Continuing education is an important part of the medical industry. Not only is continuing education a requirement for many medical professionals, but science and research are also constantly changing, making it crucial to keep up with the latest data to best help your patients.
Whether you’re a doctor, medical student, or aspiring medic, choosing the right continuing education and accreditation programs allows you to maintain your license and provide your patients with the best care possible. Here are nine of the top continuing education and accreditation programs for healthcare professionals to consider:
1. American Medical Resource Institute (AMRI)
AMRI is one of the top continuing education program choices for entry-level healthcare professionals. In addition, AMRI offers a Basic Life Saving (BLS) certification that shows employers your ability to respond to emergencies. The nationally accredited BLS certification course educates you on properly administering CPR, CAB, and AED.
2. Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) is a top-rated accreditation program for medical professionals. The CME Accreditation program within ACCME covers various training in different medical industries, including research, leadership, clinical care, and healthcare administration.
The CME accreditation can take many months or years to complete but is often worth the time put into the program. The American Medical Association (AMA) is accredited by the CME, making it a good accreditation to hold as a medical professional. The ACCME covers many healthcare topics but is primarily designed for physicians.
3. American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) offers accreditation and recertification for healthcare professionals. ACHE is a professional society made up of healthcare professionals all over the country who are committed to improving the overall quality of healthcare. Joining the association requires that you’re an existing healthcare worker.
Once you’re a member, you can access educational seminars, conferences, virtual training, healthcare simulations, and numerous virtual leadership symposium opportunities. The live virtual classes with ACHE are perfect for busy healthcare professionals who still prefer one-on-one learning.
4. Commission on Accreditation of Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE)
The CAPCE accreditation is designed for EMS responders and paramedics seeking continuing education. This accredited program offers credits in the form of live online lectures that cover critical and prehospital care. CAPCE also offers a 24 or 48-hour refresher program for those looking for a fast yet thorough education.
Many of the virtual classes qualify for accreditation and competency requirements for employment as an EMS. CAPCE also has comprehensive training on HIPAA requirements for first responders, which is a great way to keep up with changing regulations.
5. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
The AHRQ offers free continuing education to those working in the healthcare industry. The agency focuses on patient care and quality and prevention and care management. Education through AHRQ includes topics like informed consent, patient safety, patient self-management, and health assessment.
Recertification programs are available through AHRQ for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinicians. Much of the training for AHRQ is done online in a virtual setting. Many courses are prerecorded training, which means you can take them on your own time. The AHRQ also offers a lot of resources for medical professionals that they can use to improve their patient care.
6. American Public Health Association (APHA)
APHA is a great option for those interested in or working in public health. They offer a variety of webinars and other online training to earn continuing education credits. In addition, if you prefer learning on your own time, APHA offers continuing education credits for reading articles in the American Journal of Public Health or APHA Press health books.
Each year, APHA hosts a meeting that offers up to 20.5 CE credits. The meeting covers public health concerns for a wide range of healthcare professionals. APHA offers continuing education credits in medicine, nursing, and health education.
7. Recert for EMS Professionals
Recert is a division of the Public Safety Group regulated by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT). Recert offers continuing education for EMS professionals at an affordable price. You can sign up for different learning levels based on price and the number of credits you need.
The best deal is with the all-inclusive package, which gives you a full year of access to over 200 interactive classes. You can also opt for reporting and tracking tools, which makes the classes eligible for CE credits. Recert also offers EMS, fire, and educator refresher packages, ideal for first responders who may want to brush up on their knowledge after time off.
8. CEU Academy
The CEU Academy is a continuing education program for nursing home administrators, social workers, nurses, case managers, healthcare chaplains, addiction counselors, and human resource professionals. Membership with CEU Academy gives you access to an extensive class library, where you can choose the courses most relevant to your career.
Some classes you can access with CEU Academy include abuse and neglect prevention, cultural competence, ethics, and employee orientation. Most of the classes with CEU Academy are online and learn-as-you-go. This means you can easily fit them into your busy schedule.
Once you successfully complete the course, you’ll receive instant certification. The CEU Academy also makes it easy for busy healthcare professionals to track their continuing education credits.
9. Nurse.com
Nurse.com has been a leading expert in continuing education in the healthcare field for over 30 years. Many of its CE programs are accredited by the top organizations in healthcare, including ANCC, ACCME, and ACPE. You can also use Nurse.com to learn about credit requirements in your state or any state you’re interested in working.
You can also sign up for a certification review with Nurse.com, which includes an in-depth CE curriculum on your own time. Most of the classes are self-paced, which means you can learn on your own time.
The website has a wide range of topics to meet all interests and professional goals. Choose from classes that cover topics like psychosis, stress, healthy weight, and utilization management in the healthcare industry.
Final Thoughts
Continuing education is crucial as a healthcare provider. From BLS certification to healthcare simulations, each of these nine programs offers extensive continuing education options for healthcare professionals to make earning CE credits easy.
