New: COPE's NEW Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education

In a continued effort to assure both quality and independence of optometric continuing education, COPE has adopted the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education’s (ACCME) new Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.

The new Standards for Integrity and Independence have replaced COPE’s Standards for Commercial Support. COPE Administrators/Providers are required to comply with the COPE Standards for Integrity and Independence (SII) beginning July 1, 2022.

The Standards for Integrity and Independence (SII) are a modernized version of the current Standards for Commercial Support (SCS) that include some terminology updates and provide clear, streamlined instructions for the following areas:

• Standard 1: Ensure Content is Valid
• Standard 2: Prevent Commercial Bias and Marketing in Accredited Continuing Education
• Standard 3: Identify, Mitigate, and Disclose Relevant Financial Relationships
• Standard 4: Manage Commercial Support Appropriately
• Standard 5: Manage Ancillary Activities Offered in Conjunction with Accredited Continuing Education

COPE is dedicated to educating and assisting our COPE Administrators/Providers with a smooth transition into the new SII. Below you will find NEW tools and documents:

• COPE SII Getting Started Checklist
• COPE SII Toolkit
• Sample Agendas with COPE CE and Marketing/Nonaccredited Activities Hosted or Influenced by Ineligible Companies
• COPE SII FAQs

You will also find updated existing COPE documents:

• COPE Glossary of Terms
• COPE Sample Commercial Support Agreement
• COPE Sample Commercial Support Disclosure Statements

Please contact Sierra Powell, Manager of Accreditation Services, with any questions and/or comments at spowell@arbo.org