Does HIPAA Address Continuing Education (CE, CME) or Continuing Education Accreditation Requirements?

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this article, other knowledge base articles, and the Compliancy Group website do not, and are not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information, content, and materials in the Knowledge Base and on the Compliancy Group website are for general informational purposes only.

No. Continuing education requirements are set forth in state law, not by HIPAA.

What are Continuing Education Credits?
Many states require that, as a condition of renewal of a professional license, individuals meet continuing education (CE) requirements. These requirements are sometimes referred to as continuing medical education (CME) requirements ("CME" requirements are generally requirements for physicians; non-physicians generally have "CE" requirements. Sometimes the phrase "CEU," which stands for "Continuing Education Unit," is used to describe the concept of a continuing education credit). States that have these requirements typically require that healthcare professionals earn a certain number of continuing education credits within a given time frame (e.g., once a year, twice a year).

How can a healthcare professional earn these credits? Typically, credits are earned by completing a continuing education course (there are a number of other ways to obtain credits - for example, manuscript review, review of medical literature, and publication of articles or books). Many courses can be accessed and completed online. Courses cover an array of topics. State credit and course requirements often differ by profession. For example, a state may require that nursing professionals take courses that specifically pertain to the nursing profession. The same state may require that physicians take courses that specifically pertain to the MD and DO professions. (Note also that some states may require certain clinicians, such as nurses, to obtain credits, while not requiring other clinicians, such as physicians, to obtain credits).

State requirements are typically set forth in state regulations and statutes governing the practice of medicine and healthcare. The state agencies that set the credit requirements can go by several names; common names are "State X Department of Health," "Department of the Professions," or "Board of Medicine."

States have different mechanisms for verifying provider credit completion. Some states require healthcare professionals to sign a yearly certification, attesting that credits have been completed within a given time frame. Some require that this certification be accompanied by a "proof of training" provided by the training provider. Other states use an auditing system; these states do not require mandatory annual or biennial or triennial certification submission, but rather require healthcare professionals to maintain proof of credit completion. The states reserve the right to audit records of credit completion at any time.

What are Continuing Education Providers?
Continuing education providers, or CE providers, are the organizations that provide the courses. Just as colleges and universities offer courses for credit, so do CE providers offer courses containing credits. There are thousands of continuing education providers in the United States. 4MedTraining, NetCE, and myCME are just three examples of such organizations.

What is Course Accreditation and Who Accredits Courses?
Accrediting bodies are the entities that approve credit provider organizations when an accrediting body "accredits" a credit provider, the accrediting body is in effect granting that provider the authority to provide CME for credit within a given state. Accrediting bodies sometimes work in conjunction with state medical societies to accredit an organization to provide credits.

Well-known accrediting bodies in the United States include the Accreditation Council for Continuing Education (ACCME), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Joint Commission (formerly JCHAO).  If a credit provider receives accreditation from ACCME, the provider is said to be "ACCME-accreditated." An organization known as the Global Education Group received accreditation from ACCME in 2020; Global Education Group is therefore ACCME-accredited.  If a credit provider receives accreditation from the ANCC, the provider is said to be ANCC-accredited.

What Role Do States Play?
State Boards of Medicine, Departments of Health, and Departments of Professions, accept courses from providers that are accredited by specific accrediting bodies. For example, the Iowa State Board of Medine accepts courses from providers who are ACCME-accredited and who award a specific type of credit known as an AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Are 4MedPlus Courses Accredited?
According to 4Med's website, 4Med courses are nationally accredited for clinical professionals including Nurses, Physicians/PA's and Managers. Courses are accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) in partnership with Global Education. In addition, all titles are approved for renewal credit toward CHIME professional management credentials. Select courses are cross-approved by AGD (for dental professionals), AHIMA (for coders/billers), APA (for mental health professionals, and RACE (for veterinary professionals). Detailed CE/CME information is available in the detailed course descriptions in the 4MedTraining Catalog.

Please note that this article contains links to websites that may contain accurate or up-to-date information. Healthcare professionals seeking to determine how to meet credit requirements should verify requirements with their state licensing body.