What is Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE)

National and international health leadership organizations have identified interprofessional education and team-based care as a critical component of healthcare improvement.

There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating that participation in interprofessional continuing education (IPCE) improves healthcare professionals’ performance outcomes.

What Is An Interprofessional Activity?

An interprofessional activity is a CE activity that

  • incorporates the educational needs that underlie the practice gaps of the healthcare team and their members. Interprofessional activities must be designed to change the skills/strategy, or performance, of the healthcare team or patient outcomes as described in an organization’s mission statement. Interprofessional activities also reflect the healthcare team’s current or potential scope of practice.
  • is designed to encourage health professionals to participate in education that effectively improves interprofessional collaborative practice and health outcomes.
  • does not replace education or credits for individual professions. Activities that offer IPCE credits may also offer credits for individual professions.
  • is intended to complement other healthcare credit and metric systems.

What are the 11 different types of CE credit?

Joint Accredited providers are able to choose from 11 different types of health profession CE credit to offer and award.

CME Credit (AMA PRA Category 1 Credit)

CPE (ACPE) Credit

CNE (ANCC) Credit

AAPA Category 1 CME Credit

APA Credit

COPE Credit

ASWB Credit

ADA CERP Credit

BOC CEU Credit

CDR CPEU Credit

IPCE Credit

How do I know (as the learner) what CE credit is being offered?

Jointly accredited providers may include the following credit mark and statement with their interprofessional continuing education activities in addition to the Joint Accreditation statement. The interprofessional continuing education (IPCE) credit designation will appear on activities that have been planned by and for the healthcare team, i.e. team-based continuing education.

For activities that are focused on a single profession, for example, medicine, nursing, or pharmacy, jointly accredited providers will designate the appropriate credit in the activities description.

Use of the IPCE credit by the provider is optional but will serve to highlight to you as the learner that the activity has been planned by and for the healthcare team. The IPCE credit mark and statement of credits will be included on certificates of participation or other meeting material as determined by the jointly accredited provider.

How do I find courses?

Explore our comprehensive provider directory of institutions jointly accredited to deliver interprofessional continuing education to health workers in ten different professions.

Explore the Provider Directory