European CME accreditation for enduring material in CNS
The definition of enduring material is provided here. Applications for accreditation of enduring material (printed, recorded, or computer-presented activity) should be made by the activity provider or by a member of the scientific programme as follows.
The following procedure should be followed by enduring material applicants:
- The relevant EACIC application form should be submitted to the EACIC secretariat for review by the EACIC committee, together with the following information:
- An outline of the content detailing the learning objectives and the main points of each section.
- Questions regarding the doctors’ evaluation of the quality of the material and its influence on their clinical practices.
- A copy of the activity itself, if available (hyperlink to the e-learning, webinars, discussions in the case of an activity presented online, and a copy of the publication in the case of a journal etc.), a copy of the enduring material as finally produced (at this stage or on completion) and/or access to the activity online (when applicable).
- The content of the materials should follow the guidelines for accreditation such as fair balance and no brand names etc.
- The EACIC secretariat will send the applicant an acknowledgement of receipt and, if the programme is eligible for accreditation, will prepare an offer for the CME accreditation of the material.
- The accreditation fee depends on a number of factors such as: the type of the activity, its duration, the scope, the expected number of followers or readers, and the duration of the activity. It also takes into account the time taken for the review process, the liaison with the applicant, and monitoring the activity (this includes providing and analysing the evaluation forms, the feedback report, emailing of certificates, and the permanent availability of the EACIC secretariat etc.).
- When the applicant has agreed to the proposal, the invoice for the accreditation fee is forwarded.
- Information about the activity will then be considered and reviewed by the EACIC committee and external reviewers. At this stage, further clarifications or adjustments may be requested if needed.
- Once all the requirements have been met, the applicant will receive confirmation of the accreditation and the number of CME credits allocated.
- The EACIC Evaluation and Accreditation System are set in motion and the applicant will receive a template evaluation form. This is a CME requirement and is part of the ongoing feedback process to continually review and improve the quality of educational activities. The form only concerns scientific sessions and must be filled in online by each participant requesting the activity CME credits (see tab ”How to claim your CME credits” for more information).
- Once the applicant has confirmed the accuracy of the evaluation form, it is formally submitted to the EACIC for approval.
- The EACIC also provides the applicant with the following information to be distributed the followers of the online or offline activity (in the activity digital or printed communication materials):
- A text advising of the CME nature of the event.
- An introductory slide.
- A document explaining to participants how to obtain the CME credits, including the deadline and the activity verification code (an access code to verify their participation in the activity).
- A short sentence mentioning the accreditation.
- The EACIC logo.
- From the start of the activity, participants requesting CME credits are required to complete the online evaluation form on the EACIC website eacic.eu (in the tab “Claim your CME credits”). The evaluation form is online from the first day of the activity until the deadline communicated to the applicant (usually up to two months after the end of the activity).
- After the deadline, the organisers will receive a report of the collated evaluation forms received from the delegates, which will help them assess the success of the activity and to consider possible improvements to the future quality of the scientific content.