PA programs can apply to become accredited to award AAPA Category 1 CME to their PA preceptors, simply for precepting PA students. This article explains how the preceptorship accreditation works, how credits are calculated for individual preceptors, what it costs, and where to apply.
How Preceptorship CME Accreditation Works
PA programs may submit an annual or biannual application to become accredited to award AAPA Category 1 CME to their PA preceptors, simply for precepting PA students. Accreditation is held by the program, not by the individual preceptor. Once a program is accredited, it awards AAPA Category 1 CME credits to its preceptors under that accreditation.
How Credits Are Calculated for Preceptors
Individual preceptors may be awarded AAPA Category 1 CME credits at a rate of 2 AAPA Category 1 CME credits per PA student per 40-hour week of precepting, with no limit on the total number of credits that can be earned.
There is no maximum limit on the number of AAPA Category 1 CME credits that can be awarded for precepting activities.
Preceptors earn 2 AAPA Category 1 CME credits per PA student per 40-hour week of precepting, and there is no cap on the total credits awarded.
Accreditation Period and Cost
All programs are permitted to apply for up to 24 months of accreditation within a single application, for only $400.
Preceptorship programs may be approved for up to two years. All other learning formats, including live, enduring, self-assessment, and PI-CME activities, have a maximum accreditation period of one year from the approval date.
AAPA accreditation is activity-based, not renewable. When your accreditation period ends, you will need to submit a new application for review.
How to Apply
Step 1: Review the Accreditation Requirements
To learn about applying for accreditation, visit the accreditation page. Or click here to learn more about preceptorship CME specifically.
Step 2: Begin Your Application
When you are ready to begin your application, visit cmeapproval.aapa.org.
Step 3: Submit Ahead of Your Start Date
A rush fee applies to any application submitted 21 days or fewer before the start date of the activity. To avoid the rush fee, submit your application at least 22 days in advance of the first scheduled session.
The system does not allow activities to have start dates within 7 days of submission. Plan accordingly so your application can be reviewed and approved in time.
Post-Activity Reporting
The post-activity report is due within 90 days of the accreditation period ending. It must be submitted once, at the end of the full accreditation period. This allows all learner data and outcomes to be aggregated and reported together.
If your preceptorship was approved for a two-year accreditation period and one clinical year has just ended, do not submit a report for that year alone. You may document and award credit internally on your own schedule (for example, quarterly, by rotation, annually, or bi-yearly), but the final report to AAPA should only be submitted after the entire accreditation period concludes.
The report must include attendance and completion data, evaluation summaries, and any updated disclosures.
Accredited and Unaccredited Program List
A complete list of accredited and unaccredited programs is publicly available here.
Contact and Related Links
If you are unable to complete these steps, contact AAPA Customer Care for assistance. For questions about applying for accreditation, email cmeapproval@aapa.org.
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