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Planning Your Program
I’m a first time applicant, any tips on where to start?
Our recommendation is to first read the CERP Policy: Medical Device Companies to best understand the requirements.
What are CERPs? How do they differ from CE Contact Hours?
Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) are recognized by the AACN Certification Corporation, our credentialing arm, to encompass a wide spectrum of continuing education activities performed by nurses in high acuity and critical care and fulfill educational requirements for certification. Synergy CERP is a program exclusive to AACN for nurses wishing to recertify through AACN. Please review the Synergy CERP Brochure or our Certification Website for more details.
Some state boards of nursing and other certification organizations may recognize CERPs as meeting CE Contact Hour requirements. We recommend nurses consult with their state board or credentialing organization before submitting CERPs to fulfill CE Contact Hour requirements.
By awarding CERPs instead of traditional CE Contact Hours, medical device companies can offer a wider range of sessions that do not qualify for CE Contact Hours.
How far in advance do I need to submit my online application?
The online application must be completed, submitted and paid 20 business days prior to the presentation date of the educational activity. Please see CERP Policy: Medical Device Companies for Rush Service Submissions.
Advertising Language
When can I start advertising my program?
Medical Device Companies may publish the following statement only after approval has been granted:
“This program has been approved by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for _____ CERPs, Synergy CERP Category _____, File Number _____. Approval refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN approval or endorsement of the content of this educational activity, or the products mentioned.”
Submitting Your Application
How much time should I allow for my completed online CERP program application to be reviewed and approved?
Please submit your completed application at least 20 business days prior to the presentation date of your program
What information will I need to complete the online CERP program approval application?
When completing the CERP Program Approval online application, the following information must be available:
- Company name
- Company address and phone number
- Name and contact information of instructor or program coordinator
- A list of potential presenters
- Agenda if program is greater than or equal to 3 CERPs in length
- Examples of advertising materials with approval statements to be used after approval
- Links to websites and/or social media where program will be advertised
- Copy of the certificate of participation to be used
I have multiple presenters for multiple individual presentations. What information do I need to provide when I submit my online application?
We require the content title, date, time, presenter(s), content description, and teaching method for each individual presentation in a program. If you have multiple programs, please submit them individually.
How will I be notified of the results of my application?
Program Approval Department will notify the contact person noted on the online application of their approval status via email. The individual submitting the online application is now able to check on the status of their application by signing in to AACN’s website, directly from your submission dashboard.
How will I know if there are any problems with my submission?
Program Approval Department will email the contact person noted on the online application if there are any questions, concerns and/or additional information is required. The individual submitting the online application is now able to check on the status of their application by signing in to AACN’s website, directly from your submissions dashboard. There have also been updates to the review process including possible additional $50 fee for lack of response from applicant, see page 6 of revised CERP Policy: Medical Device Companies.
CERP Certificate
What information needs to be on the CERP certificate? Do you have a template?
Medical Device Companies may use the Medical Device CERP certificate template or their own certificate for awarding CERPs.
The certificate must contain the following items:
- Name of the participant
- Title and date of the program
- Name of the Medical Device Company providing the education
- The full mailing address or website of the Medical Device Company providing the education
- The official approval/endorsement statement (which stands alone on a separate line).
“This program has been approved by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for _____ CERPs, Synergy CERP Category _____, File Number _____. Approval refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN approval or endorsement of the content of this educational activity, or the products mentioned.”
Additional Information
What documentation am I required to keep for my program?
For each presentation, the following documentation must be maintained by the Medical Device Company in a secure and confidential manner for four years:
- Location and date of the presentation
- Name of presenter
- Sample certificate of participation
- List of participants with unique identifier (employee ID, License number, etc.
What documentation do I need to submit if a presenter(s) changes after the program has been approved?
AACN does not require the presenter changes to be submitted but you will need to keep a copy of the presenter(s) change for your records for a period of four years.
I have a question that isn’t answered by the policy or the FAQs, how and when can I reach a member of the Program Approval Department?
The best method is to email programapproval@aacn.org. Someone is in the office Monday-Thursday 8:00am to 4:00pm PT. We are closed on federal holidays, but no longer have a blackout period surrounding our annual National Teaching Institute (NTI).