About the Office of Professional Development and Accredited Continuing Education

In 1974, TTUHSC established the Office of Educational Development and Continuing Medical Education (CME). Accreditation for CME was officially granted in 1976 by the Liaison Committee for Continuing Medical Education. In a significant milestone, TTUHSC received its initial accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) in 1985. This recognition was followed by subsequent reaccreditations in 1991, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2019, solidifying TTUHSC's 47-year history of providing accredited continuing education.

Over the years, TTUHSC has been dedicated to delivering high-quality interdisciplinary and inter-professional training that seamlessly integrates research with fundamental and clinical knowledge, clinical skills, and humanistic approaches. This commitment culminated in a notable achievement on July 24, 2023, when TTUHSC was awarded Joint Accreditation. Furthermore, on September 8, 2023, approval was granted to change the name of the office to the Center of Accredited Interprofessional Continuing Medical Education.

TTUHSC's evolution also involved expanding its accredited continuing education into an interprofessional CE program, broadening its educational offerings locally, regionally, and nationally. These ongoing efforts have earned TTUHSC the respect and loyalty of practitioners, patients, and communities alike, all recognizing the value of team-based education in enhancing patient care.

To deliver accredited continuing education, TTUHSC follows a structured process consisting of four key steps:

In summary, TTUHSC's long-standing history of accredited continuing education, dedication to interprofessional training, and commitment to excellence in healthcare education are reflected in its comprehensive four-step approach to delivering high-quality education.

Accreditation

TTUHSC Office of Professional Development and Accredited Continuing Education (OPDACE) has been granted the opportunity to be simultaneously accredited to provide continuing education for multiple professions through a single, unified application process, fee structure, and set of accreditation standards.

 

In support of improving patient care, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

TTUHSC Office of Professional Development and Accredited Continuing Education is authorized to award AMA PRA credit, ANCC credit, ACPE credit, and IPCE credit. Additionally, we now extend credit opportunities to physician assistants, social workers, and psychologists.

Mission Statement

The TTUHSC Office of Professional Development and Accredited Continuing Education (OPDACE) supports the growth of faculty, clinicians, and the interprofessional healthcare team across West Texas.

Serving metro and rural communities throughout Lubbock, the Permian Basin, Amarillo, and surrounding regions, OPDACE delivers inclusive, evidence-informed education through main and extension offices that reach geographically dispersed healthcare providers.

Our mission is to advance professional development by offering accessible, needs-based education grounded in adult learning and lifelong learning principles. Programs aim to enhance teaching, leadership, scholarship, and the performance of healthcare teams.

The expected results are improvements in the skills, strategies, or performance of the healthcare team and, when feasible, patient outcomes. OPDACE evaluates impact through performance-based assessments and selectively measures patient outcomes for applicable activities.