Pro tips for the novice provider

There is a lot here, and this process may sound like a lot of work, but take your time and make it happen. There is a lot that you can do to make it go smoothly and the results are worth the effort.

• Before you begin, thoroughly read the organization requirements and determine if you meet the criteria to become a CE Provider. If you are seeking accreditation, consider the costs involved and whether you will be able to generate enough income to cover them. . If your state does not require continuing education, it may make better financial sense to not seek approval and instead contact an existing CE provider to co-sponsor your activity. Another option is to request approval for a single activity through your state nurses association or regional CE provider.
• Allow for sufficient time to have all the materials reviewed and approved.
• If you do not have the required credentials, you will need to find or partner with someone who has an advanced degree to and the credentials to develop CE curriculum.
• Do not send poorly written or unreadable copies of your supporting materials to the boards, because they will likely turn them down. Also, good, clear writing is vital. Precisely describe how and what you are going to teach, and make the content as concise as possible.
• Undertake one board’s approval paperwork at a time. Completing the first application will make all proceeding applications easier because you will have already developed most of the needed material.
• Keep paper copies of all the material you send to the boards.
• If something seems unclear ask questions. It is better to ask then to send them the wrong documentation and prolong the approval process or be denied all together.
• Keep records for at least 4–6 years, depending upon the regulating agency. This is a safety net, but one that will be incredibly important should something go wrong or an audit be needed.
• Be aware all ethical standards that apply to your curriculum and the provision of it. Many continuing education approval commissions will require that the CE provider regulate conflict-of-interest issues that can occur, and that they have steps in place to solve them, if necessary.
• Never state, suggest, or imply that you are an accredited or approved provider if you are not. This is both unethical and a criminal offense.

Additional Resources

• CE Broker is the official continuing education tracking system for the Florida Department of Health, the Ohio Board of Speech, and multiple other regulating agencies in the United States.
• The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is recognized as the national authority for nursing accreditation.
• The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) sets and enforces standards in physician continuing education.