Certain types of evaluation tools used in continuing education offerings limit the evaluation process and hence the value of the offering. Asking a yes/no question as an exclusive evaluation method for learners' achievement of objectives is inappropriate for certain types of offerings. Provision should be made for assessment of continuing education in nursing through a variety of methods. The evaluation tools selected should reflect the purposes of the offering. One factor to be considered is whether a certain performance standard is expected at the conclusion of the course. The continuing education instructor must develop some criteria against which learners' performance can be measured. A paper-and-pencil test would be appropriate to evaluate cognitive knowledge; a return demonstration on a mannequin and supervised practice would be appropriate to evaluate psychomotor skills for an intravenous therapy course. Courses that would benefit from indepth evaluation are those that provide preparation for beginning practice in a specialty area or the performance of a specialized skill. Indepth evaluation would ensure that all persons receiving a certificate have achieved a minimum set of criteria and enable participants to identify areas of strength and areas requiring further study. The evaluation tool must be tailored to the type of program. Evaluations tailored to the specific objectives of the offering are valuable in assessing its overall effectiveness. (YLB)