Initial applicants seeking to achieve Provisional Accreditation, a two-year term, must comply with all Core Accreditation Criteria.
Providers seeking Accreditation, a four year-year term, must comply with all the Core Accreditation Criteria. Accredited providers also have the option to seek Accreditation with Commendation, a six-year term. See the explanation below.
All providers must comply with the applicable Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education and applicable policies.
Core Accreditation Criteria
CME Mission and Program Improvement
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Mission
The provider has a CME mission statement that includes expected results articulated in terms of changes in competence, performance, or patient outcomes that will be the result of the program. (formerly Criterion 1)
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Program Analysis
The provider gathers data or information and conducts a program-based analysis on the degree to which the CME mission of the provider has been met through the conduct of CME activities/educational interventions. (formerly Criterion 12)
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Program Improvements
The provider identifies, plans and implements the needed or desired changes in the overall program (eg, planners, teachers, infrastructure, methods, resources, facilities, interventions) that are required to improve on ability to meet the CME mission. (formerly Criterion 13)
Educational Planning and Evaluation
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Educational Needs
The provider incorporates into CME activities the educational needs (knowledge, competence, or performance) that underlie the professional practice gaps of their own learners. (formerly Criterion 2)
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Designed to Change
The provider generates activities/educational interventions that are designed to change competence, performance, or patient outcomes as described in its mission statement. (formerly Criterion 3)
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Appropriate Formats
The provider chooses educational formats for activities/interventions that are appropriate for the setting, objectives, and desired results of the activity. (formerly Criterion 5)
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Competencies
The provider develops activities/educational interventions in the context of desirable physician attributes (competencies). (formerly Criterion 6)
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Analyzes Change
The provider analyzes changes in learners (competence, performance, or patient outcomes) achieved as a result of the overall program's activities/educational interventions. (formerly Criterion 11)
Menu of Criteria for Accreditation with Commendation (optional)
To be eligible for Accreditation with Commendation, CME providers must demonstrate compliance with all of the Core Accreditation Criteria, in addition to eight criteria from the commendation menu. 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.
All providers must demonstrate compliance with the applicable Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education and applicable policies.
Promotes Team-based Education
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Engages Teams
Members of interprofessional teams are engaged in the planning and delivery of interprofessional continuing education (IPCE). (formerly Criterion 23)
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Engages Patients/Public
Patient/public representatives are engaged in the planning and delivery of CME. (formerly Criterion 24)
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Engages Students
Students of the health professions are engaged in the planning and delivery of CME. (formerly Criterion 25)
Addresses Public Health Priorities
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Advances Data Use
The provider advances the use of health and practice data for healthcare improvement. (formerly Criterion 26)
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Addresses Population Health
The provider addresses factors beyond clinical care that affect the health of populations. (formerly Criterion 27)
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Collaborates Effectively
The provider collaborates with other organizations to more effectively address population health issues. (formerly Criterion 28)
Enhances Skills
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Optimizes Communication Skills
The provider designs CME to optimize communication skills of learners. (formerly Criterion 29)
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Optimizes Technical/Procedural Skills
The provider designs CME to optimize technical and procedural skills of learners. (formerly Criterion 30)
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Creates Individualized Learning Plans
The provider creates individualized learning plans for learners. (formerly Criterion 31)
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Utilizes Support Strategies
The provider utilizes support strategies to enhance change as an adjunct to its CME. (formerly Criterion 32)
Demonstrates Educational Leadership
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Engages in Research/Scholarship
The provider engages in CME research and scholarship. (formerly Criterion 33)
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Supports CPD for CME Team
The provider supports the continuous professional development of its CME team. (formerly Criterion 34)
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Demonstrates Creativity/Innovation
The provider demonstrates creativity and innovation in the evolution of its CME program. (formerly Criterion 35)
Achieves Outcomes
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Improves Performance
The provider demonstrates improvement in the performance of learners. (formerly Criterion 36)
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Improves Healthcare Quality
The provider demonstrates healthcare quality improvement. (formerly Criterion 37)
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Improves Patient/Community Health
The provider demonstrates the impact of the CME program on patients or their communities. (formerly Criterion 38)