ACHENA Approved Continuing Professional Development Courses

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Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

CPD is driven by the learner and is a cornerstone of peer-monitored professions. It is the responsibility of the professional to know the statutory and regulatory requirements to maintain professional board certification or licensure and to fulfill the CPD requirements under their respective agency.

At a minimum, professional homeopaths must sufficiently meet CPD requirements of those examination boards that grant them certification or of professional associations to which they may belong. A lifetime commitment to studying the art and science of homeopathy also advances the collective responsibility for professional growth and enhances consumer protection. Such commitment demonstrates the link between continuing professional development and ongoing competence in homeopathic practice. Diverse and meaningful learning opportunities should reinforce and expand learning and practice beyond the existing understanding, knowledge and skills of the professional homeopath.

CPD Eligibility Requirements for Homeopathic Associations

Currently, ACHENA Approved Courses fulfill recertification eligibility requirements for those professional homeopaths in good standing who hold a Certification in Classical Homeopathy (CCH) from the Council for Homeopathic Certification (See the CHC Recertification Handbook for details).

View other Homeopathic Associations here »

ACHENA CPD Program

Definition of ACHENA CPD Program

ACHENA’s CPD Program reviews and approves advanced education and training courses tailored for professional practitioners, beyond their fundamental postsecondary homeopathic training. ACHENA also supports, buts does not approve, various other professional contributions practitioners may make to the community for continuing education requirements, such as publication in professional trade journals, teaching or volunteer service hours, as defined by the statutory and regulatory requirements to maintain their individual certifications or licensures. Please contact the organization that renews and grants certification or licensure for more details about their specific policy or to see a complete list of acceptable and required CPD contact hours.

Purpose of ACHENA CPD Program

Every professional homeopath that participates in an ACHENA Approved CPD Course publicly commits to independent evaluation and verification of their continuing education in the philosophy and/or practice of classical homeopathy. ACHENA Approved CPD Courses aim to meet the widely accepted needs and challenges of professional homeopaths in practice by increasing the understanding and application of classical homeopathy, as stated in the Standards for Homeopathic Education and Competencies.

Practitioner participation in the ACHENA CPD Program will:

1. Address gaps in practice, fine tune skills and provide professional training on advanced topics, beyond those outlined in the ACHENA Eligibility and Accreditation Manual (See Standard 8: Professional Homeopathic Practitioner Program of Study).
2. Enhance practice management skills, strengthen communication and interviewing skills and provide exposure to new ideas in the field.
3. Reinforce, integrate and advance fundamental education topics included in a Professional Homeopathic Practitioner Program of Study.

Criteria for Course Approval of Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Providing competency-based education and training, as well as the assessment and documentation of maintenance of competence, is expected across interdisciplinary, educational, and healthcare contexts, including homeopathy. (see the European Council for Classical Homeopathy (ECCH); and their Professional Portfolio, 2017) By maintaining a record of CPD activities in the form of a portfolio, the homeopath can maximize the benefits of the learning gained. A portfolio also provides verification that CPD has been undertaken.

To provide an ACHENA Approved CPD Course for a designated number of hours, where every hour of instruction earns 1 CEU, the course taught must meet the following criteria:

1. The description of the course explicitly states that it is intended for practicing professional homeopaths.
2. The educational content extends beyond those course topics outlined in the current ACHENA Eligibility and Accreditation Manual and/or in the Standards for Homeopathic Education and Competencies.
3. The CPD Course Approval Application must:
   • describe the evidence of need for practicing homeopaths and articulate the specific gap in practice the course will address;
   • outline measurable learning objectives appropriate to enhancing continuing professional education;
   • outline the content and length of the course;
   • describe teaching modalities used to achieve the stated objectives;
   • present the instructor qualifications and student evaluations.
4. The course instructor will be a professional who has a widely recognized homeopathic qualification, such as a Certification in Classical Homeopathy (CCH) from the Council for Homeopathic Certification or a professional designation, credential or widely recognized level of expertise in homeopathy. ACHENA Approved Providers agree to teach and reinforce the concept of increased general vitality and constitutional strength in homeopathy, and do not condone teaching the diagnosis or treatment of disease symptoms nor the guarantee of specific health outcomes in practice.
5. After the course is completed, the instructor will systematically collect and collate feedback and evaluation data from learners for ACHENA to review. The instructor will utilize this data to improve future educational courses.
6. Within 4 weeks of live course completion (and every 12 weeks for archived courses), the instructor will submit the collation of evaluation feedback to ACHENA and the course attendance sheet of attendees eligible to receive CEUs.

Content of ACHENA CPD Program

ACHENA approved courses contribute to the protection of the consumer and to the ongoing professional development of the homeopath. The ACHENA CPD Committee reviews and approves CPD courses to ensure that they aim to strengthen and advance the skills, knowledge and ethical commitment of professional homeopathic practitioners in the context of classical homeopathy.

To help decide whether to attend an ACHENA approved course, review the following ACHENA approved course levels:

• Level One courses aim to help practitioners address gaps in practice, fine tune skills and master advanced topics, beyond the fundamental standards outlined in the ACHENA Eligibility and Accreditation Manual (see: Standard 8 for the Professional Homeopathic Practitioner Program of Study).
• Level Two courses aim to build personal capacity for successful practice including topics that address ethical practice and management, communication skills and/or exposure to new ideas in the field.
• Level Three courses aim to reinforce and integrate learning included in the Professional Homeopathic Practitioner Program of Study.

ACHENA CPD Course Application

Provider Eligibility for ACHENA CPD Course Approval

ACHENA welcomes the application of interested and experienced homeopathic educators and/or practitioners to become an ACHENA CPD Provider. An ACHENA CPD Provider is defined as an individual or organization that independently offers an ACHENA CPD Approved Course. ACHENA monitors a CPD Provider’s adherence to professional and ethical standards and competencies of practice through a formal course approval process. The applicant must complete the entire CPD Course Approval Application packet.

How to Apply for ACHENA CPD Course Approval

First-Time CPD Applicants
Carefully review the standards and requirements in the ACHENA CPD Program Guidelines. A CPD Provider, and/or an administrator submits the entire CPD Course Approval Application, which must include all supporting documents.

The ACHENA CPD Committee approves a first-time application, based on the evaluation of each CPD Program Course Component listed below. An applicant must demonstrate how to plan, present, evaluate, and continuously improve a CPD course, as outlined in the program guidelines.

ACHENA CPD course approval is based on the demonstrated ability to meet each of the following required CPD Program Course Components:

• Evidence of Need
• Learning Objectives
• Course Content Outline
• Instructor Qualifications
• Course Evaluations

The evaluation and approval process may take up to 60 days for either a single or a bulk program application. Upon completion of review, the CPD Committee will approve, defer, or deny the CPD Course Approval Application in writing by email to the applicant.

If the course has been approved, it is valid for two years from the date of approval (one year for Advanced Clinical Training or Case Study Groups). If it has been deferred or denied, the CPD Committee will provide written feedback to the applicant about the rationale for deferment or denial, with suggestions for successful application resubmission.

Once approved, the ACHENA office will invoice the provider, or the administrator of the provider. The ACHENA Approved CPD Course(s) will thereby be listed on the ACHENA website upon full payment, due within five business days of receipt. A sample ACHENA Approved CPD Award Letter and Course Attendance Sheet Sample will also be granted as a guideline for course advertisement and implementation.

CPD Course Renewal Applicants and Definition of Expired Course
Carefully review the standards and requirements in the ACHENA CPD Program Guidelines. If an approved course has not yet expired (See Definition of Expired Course below), the ACHENA Approved Provider and/or an administrator submits the indicated portion of the CPD Course Approval Application packet, which must include all supporting documents (Refer to Appendices A-D included in the application). Note that the applicant must show whether the course components are, or are not the same, at the time of submitting the renewal portion of the CPD Course Application, depending on the passage of time and/or any changes in the evidence of need.

Definition of Expired Course: An ACHENA Approved Course expires after a grace period of 30 days from the end date of its last approval period. If an ACHENA Approved Course has lapsed, the ACHENA Approved Provider must resubmit the entire CPD Course Approval Application.

The ACHENA CPD Committee approves a renewal application, based on the evaluation of each CPD Program Course Component listed below. An applicant must demonstrate how to plan, present, evaluate, and continuously improve a CPD course, as outlined in the program guidelines.

ACHENA CPD course approval is based on the demonstrated ability to meet each of the following required CPD Program Course Components:

• Evidence of Need
• Learning Objectives
• Course Content Outline
• Instructor Qualifications
• Course Evaluations

The evaluation and renewal process may take up to 60 days for either a single or a bulk program application. Upon completion of review, the CPD Committee will renew, defer, or deny the CPD Course Renewal Application in writing by email to the applicant.

If the course has been renewed, it is valid for two years from the date of renewal (one year for Advanced Clinical Training or Case Study Groups). If it has been deferred or denied, the CPD Committee will provide written feedback to the applicant about the rationale for deferment or denial, with suggestions for successful application resubmission.

Once renewed, the ACHENA office will invoice the provider, or the administrator of the provider. The ACHENA Approved CPD Course(s) will thereby remain listed or be renewed on the ACHENA website upon full payment, due within five business days of submission. Along with the letter of acceptance, an ACHENA Approved CPD Award Letter and Course Attendance Sheet Sample will be granted as a guideline for course advertisement and implementation.

CPD Course Fee Schedule

For details about application fees associated with completing, and/or renewing CPD Program Approval, see the CPD Course Fee Schedule.

Disclaimer: While ACHENA supports academic freedom and healthy debate within the wider homeopathic community, ACHENA educational standards and policies focus upon the core principles and best practices of classical homeopathy. ACHENA Approved Providers agree to uphold the fundamental concept that homeopathy reinforces and increases general vitality and constitutional strength. Providers also agree that they do not condone the medical diagnosis or treatment of disease symptoms nor the guarantee of specific health outcomes in practice.