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.