Joint Accreditation vs ACCME: Which CME Path Is Right for You?
Choosing the right accreditation path is one of the most important decisions for any continuing education provider. Whether you are expanding your CME program or planning to add interprofessional activities, understanding the difference between Joint Accreditation and ACCME can save time, reduce compliance risks, and help your organization reach more learners.
We support accredited CME and CE providers with automation tools that simplify compliance, track attendance, and manage certificates in one place. Let’s look at the key differences between these two accreditation options.
What is ACCME Accreditation?
The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) accredits organizations that provide continuing medical education for physicians. Its primary goal is to ensure that CME activities meet high educational and ethical standards that improve clinical performance and patient care.
Best for:
Organizations focusing on physician education or those offering CME exclusively for doctors.
- Key Benefits:
- Recognized across the U.S. and internationally
- Flexible formats including live events, webinars, and enduring materials
- Direct link to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- Challenges:
- Limited to physicians
- Requires separate partnerships to offer CE for other disciplines
- Intensive reporting requirements
What is Joint Accreditation?
Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education (JA) is a collaboration between ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC. It is designed for organizations that develop education for healthcare teams rather than single professions.
Best for:
Organizations that serve multiple healthcare professions and promote collaborative, team-based learning.
- Key Benefits:
- Single accreditation covering multiple professions (physicians, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, social workers, and others)
- Simplified reporting and compliance management
- Encourages interprofessional collaboration and quality improvement
- Challenges:
- More rigorous initial review and eligibility criteria
- Requires consistent inclusion of multiple professions in planning and delivery
- Higher application costs than single-accreditation pathways
Comparison Table: Joint Accreditation vs ACCME
| Feature |
Joint Accreditation (JA) |
ACCME Accreditation |
| Scope |
Interprofessional CE (multiple healthcare roles) |
Physician-focused CME |
| Eligible Professions |
Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, social workers, others depending upon eligibility. |
Physicians only |
| Issuing Body |
JA (ACCME, ACPE, ANCC partnership) |
ACCME |
| Credit Types |
Multi-professional CE credits |
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ |
| Reporting System |
PARS (through Joint Accreditation) |
PARS (through ACCME) |
| Compliance Requirements |
Interprofessional planning and evaluation |
Physician-centered activity planning |
| Ideal For |
Hospitals, health systems, multi-disciplinary training organizations |
Physician societies, medical schools, specialty boards |
| Cost |
Higher initial investment |
Moderate annual fees |
| Renewal Cycle |
6 years |
4 years |
How CE-Go Supports Both Paths
Whether your organization is accredited through ACCME or Joint Accreditation, CE-Go helps you manage every detail of your CME or CE program in one place.
- Track attendance and engagement across professions
- Automate evaluations and certificate generation
- Store and report compliance data securely
- Offer live, hybrid, or on-demand activities with full accreditation support
Our platform reduces administrative work so you can focus on delivering high-quality, evidence-based education.
Choosing the Right CME Accreditation Path: Checklist
Use this checklist to determine the best accreditation path for your program:
- Define Your Audience – Are you serving only physicians, or multiple healthcare professions?
- Clarify Your Educational Goals – Do you want to foster interprofessional collaboration or focus on physician learning outcomes?
- Review Eligibility Criteria – Confirm your organization meets the structural and procedural standards for either path.
- Compare Application and Renewal Costs – Consider both initial and ongoing fees.
- Assess Internal Resources – Determine whether your team can manage interprofessional planning and compliance tracking.
- Plan Your Reporting Strategy – Understand how you’ll collect and submit data to PARS.
- Align with Accreditation Duration – Joint Accreditation renews every 6 years, ACCME every 4.
- Document Planning Processes – Maintain clear records of educational design, faculty selection, and evaluation methods.
Tip: Revisit this checklist annually as your organization’s audience and program scope evolve.
Ready to Decide?
Whether you are expanding an existing CME program or planning to serve more healthcare professions, CE-Go can help you manage compliance, data, and delivery with confidence.
Request a demo today to see how we simplify CME and CE management for accredited providers.
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