ACCME Joint Providership for CE/CME Accreditation: How does it work?
Thinking about offering accredited continuing education (CE) – but not sure you want to go through the full accreditation process yourself?
You’re not alone. Accreditation is a rigorous, resource-heavy process; not every organization has the time, infrastructure, or long-term plans to pursue it. Fortunately, there’s another way: joint providership.
This practical guide will walk you through joint providership, how it compares to becoming accredited, who it's best for, and how the process works, especially if you’re considering working with an experienced partner like Pinnacle.
What Is Joint Providership?
Joint providership = partnering with an accredited provider (like Pinnacle) to offer CE activities – even if you're not accredited yourself.
You create and deliver the content.
We (Pinnacle) make sure everything checks the accreditation boxes.
We help ensure your content meets all the requirements set forth by accrediting bodies like ACCME (for physicians), ANCC (for nurses), ACPE (for pharmacists), and others. This allows your audience to earn credit and you to focus on delivering great learning experiences.
Partner Spotlight
Take the documentary 1001 Cuts, which explores the challenges of diversity in surgery. The creators wanted to expand the reach and impact of their film by offering CE credit. Rather than become an accredited provider, they partnered with Pinnacle.
By partnering with Pinnacle, they could bypass the financial and time constraints of becoming accredited, undergoing audits, and hiring staff to manage the accreditation process for a single documentary.
Together, we ensured the film met all the necessary criteria, enabling physicians and healthcare professionals to earn credit while engaging with this powerful narrative.
How Joint Providership Differs from Becoming Accredited
Becoming an accredited provider is a significant undertaking. Organizations must apply through formal accrediting bodies, develop and document rigorous policies and procedures, undergo regular audits, and maintain ongoing compliance across all educational activities. It can take years, significant staffing, and a strong commitment to infrastructure.
Here’s what becoming accredited typically involves:
Completing a detailed application process
Developing internal compliance frameworks
Hiring staff or consultants to manage the program
Submitting reports and documentation for each CE activity
Paying substantial fees for application, maintenance, and review
In contrast, joint providership offers a streamlined, partnership-based model:
You maintain control of your content and audience
We guide you through the necessary compliance checkpoints
You avoid long-term commitments or upfront investment in infrastructure
You can move quickly, often within weeks or months instead of years
Joint providership is ideal for organizations looking to test the waters, launch a single event, or offer credit without building an internal CE department.
In short, Joint providership lets you focus on content and learners, not compliance bureaucracy.
Interested in offering CE Credits for your Educational Activities?
Pinnacle offers Joint Provider services to non-accredited hospitals, private practices, medical societies and education partners in order to offer CE credits.
Learn more about accrediting your contentIs Joint Providership Right for You?
Joint providership is a great option for many types of organizations, including:
Conference or event organizers: Want your event to offer CME or CE credit? Joint providership makes that possible without becoming accredited yourself.
Health and wellness educators: From yoga instructors to mental health coaches – if your audience includes licensed professionals, CE credit can add real value.
Medical societies or specialty groups: Offer timely, relevant education to your members while relying on an accredited partner for the compliance side.
Creative education platforms: From podcasts to online courses to documentaries, many educational formats are eligible for CE credit with the right support.
| Category | Accreditation | Joint Providership |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Large institutions with ongoing CE programs and internal infrastructure | Small to mid-sized organizations, creative projects, or one-time events |
| Application Process | Formal, time-intensive application with accrediting body | Streamlined intake process with support from Pinnacle |
| Standards & Oversight | Must build and manage your own compliance frameworks internally | Pinnacle provides compliance oversight and ensures adherence to accrediting standards |
| Costs | High – requires staff, consultants, software, and audit preparation | Lower – Pinnacle manages administrative and compliance tasks |
| Time to Launch | 12–24 months to become accredited and begin offering credit | 1–3 months from partnership to launch |
| Staffing Needs | Dedicated CE staff or consultants are often required | No internal CE team required – Pinnacle provides expertise |
| Flexibility | Greater autonomy once accredited, but high ongoing responsibility | High flexibility without long-term obligations |
| Commitment | Ongoing – multi-year accreditation cycles with regular audits and updates | Project-based or as-needed partnership – ideal for testing or piloting CE offerings |
| Credit Eligibility | Full CE accreditation across all your programs | Full CE credit eligibility, through Pinnacle's accreditation |
| Ideal Use Cases | Academic centers, health systems, and national medical societies | Conferences, retreats, online education, media projects, wellness, and niche programs |
Partner Spotlight
The Women in Medicine River Cruise is a unique blend of education, networking, and relaxation. Attendees earn CE credits while traveling through Europe. The event’s organizers used joint providership to ensure the learning content was accredited for their single event – without having to manage accreditation logistics themselves.
How the Process Works (It’s Easier Than You Think)
Working with Pinnacle is designed to be simple, supportive, and collaborative. Here’s what the process usually looks like:
Step 1: Discovery Call
We’ll start by learning about your organization, goals, audience, and the type of educational activity you’re planning. Whether it's an in-person event, virtual course, or asynchronous video series, we’ll determine if it's a fit for CE accreditation.
Step 2: Educational Design
We confirm the key components with you:
Learning objectives
Faculty and speakers
Format (live, enduring, hybrid)
Educational need
Step 3: Compliance Guidance
Pinnacle will:
Review content for bias and balance
Manage disclosure forms and conflict of interest reviews
Ensure any commercial support meets required standards
Create an Activity Detail Page with all of the required information for ACCME accreditation
Use our proprietary techology to automate certificate generation and storage for your attendees
Step 4: Accreditation & Delivery
We’ll handle all the official paperwork and make sure your program is officially approved. You deliver your event or release your content, and learners receive CE credit.
Step 5: Post-Activity Wrap-Up
After your event or activity:
We gather and analyze evaluation data
Issue certificates to participants
Submit required reports to accrediting bodies
Throughout the process, Pinnacle acts as your guide, compliance partner, and accreditation liaison—so you don’t have to worry about missing a critical step.
Our Partners
Our partners come in all shapes and sizes:
Films (e.g. 1001 Cuts)
Cruises (e.g. Women in Medicine River Cruise)
Conferences and Retreats (e.g. Live Wealthy)
Online video content (e.g. FemInEm)
Podcasts and On-Demand Content (e.g. MedStory Media)
If you can dream it, we can help you accredit it – without you needing to become an accredited provider yourself.
Ready to Offer Accredited Education Without the Headache?
Joint providership with Pinnacle allows your organization to offer high-quality accredited continuing education.
Whether you're planning a film screening, an educational cruise, a conference, or an online series, we can help bring your educational vision to life – while keeping you compliant every step of the way.