporting – You’ll need to submit detailed course materials, attendance records, and ongoing reports.
Now, if your business is already generating solid revenue, these costs might be worth it. But for someone just starting out, they can be a burden.
4. CE Accreditation Isn’t Always Necessary to Sell Courses
Here’s the truth that most people don’t realize:
You don’t need CE accreditation to sell a highly profitable course.
The reality is, if your course provides REAL, valuable knowledge, professionals will buy it with or without CE credits.
People don’t pay for CE—they pay for RESULTS.
I built an 8-figure online course business targeting professionals without initially offering CE credits. Why? Because my courses actually solved a problem.
Proof That CE Accreditation is NOT Required to Make Millions
- Thousands of professionals buy courses every year that have NO CE credits.
- If you solve a major problem in your industry, your course will sell—accredited or not.
- Many professionals see education as an investment in their career, NOT just a licensing requirement.
Yes, CE can boost your profitability, but it’s NOT a make-or-break factor.
So… Should You Offer CE Credits?
Here’s the bottom line:
✔ If CE accreditation fits naturally into your industry and won’t slow you down, go for it.
✔ If you’re in a field where CE accreditation can 2-4X your sales, it’s worth considering.
✔ If your course already sells well without CE, adding accreditation can be an easy upsell.
BUT…
- If accreditation is a bureaucratic nightmare, it may not be worth the time and effort.
- If it restricts your business autonomy, it might be a dealbreaker.
- If it delays your launch significantly, you might be better off skipping it.
At the end of the day, a successful course business is built on VALUE, not accreditation.
If your course truly delivers results, professionals will buy it—whether or not it comes with an official CE stamp.
The ProCourseStart Blueprint is here to help professionals build highly profitable course businesses that generate real income with or without CE accreditation. We cover both aspects in the blueprint. But at the end of the day, it truly is up to you if you want to offer CE or not. It is not entirely necessary!
So ask yourself:
Are you creating a course just for the sake of CE approval?
Or are you building something that actually transforms your profession by delivering true value that produces results?
Because if you’re delivering true value, CE credits are just a bonus—not a necessity.