FACHE is the most recognized credential of a leader’s competency and commitment to healthcare management excellence. Acting on Member feedback, ACHE’s Board of Governors approved revised FACHE credentialing criteria, effective Jan. 1, 2024. The revised criteria offer a flexible format while still supporting rigorous learning and skill-building.
Review the information below to learn more.
NEW Requirement Beginning Jan. 1, 2024
Complete a minimum of 36 continuing education credits over three years, including:
- A minimum of 12 ACHE In-Person Education credits
- 12 ACHE Virtual Interactive Education credits
- Up to 12 Qualifying Education credits
Frequently Asked Questions
The FACHE credential is the most recognized credential of a leader’s competency and commitment to healthcare management excellence.
Starting Jan. 1, 2024, candidates who wish to advance to Fellow or recertify their credential must still earn a total of 36 continuing education credits, including a minimum of 12 ACHE In-Person Education credits, 12 Virtual Interactive Education credits, and up to 12 Qualifying Education credits.
- ACHE Face-to-Face Education is now called ACHE In-Person Education (i.e., Congress, Clusters, in-person Executive Program, in-person Choice programs and approved ACHE Chapter Panel Discussions)
- ACHE Virtual Interactive Education is added as a new delivery option (i.e., Virtual Face-to-Face Courses, Virtual Leadership Symposium, Virtual Health System Simulation, Virtual Executive Program, Virtual Board of Governors Review and Virtual ACHE Chapter Panel Discussions)
- Qualified Education is now called Qualifying Education (i.e., ACHE digital self-study courses, webinars, live, or recorded on-demand). This also includes pre-approved provider organizations and education from other professional organizations related to healthcare management, administration and leadership.
For the purposes of advancement or recertification, while you must have at least 12 ACHE In-Person Education credits, additional ACHE In-Person Education credits may be used as a substitute for, or in lieu of, any ACHE Virtual Interactive Education or Qualifying Education requirements. And, ACHE Virtual Interactive Education may be used as a substitute, or in lieu of, any Qualifying Education requirement. Neither ACHE Virtual Interactive Education nor Qualifying Education credits can replace ACHE In-Person Education credits.
Temporary rules set during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed face-to-face educational credits to be awarded in certain virtual environments. These virtual options have been well-received by our Members and remain in high demand, with ACHE seeing record enrollment for the 2021 Virtual Congress and 2022 Virtual Leadership Symposium, as well as other virtual courses administered at the national and chapter level. Attendee feedback noted that virtual education is a valued component of professional development, and ACHE Members are increasingly accessing online tools to learn and acquire new skills. In addition, the revised continuing education criteria gives Members multiple paths to certification or recertification, providing a flexible, contemporary educational experience.
Applications for initial advancement and recertification must do so under the revised continuing education criteria.
They’re one and the same. ACHE Face-to-Face Education is being renamed ACHE In-Person Education under the revised credentialing policy. Offerings such as the Congress on Healthcare Leadership, ACHE Clusters, in-person Choice programs and approved in-person chapter panels are all considered In-Person Education events.
This is a new category to earn continuing education credits through such offerings as ACHE’s Virtual Interactive Courses, Virtual Leadership Symposium, Virtual Board of Governors Exam Review Course, the Health System Simulation and Virtual Chapter Discussion Panels.
Yes. Examples of Qualifying Education include ACHE webinars, digital self-study courses, ACHE on-demand courses, and education offerings from ACHE Chapters or other professional organizations related to healthcare management, administration and leadership. As a new Member benefit, ACHE is also making Qualifying Education available through ACHE live webinars at no cost.
These continuing education changes reinforce the value of the FACHE credential. Standards for the FACHE credential remain extremely robust and feature:
- A 36-credit continuing education requirement.
- Learning principles, rigor and peer network development, while emphasizing core leadership competencies required for success.
- Peer-to-peer learning with opportunities for knowledge-sharing and collegial interaction.
No. Virtual Interactive Education credits can be earned only by participating in ACHE virtual activities, including the Virtual Leadership Symposium, the virtual Health System Simulation, the virtual Executive Program, virtual seminars, the virtual Board of Governors Exam Review Course, sponsors of ACHE Choice programs and virtual ACHE Chapter Panel Discussions.
Yes. Candidates may earn more than the required 12 In-Person Education credits to meet the 36 credit requirement.
For example, all 36 required credits may be earned through In-Person Education.
Up to 24 of the 36 credits may be earned through Virtual Interactive Education.
Up to 12 of the 36 required credits may be earned through Qualifying Education.
Not necessarily. The revised credentialing criteria are meant to provide flexibility as well as a more modern, contemporary educational experience. Once an applicant earns the required 12 credits of In-Person Education, various paths are available to earning the full 36 credits needed to earn or maintain the FACHE credential.
The following chart shows several examples of scenarios and whether they meet the requirements of earning 36 credits under the revised criteria.
ACHE chapters can now deliver In-Person and Virtual Interactive Chapter Panel Discussions.