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.