IN THIS 1965 STUDY OF CONTINUING EDUCATION PARTICIPATION, 5,000 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS WERE CONTACTED. SLIGHTLY OVER HALF COMPLETED THE QUESTIONNAIRE. THE TYPICAL RESPONDENT HAD A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND AT LEAST 15 YEARS OF ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE, WORKED IN AN INDUSTRIAL FIRM EMPLOYING 1 TO 20 ENGINEERS, AND CONCENTRATED ON DESIGN OR EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT. OVER 55 PERCENT HAD SUCCESSFULLY PURSUED CONTINUING EDUCATION BETWEEN 1960 AND 1965 AND HAD BORNE THE MAJOR EXPENSE THEMSELVES. THE AVERAGE RESPONDENT HAD EARNED 21 CREDITS TOWARD AN ADVANCED DEGREE. AS FOR ATTENDANCE, PROGRAMS LASTING 12 WEEKS OR LONGER RANKED HIGHEST WHEN OFFERED BY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, WHILE PROGRAMS LASTING 1-3 WEEKS RANKED HIGHEST WHEN OFFERED BY COMPANIES OR PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES. TECHNICAL PROGRAMS RANKED HIGHEST REGARDLESS OF SPONSOR, BUT MANAGERIAL PROGRAMS WERE ALSO WELL RECEIVED. THE MAIN REASONS FOR ATTENDANCE WERE TO BROADEN TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND, INCREASE SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE, AND IMPROVE PROSPECTS FOR A RAISE OR PROMOTION. MAJOR REASONS FOR NONPARTICIPATION WERE THAT COURSES OR SUBJECT MATTER HELD NO INTEREST, AN ADVANCED DEGREE WAS NOT NEEDED, COURSES WERE NOT SEEN AS POTENTIALLY USEFUL IN ADVANCEMENT, AND ATTENDANCE WOULD HAVE PROVED INCONVENIENT. COMPANY SIZE HAD LITTLE BEARING ON ATTENDANCE. FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT EMPLOYERS MUST PROVIDE MORE TIME, TOGETHER WITH OTHER ASSISTANCE AND INCENTIVES. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE AS NSPE PUBLICATION NUMBER 1431 FROM THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS IN INDUSTRY, NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 2029 K STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006, 48 PAGES, $3.00 FOR MEMBERS AND $6.00 FOR NONMEMBERS. (LY)