Application Rules:
Standards to Ensure Educational Relevance

  • Programming must pertain to the practice of Naturopathic Medicine or physician-level medicine.

  • Programming must be oriented to health care professionals and not oriented toward lay public.

  • Presenters must be qualified professionals such a ND, MD, DO, DC, or PhD, with expertise on subject.

  • Approved CE hours are valid for the duration of two years after the first program occurrence or recording. If the approved program should continue to be offered after two years, an application must be resubmitted. Self-study programs are approved for up to two years from the date of initial approval.

Standards for Independence

  • All CE activities must be independent and free of commercial bias.

  • An entity with commercial interest must strictly adhere to the standards outlined in Addendum 1.

  • An entity with commercial interest is any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing healthcare goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients.

  • A commercial entity cannot be involved with or have control over content, directly or indirectly.

Standards for Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure

  • The applicant must be able to show that everyone who is in a position to control the content of an educational activity (including organizers, educators, and presenters) have disclosed all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest to the CNDA.

  • Relevant financial relationship is defined as financial relationships in any amount, monetary or in-kind, occurring within the past 12 months that may create a conflict of interest.

  • Individuals must disclose to learners any relevant financial relationship(s) and the nature of the relationship with commercial interest before each presentation. If no commercial interest exists, this must also be disclosed before each presentation.

  • When a disclosure of commercial interest is made, the specific name of the commercial interest is not to be given, such as trade names or branding statements. The commercial interest is to be mentioned in general terms as to not promote the commercial interest through the disclosure.

  • An educational program planned by an entity with commercial interest must adhere to additional disclosure requirements as outlined in Addendum 1.

Standards for Content and Format without Commercial Bias

  • The content or format of a continuing medical educational activity and its related materials must promote improvements or quality in healthcare, and not a specific proprietary business interest.

  • Presentations must give a balanced view of therapeutic options.

*The CNDA CE application requires that the requesting organization, or party, certify that the program for which they are applying for accreditation complies with the rules set forth in these guidelines. Please contact the CNDA if you need clarification on any portion of these guidelines before applying for accreditation. The CNDA reserves the right to send a representative to any approved program and observe for compliance.