Continuing Education Activities and Requirements by Type

Pre-Approved Continuing Education

60 minutes (without breaks) = 1CE hour.
Must be related to BCPA as outlined in the CE Handbook.
May not be repeated for credit.
Documentation of course content, including sponsoring organizations, learning objectives, hours of activity, date, instructor and instructor bio.
Relationship to relevant Competency and Best Practices and/or Ethical Standards for Board Certified Patient Advocates.

Post Approved CE

The following items must be submitted for all post-approval CE submissions regardless of the session type. Any program type can be submitted for post-approval review including webinars, online courses, workshops, seminars, and multi-day conferences.

The title of the course.
The date and the location where the course was offered.
The number of credit hours requested.
The name and curriculum vita or the qualifications of the instructor of the course or the course syllabus.
A description of the activity you completed and to which of the Competencies and Best Practices for the BCPA or the Ethical Standards for a BCPA it best relates.
The learning objectives or outcomes from the activity.
The assessment materials used for the course (post-test, quizzes, course evaluation, etc.).

Academic Coursework

1 semester credit = 5 contact hours.
1 quarter credit = 4 contact hours.
Offered through an accredited college or university.
Content must be related to BCPA as outlined in the CE Manual.
Repeat courses are not accepted for certification.
Supporting documents such as a transcript(s) showing the institution, course, number of credits, course syllabus.
Evidence that clearly shows content is relevant to PACB Domains and Ethics.

Publications

One (1) peer-reviewed publication = 1–2 hours of continuing education activity hours.
Five (5) different articles related to patient advocacy in a non-peer-reviewed journal and/or newsletter.
Primary author.
One peer-reviewed article or book chapter related to patient advocacy.
4,000 to 10,000 words = 1 CE.
10,000 words or more = 2 CEs.
Supporting documents, such as a cover page that includes the author’s name, abstract or copy of the article or chapter, information showing peer review, publication, date of publication.

Presentations

One (1) presentation = 1 contact hour of continuing education.
Must be the primary presenter.
Content must be directly related to patient advocacy.
Delivered in a structured teaching/learning environment (conference, webinar, seminar) where CE credits are awarded to attendees or at an academic conference.
At least 45 minutes in length.
Repeated or modified previous presentations cannot be counted.
Poster presentations are excluded.
Supporting documents including abstract, objectives, course contents, evidence of presentation of the material.

Webinars, Video or Audio Presentations

One (1) presentation = 1 contact hour of continuing education.
Must be the primary presenter.
Content must be directly related to patient advocacy.
Delivered in a structured teaching/learning environment (conference, webinar, seminar) where CE credits are awarded to attendees or at an academic conference.
At least 45 minutes in length.
Repeated or modified previous presentations cannot be counted.
Poster presentations are excluded.
Supporting documents including abstract, objectives, course contents, evidence of presentation of the material.
Recordings of the event or links to the recorded event may also be used as supporting materials.

Independent Study

Must be approved by PACB as acceptable Independent Study.
One independent study option will count as 1 CE hour.
Must be one of the PACB Approved Independent Study options.
Independent Study options will be posted on the PACB website on the website if and as they become available.
Instructions and materials are specific to each Independent Study opportunity.