2024 CDR CPEU Prior Approval Program Frequently Asked Questions: Marketing and Commercial Bias
Can the CPE Provider logo be included in CPE content?
No. Educational materials that are part of CPE content must not contain any marketing, including logos. See Policy 7.1 (Content Containing Products or Services) for additional information.
What information relevant to the CPE may contain logos?
Information relevant to the CPE that does not contain educational content, such as schedules, agendas, timing outlines, lunch menus, or logistical information may contain CPE Provider and/or commercial supporter logo(s).
Certificates of completion may include CPE Provider logos but may not include commercial supporter logos.
Can signs at a conference include the CPE Provider and/commercial supporter's logo(s)?
Signs placed outside of the physical space (i.e., conference room) utilized for Prior Approved CPE may include the CPE Provider and/or commercial supporter's logo(s).
Will learners still be able to claim CPEUS for exhibits?
For learner cycles starting June 2, 2024, and later learners will no longer be able to claim CPEUs for exhibits.
Can branded products be provided during lunch or used during a food demo?
Commercial products can be provided during lunch and used during other non-CPE activities such as food demonstrations but cannot be present in the physical space utilized for Prior Approved CPE within 20 minutes before or after a Prior Approved CPE activity.
For example, if a Prior Approved CPE activity ends at 1:30 pm, there must be no marketing, samples, exhibits, or non-CDR Prior Approved activity in the same room until 1:50 pm or later. If non-CDR Prior Approved activities are to take place in a room that is separate from the Prior Approved CPE, there is no time requirement.
Policy 7.2.1 (In-person) is modeled after the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Standard 5.2 (Manage Ancillary Activities Offered in Conjunction with Accredited Continuing Education) which imposes a 30-minute buffer between ancillary activities and CPE.
When CPE Providers distribute certificates of completion via email, can the emails include service or product marketing messages?
No. Learners must be able to participate in and complete a CPE activity without being presented with marketing.
Certificates of completion may include CPE Provider logos but may not include commercial supporter logos or contain branded product images or product or service marketing messages.
Will CDR provide sample disclosure language and language about notifying attendees that they agree to get marketing material from sponsor?
CDR will provide resources to help CPE Providers transition to the new CDR CPEU Prior Approval Program. This will include:
- Sample Commercial Support Agreement
- Sample Funding Documentation Form
- Sample Disclosure Form
Can presenters discuss their organizations at the beginning of a CPE activity?
No. Learners must not be presented with marketing while engaged in CPE. This includes at the beginning and end of CPE activities; commercial breaks are not permitted.
How can CPE Providers discuss unique products without mentioning the brand names of those products?
CPE Providers may choose to describe unique products by the characteristics of those products (i.e., bean-based, high-protein pasta) instead of by brand names. Alternatively, brand names may be discussed at times and in spaces that are separate and apart from CPE content.
Is giving learners the option to unsubscribe from marketing emails sufficient to meet policy 7.6, Confidentiality and Use of Learner Names and Contact Information?
Learners must be given the opportunity to consent (i.e., opt in/out out) to receive marketing messages. Giving learners the option to unsubscribe from marketing emails is not sufficient.
Additionally, learners' ability to participate in a CPE activity must not depend on whether they agree to receive marketing messages.