The EAC accreditation process

Each new CPD event submitted is assessed for accreditation by a panel. The panel normally comprises of three people: Guillaume Pablo (EAC Educational Development Director) and two subject area specialists (where two subject area specialists are unavailable, an academic/ researcher is recruited to be the third person). Normally, subject area specialists are recruited from the EAC Special Interest Group membership.

Each panel member will assess the CPD event according to the criteria for the awarding of CPD hours by the EAC. Each subject area specialist assesses the CPD event independently and submits an accreditation decision (to award CPD hours or not), as well as feedback to the EAC Educational Development Director. The majority accreditation decision is the final panel outcome.

It is possible that the CPD event submission does not contain sufficient information about the event for the panel to proceed with accreditation process. In this case, the EAC Educational Development Director will contact the CPD provider by email to request further information. It is also possible that the number of hours has been miscalculated or there is insufficient information about the speaker. In this case, the EAC Educational Development Director will contact the CPD provider by email to clarify this.

If the event is awarded CPD hours, the event provider will receive an automated email stating the event has been published (please check junk mail). If the event is not awarded CPD hours, the event provider will be contacted by the EAC Educational Development Director by email with notification of the decision and the reason why the event was not awarded CPD hours.

It is possible that partial hours may be awarded to events, particularly conferences, where some sessions do not meet the criteria for the awarding of CPD hours by the EAC.

Normally, the panel process does not exceed 5 weeks. Please note that the panel process may take longer during peak holiday seasons such as Christmas, Easter and the European summer vacation time (usually July – August).

Events which have been through the panel process and are being re-run:

Events which are being re-run are required to re-submit their event for accreditation. Events which have been accredited following a panel process, do not require a second panel process, provided event content, hours and speakers have not changed. Accreditation of these events is carried out by the EAC Educational Director only. Normally, this process does not exceed 3 weeks. Please note that this process may take longer during peak holiday seasons such as Christmas, Easter and the European summer vacation time (usually July – August).

Following the awarding of CPD hours by the EAC:

Once your CPD event has been accredited, it will be advertised on the ECU website and ECU App in the Upcoming CPD Events calendar.

Once a CPD event has been awarded CPD hours, the CPD provider may advertise the event as such and produce an attendance certificate for delegates with the wording “This Continuing Professional Development event has been awarded [insert number] CPD hours by the European Academy of Chiropractic”. The EAC logo may be used on the attendance certificate.

It is the responsibility of the event provider to maintain a list of those persons that have attended the CPD event and the CPD hours awarded.

Complaints procedure:

In the event that the CPD provider would like to appeal the panel process outcome, the appeal must be made in writing via email. The appeal must be submitted to Guillaume Pablo (eacguillaume@chiropractic-ecu.org) within 2 weeks of notification of the outcome of the panel process.

In the event of an appeal, the CPD event will be anonymised (speaker and identifying data removed). An independent subject area specialist or academic/ researcher (who did not take part in the first panel process) will assess the CPD event and decide on an outcome (to award CPD hours or not). The decision of the appeal is final.

If you require assistance, please contact Guillaume Pablo: eacguillaume@chiropractic-ecu.org