The terms Continuing Education (CE) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) are used in various geographic regions but typically refer to similar concepts with some regional usage preferences.

Continuing Education (CE):

North America: In the United States and Canada, the term Continuing Education (CE) is widely used across various professional fields including healthcare, law, and education. Healthcare professionals, such as nurses and those involved in sterile processing, are required to complete CE courses to maintain their licenses and certifications.

Latin America: Similar usage can be found in some Latin American countries, although the terminology might vary slightly.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD):

United Kingdom and Ireland: CPD is a commonly used term in the UK and Ireland. It is recognized across many sectors, including healthcare, engineering, education, and more, where professionals are expected to continue learning and developing their skills throughout their careers.

Australia and New Zealand: Like in the UK, CPD is also a prevalent concept in Australia and New Zealand, where various professions are mandated to engage in ongoing professional development to ensure their skills remain current and effective.

South Africa: CPD is used in the South African context as well, especially in professions like healthcare and engineering.

Asia: Some countries in Asia, particularly those with strong ties to British professional standards, use CPD. It is recognized in places like Hong Kong and Singapore. Although Philippines does not have strong ties to British professional standards, CPD is mandatory for the renewal of professional licenses in the Philippines for various professions, as mandated by the Republic Act No. 10912 or the "Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act of 2016.