• Introduction

  • CE Apps and Platforms

  • CE Newsroom

  • Standards/Policies and Procedures

  • ACPE Accredited Providers

  • Joint Providership

  • Tools and Resources

  • Education for Administrators

  • Information for Learners

  • Application Process

  • Introduction

ACPE's Continuing Education Provider Accreditation Program is designed to assure pharmacists, boards of pharmacy, and other members of pharmacy's community of interests, of the quality of continuing pharmacy education programs.

The purposes of the ACPE Continuing Education Provider Accreditation Program are to:

  • Assure and advance the quality of continuing pharmacy education, thereby assisting in the advancement of the practice of pharmacy
  • Provide pharmacists with a dependable basis for selecting accredited continuing education experiences
  • Provide a basis for uniform acceptance of continuing education credits among the states
  • Provide feedback to providers about their continuing education programs through periodic comprehensive reviews and ongoing monitoring activities with a need toward continuous improvement and strengthening

  • CE Apps and Platforms

  • CE Newsroom

ACPE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The ACPE Board of Directors adopted a document developed by the ACPE Continuing Pharmacy Education Commission entitled, "ACPE Guidance to ACPE-accredited CE Providers to Incorporate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in CE Activities". For more information, please click here.

Pharmacists Authorized to Order and Administer COVID-19 Therapeutics under PREP Act Declaration

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an amendment to the COVID-19 Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act declaration to allow licensed pharmacists to order and administer select COVID-19 therapeutics. Specifically, the amendment includes coverage of licensed pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy interns when administering COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapeutics orally, through intramuscular injection, or through subcutaneous injection.

In the case of COVID-19 therapeutics administered through intramuscular or subcutaneous injections, the licensed pharmacist, licensed or registered pharmacy intern and qualified pharmacy technician must complete a practical training program that is approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). This training program must include hands-on injection technique, clinical evaluation of indications and contraindications of COVID-19 therapeutics, the recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to COVID-19 therapeutics, and any additional training required in the FDA approval, authorization, or licensing. Available training programs may be found here.

Application of ACPE CPE Standards for Continuing Pharmacy Education, Policies, and Procedures based on HHS Guidance under PREP Act for Administration of COVID-19 and Childhood Vaccines

HHS has referenced ACPE in its COVID-19 vaccine guidance and ACPE Accredited Providers of Continuing Pharmacy Education and other stakeholders are encouraged to click here to access the November 2020 CPE e-Update for additional details.

In order to be recognized as a qualified pharmacist, pharmacy technician or state-qualified pharmacy intern for purposes of COVID-19 vaccines, HHS references completion of practical training programs approved by ACPE.  ACPE accredits providers of continuing education whose programs are, in turn, deemed to comply with continuing education criteria as part of state-based licensure renewal.  Accredited ACPE Providers of Continuing Education must understand and comply with the practical training program requirements of the HHS guidance in order for technicians and interns to be recognized as having met the qualifications for administering COVID-19 vaccines under the PREP Act.

Initial Qualifications for Pharmacist:

  • HHS Guidance: "The licensed pharmacist must complete an ACPE-accredited practical training program of at least 20 hours. This training program must include hands-on injection technique, clinical evaluation of indications and contraindications of vaccines, and the recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to vaccines."
    • ACPE application of HHS Guidance: Click here for a list of ACPE-accredited CE activities (this list will be continuously refreshed to reflect the most recent CE activities).
  • HHS Guidance: "The licensed pharmacist must have a current certificate in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)."
    • ACPE application of HHS Guidance: Click here for a list of ACPE-accredited CPR CE Activities (this list will be continuously refreshed to reflect the most recent CPR activities) .


Initial Qualifications for Pharmacy Technician or State-authorized Pharmacy Intern:

  • HHS Guidance: "The qualified pharmacy technician or State-authorized pharmacy intern must complete a practical training program that is approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). This training program must include hands-on injection technique and the recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to vaccines."
    • ACPE application of HHS Guidance: Click here for a list of ACPE-accredited CE activities (this list will be continuously refreshed to reflect the most recent CE activities).
  • HHS Guidance: "The qualified pharmacy technician or State-authorized pharmacy intern must have a current certificate in basic CPR."
    • ACPE application of HHS Guidance: Click here for a list of ACPE-accredited CPR CE activities (this list will be continuously refreshed to reflect the most recent CPR activities).

Maintain Qualifications to be Qualified Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician:

  • HHS Guidance: "The licensed pharmacist and pharmacy technician must complete a minimum of two hours of ACPE-accredited, immunization-related continuing pharmacy education during each state licensing period."
    • ACPE Application of HHS Guidance: This requirement may be met by taking one 2-hour CE activity or it may be addressed by taking CE activities of various time increments totaling 2 hours. The pharmacy technician must take a minimum of 2 hours of CE credit. For a list of ACPE-accredited, immunization-related CE activities, please click below (this list will be continuously refreshed to reflect the most recent CE activities)
      • For pharmacist CE activities: click here.
      • For pharmacy technician CE activities: click here.

ACPE Accredited Providers of Continuing Education are encouraged to review and, where necessary, seek legal advice as to compliance with and representation to attendees of meeting the HHS guidance. Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, and Pharmacy Interns are encouraged to review and, where necessary, seek regulatory advice as to compliance with the HHS guidance.

Please link to the HHS guidance document for additional details.

https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/prep-act-guidance.pdf

https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/licensed-pharmacists-and-pharmacy-interns-regarding-covid-19-vaccines-immunity.pdf

  • Standards/Policies and Procedures

  • ACPE Accredited Providers

ACPE is the sole accreditation agency to accredit providers of continuing pharmacy education. ACPE's directory is theonly recognized directory of accredited providers of continuing pharmacy education.Many providers are involved in activities and functions other than the provision of continuing education. However, any activity for which the provider is offering continuing pharmacy credit has been developed and presented in compliance with the Standards for Continuing Pharmacy Education.

These providers are continually monitored for maintenance of quality and efforts toward improvement. Participants in activities sponsored by these providers are encouraged to offer their comments and suggestions regarding activities to the provider and/or ACPE. The directory includes contact information and accreditation status and history for all ACPE-accredited providers. An (I) following a provider's name indicates that the Provider is on Inactive Status. An asterisk (*) following a provider's name indicates that the Provider is on probation as an accredited provider by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Providers that have decided to discontinue or that their accreditation status has been withdrawn in the past three years may be foundhere. ACPE hereby authorizes reproduction of the following listing.

  • Joint Providership

The organization may enter into Joint Providership with an ACPE-accredited provider to offer a CPE activity. Facts regarding Joint Providership can be found here. The organization may contact an ACPE-accredited provider, express its desire to conduct a CPE activity and offer ACPE credit. If the ACPE-accredited provider agrees, the organization must comply with the ACPE-accredited provider's procedures for Joint Providership.

Accredited Providers By Name Offering Joint Providership
Alaska Pharmacists Association View
American College of Apothecaries, Inc. View
Belmont University College of Pharmacy View
CEimpact View
Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association View
Pediatric Pharmacy Association View
Pro CE, LLC View
South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health View
University of New England School of Pharmacy View
University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy View
University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy View

  • Tools and Resources

Accreditation Review Tools

There are a number of forms that can support providers with their accreditation processes.

  • CPE Evaluation Forms – Standards
    • Rubric v6.0 (effective 1/01/ 2022) pdf orWord version

  • Preparing Reports
    • Overview of PDF Bookmarkspdf
    • Tips for Monitoring Reports (First Review, Second Review, Interim, Progress)pdf

    Spring 2021 Accreditation Cycle Observations
    Description: ACPE staff hosted a webinar for the Spring 2021 review cycle providers. This webinar covered statistics and information on common standards that were frequently marked as 'Needs Improvement'.

    Examples and Templates for Standards and Policies

  • Standard 5 – Standards for Integrity and Independence (Effective January 1, 2022 )
    • Standards for Integrity and Independence Rubric
    • Transition Checklist
    • Content Validity Toolkit
    • Identification, Mitigation, Disclosure Toolkit
    • Standards for Integrity and Independence Webinars
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Eligibility
      • Content Validity
      • Prevent Commercial Bias and Marketing
      • Identify, Mitigate and Disclose Financial Relationships
      • Manage Commercial Support
      • Manage Ancillary Activities with Accredited CE
  • Examples and Templates – Policies & Procedures
    • Policy 1.0 – CPE Administrator
      • CPD Workbook for CPE Administrators
      • Competency Areas for CPE Professionals
    • Policy 3.0 – Joint Providership
      • Sample Joint Providership Agreement
    • Policy 4.0 – Monitoring
      • Activity Announcements Checklist
    • Policy 6.0 – Record Keeping
      • Record Keeping Checklist
    • Policy 8.0 – Financial Resources
      • Sample Budget Format
    • Policy 13.0 – Regularly Scheduled Series
      • RSS Guidance Document
    • Policy 14.0 – Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS)
      • REMS Policy

  • Education for Administrators

  • Information for Learners

  • Application Process

Process for ACPE Accreditation

Accreditation is the public recognition afforded a provider of continuing pharmacy education that is judged to meet standards through initial and subsequent periodic evaluations. The ACPE accreditation process for providers of continuing pharmacy education is designed to assure pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, boards of pharmacy, and others of the quality of continuing pharmacy education activities.

There are four ways that ACPE continuing education credit may be offered by an organization:

  1. The organization may apply to become an ACPE-accredited provider. If accredited, the provider would follow ACPE's policies and procedures for an ACPE-accredited provider. The application fee is $6,750.00. Click to obtain a copy of the Initial Application in a .pdf file or in a Word file.
  2. The organization may enter into Joint Providership with an ACPE-accredited provider to offer a CPE activity. Facts regarding Joint Providership can be found here. The organization may contact an ACPE-accredited provider, express its desire to conduct a CPE activity and offer ACPE credit. If the ACPE-accredited provider agrees, the organization must comply with the ACPE-accredited provider's procedures for Joint Providership.  The current list of ACPE-accredited providers offering Joint Providership can be found here.
  3. If the organization seeks accreditation as a provider of continuing education for the healthcare team, it may seekJoint Accreditation.
  4. State Boards of Pharmacy only: State Boards of Pharmacy design continuing education (CE) activities related to their rules and regulations. For a State Board of Pharmacy that designs, plans, and delivers CE activities, ACPE offers a process where ACPE credit may be awarded for these activities and transmitted into CPE Monitor®.  The State Board of Pharmacy must be administratively and operationally responsible for coordinating all aspects of the CE activities.

•CE Activity Application for Boards of Pharmacy
•Instructions for CE Activity Application