How to Offer CME for a Webinar or On-Demand Course

Live conferences are no longer the only way to deliver continuing education. Webinars and on-demand courses now carry much of the load, and both can award accredited credit. If you have recorded content or a virtual event series, here is how to turn it into accredited CME, CNE, and CPE.

Can webinars and recorded courses award CME?

Yes. Accredited credit is not limited to in-person events. Joint providership applies to live events, webinars, on-demand enduring materials, simulations, and blended formats. What changes between formats is the documentation and, in some cases, how learners verify participation.

Live webinar vs enduring material

These are treated differently, and knowing which you are running matters:

• Live webinar. Delivered in real time on a set date. Credit is tied to attendance at the live session.

• Enduring material. Available on demand over a defined period, such as a recorded course learners complete on their own schedule. Enduring materials must include a way to verify the learner engaged with the content, and they carry an expiration date after which credit can no longer be claimed. ACCME requires providers to review each enduring material at least once every three years to confirm the content is still current.

What you need to award credit online

For a virtual or on-demand activity, plan for:

• Clear learning objectives tied to the content

• Faculty disclosures reviewed before the activity goes live

• A mechanism to confirm participation, such as a post-activity assessment

• An evaluation instrument for learners to complete

• A defined availability window for enduring materials

A common use case: repurpose what you already have

Many organizations sit on a library of recorded grand rounds, lectures, or conference sessions. With joint providership, that existing content can often be reviewed, documented, and offered as accredited enduring material, extending its value long after the original event and reaching learners who could not attend live. See our guide to CME for conferences and grand rounds for the live-event side of this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does on-demand content expire?

Enduring materials carry an expiration date, typically set at the time of accreditation. After that date, learners can still view the content, but credit can no longer be claimed unless the activity is reviewed and renewed. Read more in our guide to whether CME credits expire.

Can one webinar award CME, CNE, and CPE?

Yes, with a jointly accredited partner. A single virtual activity can award all three credit types under one application, just like an in-person event.

How far in advance do we need to plan a webinar?

Through AwardCE, the standard turnaround is 30 days from signed agreement. Starting the conversation four to six weeks before your target date leaves room to gather materials and still launch on schedule.

Sources

• ACCME — Standards for Integrity and Independence (activity format definitions)

• ACCME — Accreditation Requirements (enduring material review cycle)

Ready to offer accredited CE?

Have a webinar series or a library of recorded sessions ready to accredit? AwardCE by Quality Insights covers live, on-demand, and blended formats under one application. Download our free guide, How to Offer Accredited CE Without Becoming an Accredited Provider, or schedule a free consultation.