Data and methods. This descriptive qualitative study was conducted across four Finnish higher education institutions. The data were collected through semi-structured thematic group interviews with 19 social and health care educators. The material was analyzed using inductive content analysis.

Results. The educators emphasized how important continuing education was to their professional development. When discussing the need for further education, the participants expressed a desire for continuing education that covers digital pedagogy and skills relevant to the modern working environment, i.e., entrepreneurial and management competence. However, the participants reported that both their employers and the institution responsible for education spent  insufficient resources on continuing education.

Discussion. Continuing education must cover relevant topics to be useful. This research provides new insight into how continuing education builds social and healthcare educators’ competence as well as which topics have not been covered  sufficiently.