FAQs

The ACCME expects that providers will have policies or procedures in place to accommodate learners with disabilities. The ACCME's policy in this regard states, "The provider must operate the business and management policies and procedures of its CME program (as they relate to human resources, financial affairs and legal obligations), so that its obligations and commitments are met."

The ACCME accreditation process does not attempt, or attest, to measuring or determining compliance with or actual performance in practice of a provider's management policies or procedures. The ACCME suggests that your organization enlist the aid of its corporate counsel in determining policies and procedures for addressing ADA responsibilities to ensure that you meet the spirit and intent of the law.

The ACCME has received a brief explanation from its legal counsel of the ADA requirements as it applies to CME activities, please click here to view it. From the ACCME's discussions with physician learners with disabilities, we have heard that there are some important things you might consider in order to make their participation in your CME activity successful:

1. Set policies and procedures ahead of time so that when faced with a request to accommodate, you are already prepared;
2. Ensure that all staff who will be interacting with learners that may request accommodations are knowledgeable about your policies and procedures and are able to successfully and respectfully manage the request;
3. and Discuss the request for accommodation with the learner so that you understand the disability and can make appropriate accommodations.

Yes. Non-US based organizations are encouraged to apply for accreditation. The ACCME does require that all organizations located or incorporated outside the US or its territories that wish to apply for accreditation participate in one of our Accreditation Workshops. Information about upcoming workshops can be found on the Events page of our Web site.

International organizations will be reviewed for eligibility when they submit their pre-application.  For more information, please see The Pre-Application Process.

ACCME-accredited providers must provide CME that contains content which falls within the definition of CME. The content of such CME must not promote recommendations, treatment or manners of practicing medicine that are known to have risks or dangers that outweigh the benefits, or are known to be ineffective in the treatment of patients. Note that an organization whose program of CME is devoted to advocacy of unscientific modalities of diagnosis or therapy is not eligible to apply for ACCME accreditation.

The following institutions are eligible to seek accreditation directly from the ACCME: 

• State medical societies;
• Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME)-accredited schools of medicine;
• National physician membership organizations;
• National medical specialty societies; and
• other organizations whose programs of CME serve physician learners, 30% or more of whom are from beyond the home or contiguous state(s) of the organization.

Organizations whose programs of CME primarily serve physician learners, 70% or more of whom are from the home or contiguous state(s) of the organization, are eligible to seek accreditation from an ACCME Recognized State Medical Society.  

No. The ACCME accredits organizations that produce CME activities. The accreditation process includes the review of CME activities for the demonstration of compliance with the ACCME's requirements. For more information, see ACCME's description of the accreditation process for first-time applicants.