Getting CME/CNE points for your participants

To this day the EU-ACME/CNE Programme already includes over 19,000 participants! The impact of the EU-ACME/CNE programme continues to grow. Judging from the increase in the number of requests we receive for accreditation of national and international events, individual medical professionals become more aware of the significance of this initiative.

Back in 2004, the European Association of Urology (EAU) and the European Board of Urology (EBU) joined forces to promote Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) amongst all urologists in Europe by creating a new committee: the EU-ACME (European Urology – Accredited Continuing Medical Education).

In 2021, the EU-ACME programme extended its services towards urology nurses through cooperation with the European Association of Urology Nurses (EAUN). Continuing Professional Development (CPD), Continuing Medical Education (CME) & Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) are fundamental tools in ongoing development. They not only help medical professionals maintain and upgrade their knowledge in the chosen medical field but also broaden their personal and professional experience after obtaining their postgraduate degrees. Above all, CPD/CME/CNE enhances the quality of patient care by consistently improving the medical professionals’ skills, broadening their professional outlook, and helping them to keep up with the vast amount of scientific information constantly being generated.

The EU-ACME/CNE Office acts as a central “institution” where all information forwarded by medical professionals, (inter)national urological association and CME/CNE organisers/providers is kept. As a service institution the EU-ACME/CNE office offers:

  • Access to the online CME/CNE/CPD portfolio (MyCME/CNE), which helps medical professionals keep track of their educational activities, irrespective of the country they practice in or where they have participated in accredited CME/ CNE/CPD activities
  • Validation of activities registered by the EU-ACME/CNE members
  • Yearly Credit Registry Report listing all collected CPD/CME credit points
  • Registration of accredited CME/CNE events
  • Accreditation of CME/CNE events, if a country has no CME/CNE system
  • Accreditation of online/e-learning materials
  • Support and guidance in CME/CNE and regulatory compliance, consultancy, and CME/CNE accreditation management services

About procuring credits
To obtain the CME/CNE credits, the event must be accredited by the (inter)national accreditation authority. Accreditation means the decision by an accreditation body that the organiser of the CME/CNE event has fulfilled the requirements for a CME/CNE programme:

  • Clearly states educational and scientific objectives
  • Fulfils a recognised professional need in the field, as defined in the statement of objectives
  • Presents subject matter that attains the stated objectives
  • Makes use of current teaching and learning techniques
  • Indicates selection criteria for presenters
  • Awards certificate

A number of units, commonly called credits, are applied to all accredited CME/CNE events. Within the EU-ACME/CNE programme, the events are accredited following the rule – 1 credit per hour (in 0.25 increments) with a maximum of 8 credits per day.
The CME/CNE activities awarded with accreditation distinguish themselves from other educational activities offered to medical professionals because their level of educational and scientific value is confirmed by an accreditation body.

Who can apply for accreditation?
Within the EU-ACME/CNE programme (inter)national urological societies, universities and their associated working groups or affiliated societies may apply for accreditation. Accreditation of CME/CNE programmes presented by professional health educational organisations can also be assessed on an individual basis.

Other organisers wishing to be eligible for the accreditation – whether they are individual urologists or groups and whether they operate independently or in conjunction with commercial organisations – need to liaise with or be part of one of the organisations mentioned above to qualify for accreditation.

How to apply
In countries where CME/CNE systems already exist, accreditation of national meetings is overseen by national authorities or special accreditation committees of scientific organisations. The EU-ACME/CNE office does not interfere with the national accreditation process, although it needs to receive the relevant information on any accredited event in order to register and process those credits. If requested, the EU-ACME office can assist in obtaining the European accreditation for nationally accredited CME/CNE events.

The CME/CNE provider may register already accredited events in the EU-ACME database online, providing: a detailed programme of the event, and a copy of an accreditation certificate by the national authority.

If a country has no CME/CNE system and no accreditation institution/committee, as well as for international meetings, accreditation of national events may be handled by the EU-ACME office. The CME/CNE provider may submit accreditation request online via the EU-ACME website at least 2 months before meeting takes place. The online application, submitted with all mandatory documents is checked by the EU-ACME/CNE office, and sent for evaluation to a member of the appropriate accreditation body.

It is vital to submit all information and documents in English. An organiser of an event is expected to clearly communicate to the participants that the event is accredited (i.e., on a website, a programme book, and a certificate of attendance) by placing the accreditation text where the number of granted credits together with the name of an accreditation authority are mentioned.

Attendance control
An organiser/CME/CNE provider should inform participants how attendance is verified such as via:

  • Scanners: Participants must scan a badge before entering the scientific session room or at the reception area.
  • Attendance list: Participants register by filling out their name, signature, and CME ID on an attendance list.

The EU-ACME office offers logistical support for attendance verification. After the meeting, the organiser returns the scanners/list with the participant’s to the EU-ACME/ CNE office.

The EU-ACME/CNE office updates the accounts of the members participating in the EU-ACME/CNE programme in its database with the number of credits allocated to the meeting. For more information check www.eu-acme.org