CEI is accredited as an entity housed with the The Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA). IPA received accredited provider status from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) on January 25, 1979.

ACPE is the body recognized by the US Department on Education for the accreditation of professional degree programs in pharmacy and is also the agency for providers of continuing pharmacy education. APCE sets standards for the education of pharmacists to prepare them for the delivery of pharmacist-provided care.

ACPE defines continuing education for the pharmacy profession as a structured educational activity designed or intended to support the continuing development of pharmacists and/or pharmacy technicians to maintain and enhance their competence.  Continuing pharmacy education (CPE) should promote problem-solving and critical thinking and be applicable to the practice of pharmacy.

As adapted from the Institute of Medicine’s Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality, April 2003, ACPE encourages pharmacists to develop and maintain proficiency in five core areas.  These five core areas provide the framework for CEI’s educational content.

• Delivering patient-centered care
• Working as part of interdisciplinary teams
• Practicing evidence-based medicine
• Focusing on quality improvement
• Using information technology