Designated Providership 101: Providing Continuing Education to a Local CHES Constituency

Abstract

This article describes experiences of a small professional organization that became a designated provider of continuing education contact hours in order to serve a local CHES constituency. In 18 months, nine programs were offered for a total of 30 continuing education contact hours. Additional programs were co-sponsored, thus increasing the number of credits available to members. The purpose of this article is to share our experiences as a designated provider, encourage other organizations to become designated providers, offer practical tips for succeeding as a designated provider, and suggest how use of a diffusion of innovation theoretical bases may facilitate adoption and implementation of provider status.