Half of employers provide no reimbursement to employees for the continuing education units required to maintain professional certifications, such as certified public accountant (CPA) or certified management accountant (CMA), according to a survey of chief financial officers by Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

The survey included responses from more than 1,400 CFOs at companies with 20 or more employees.

The survey asked CFOs, "Does your company reimburse its employees for the continuing education units needed to maintain their professional designations, such as CPA or CMA?"

Twenty-nine percent of respondents said their companies offer full reimbursement, and 17 percent said their companies offer partial reimbursement. Half of respondents said their companies provided no reimbursement.

"Companies that support continuing education signal they are committed to the professional development of their staff, which could give these firms an edge in their recruitment and retention efforts," says Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International Inc. "While education benefits rarely are the sole criterion for accepting a position, they can tip the scales in an employer's favor in a competitive hiring environment."