Accredited CME providers have the option to aim to achieve Accreditation with Commendation, a six-year term. To be eligible for Accreditation with Commendation, CME providers must demonstrate compliance with core accreditation criteria, in addition to the Menu of Commendation Criteria, shown below. Choosing from the menu, providers need to demonstrate compliance with any seven criteria of their choice, from any category, plus one criterion from the Achieves Outcomes category, for a total of eight criteria.
Menu of Criteria for Accreditation with Commendation
Our goal is to encourage and reward accredited CME providers for implementing best practices in pedagogy, engagement, evaluation, and change management, and for focusing on generating meaningful outcomes.
We want to recognize the achievements of organizations that advance interprofessional collaborative practice, address public health priorities, create behavioral change, show leadership, leverage educational technology, and demonstrate the impact of education on healthcare professionals and patients.
The Menu of Criteria for Accreditation with Commendation (PDF) can be used by any ACCME-accredited and state-accredited providers that are eligible to apply for Accreditation with Commendation. Please note that initial applicants are not eligible for Accreditation with Commendation.
Compliance with the menu of commendation criteria is optional for CME providers and is not required to achieve Accreditation. Providers will continue to achieve and retain Accreditation by demonstrating compliance with the Core Accreditation Criteria.
State-Accredited Providers should check with their Recognized Accreditor about the timeline for receiving accreditation materials about demonstrating compliance with the commendation criteria.
We adopted the menu approach to create flexibility, reflect the diversity of the CME community, and offer a pathway for all CME provider types to achieve Accreditation with Commendation.
To be eligible for Accreditation with Commendation using this menu (PDF), CME providers will need to demonstrate compliance with any seven criteria of their choice, from any category—plus one criterion from the Achieves Outcomes category—for a total of eight criteria.
There are 16 commendation criteria, divided into 5 categories:
- Promotes Team-based Education
- Addresses Public Health Priorities
- Enhances Skills
- Demonstrates Educational Leadership
- Achieves Outcomes