Navigating the CCB Approved Continuing Education Requirements

The Compliance Certification Board (CCB) plays a vital role in promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in compliance and ethics. It recognizes individuals who have demonstrated expertise in these areas. The CCB also offers educational resources, networking opportunities, and a community for compliance professionals to share best practices and discuss emerging issues in the field. As the healthcare industry changes, the CCB and those certified by it play an all-important role in ensuring healthcare organizations also evolve. The best practices of today may not be the best practices of tomorrow. CCB certified healthcare compliance professionals are on the cutting edge of compliance, so they are also among the first to adopt new practices, such as compliance software.

Understanding CCB Certification

Part of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE), the Compliance Certification Board (CCB) determines competence in the practice of compliance and ethics. Areas covered by the Compliance Certification Board include ethics, risk management in healthcare, audits and monitoring, investigations, and program management - all with a mind for best practices and ethical considerations. It’s important to note that individuals can become CCB certified; organizations cannot. As their names imply, these certifications focus on the core areas of healthcare compliance and distinguish professionals as experts when it comes to best practices, compliance frameworks, and ethical considerations.

Initial Certification

The first step is rooted in practical education. After education comes action. For a CCEP, you’d need to complete 20 continuing education units (CEUs) - which must be approved by the Compliance Certification Board - and submit proof of completion alongside an Examination Application. If accepted, you’ll need to schedule an examination with the CCB to prove your knowledge.

The CCB sets the standards that individuals must meet to receive and hold certification in compliance. Our on-campus MSL degree is offered completely in residence at our USC University Park campus in Los Angeles. Our accreditation enables students who obtain one of USC Gould's certificates in compliance to sit for the following exams:

Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP)
Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional International (CCEP-I)
Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC)
Certified in Healthcare Research Compliance (CHRC)
Certified in Healthcare Privacy Compliance (CHPC)

The initial exam fee is $350 for members, $450 for non-members, and $75 for re-exams if the re-exam is taken within your exam eligibility period. The exam is largely based on compliance work experience; an official study guide is not available for this exam. CCB requires 5-7 business days to process your exam application. Your exam eligibility period is based on when you acquired your CEUs and are valid for 12 full months. You need to sit for your exam by the end of your exam eligibility period.

You can reapply to sit for the exam immediately following receiving your score report. If you fail two exam attempts within a 180‑day period, you must wait 180 days from your most recent exam date before applying to retake the exam. The application fee to retake the exam is based on your submitted CEUs. As many times as it takes while working within the required 180 Day Waiting Period policy.

Exam refunds are only provided to applicants who need to cancel a SCCE or HCCA event and their exam eligibility was based on earning the required CEUs at that event (making them now ineligible). Applicants with prior approved CEUs that meet the CEU requirements regardless of attending the cancelled SCCE or HCCA event, are not eligible for a refund. In addition, refunds are not provided to exam candidates that fail to schedule and/or sit for their exam prior to their exam eligibility period expiring.

Candidates who sit for an exam at a local PSI testing center or take an online remote proctored exam typically receive immediate results.

Special Accommodations

CCB and PSI comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and strive to ensure that no individual with a disability is deprived of the opportunity to take the exam solely by reason of that disability. An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such impairment.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

If you pass an exam, CCB cannot add your designation to your online account, cannot issue a digital badge, you will not receive a copy of your certificate, and CCB cannot verify your designation. In addition, you are not permitted to use the designation until this required step is complete. If you fail the exam, CCB cannot allow you to re-test.

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Exam-Related Issues

Unacceptable Issues: Unacceptable time delay to start testing beyond a 30-minute wait past my scheduled appointment time, unacceptable noise levels, or unresolved technical issues that go beyond 30 minutes? Yes, if you do not begin the exam or immediately discontinue taking the exam upon encountering the issue. Whether you choose to discontinue or continue the exam process, your exam score may count as an exam exposure and the pass or fail score may stand as is.

Continued technical issues: Continued technical issues at no fault of my own (PSI related tech issues - not due to using an unsupported device i.e. Yes, if you do not begin the exam or immediately discontinue taking the exam upon encountering the issue. First, work with the online proctor and contact PSI tech support to receive a PSI tech support ticket number which should confirm the technical issues you have encountered. Please note, CCB recommends using a personal home computer (not a work device) for this testing modality. If you use an unsupported device, there may be a $75 re-exam fee.

180-Day Waiting Period

What is a 180 Day Waiting Period? If you do not receive a passing score on your second exam attempt and your first two exams were taken back-to-back (within 6 months of each other), you are required to wait 180 days for your third attempt. No, this is a standing policy and required for all test takers due to exam exposure and needing to protect the integrity of the exam.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

To maintain certification, professionals must engage in ongoing learning and development by earning Continuing Education Units (CEUs). This ensures they stay updated on the latest industry trends, regulations, and best practices.

General Guidelines

The Compliance Certification Board (CCB)® accepts compliance related continuing education from any organization as long as it meets at least one of the 10 CCB subject area and documentation requirements. The “How to Earn CEUs” is a guideline and may change at any time. CEU values or type may be adjusted once a CCB certification specialist has viewed submissions. CCB CEUs cannot be awarded for networking, social activities, breaks, meals, or time spent in non-instructional activities like question-and-answer sessions. Individuals cannot submit direct job-related duties or functions (Example: Annual Internal Compliance related training or general software training) for the purpose of continuing education.

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Live Training Definition

For purposes of continuing education, the term “live” training is any training that is being conducted by the speaker with attendee participation in real‑time.

Earning CEUs

Here's how home inspectors can earn continuing education credits:

Complete classes in approved subject areas from approved providers. One unit is granted for each clock hour of instruction.
Accompany a plumbing, electrical or heating/air conditioning contractor who is licensed with the Oregon Building Codes Division on a repair or maintenance job that lasts a minimum of four hours.
Host ride-alongs with home inspector applicants.
Serve as an officer for an Oregon or a national home inspector professional trade association. One unit is granted for each year of service.

Approved Subject Areas for Home Inspector Credit

These are approved subject areas: Home inspection, report writing, communication skills, business practices, construction, renovation, lead-based paint, legal issues, ethics, building codes, and home inspector standards. Classes in approved subjects must be relevant to your work as a home inspector. For example, classes in mold and wood-destroying organisms (termites and other pests) are approved because they are relevant to your work. No classes in pesticides are approved because the standards do not require home inspectors to apply pesticides.

Proving Completed Education

When you receive your certification renewal notice, complete the renewal form and submit copies of your course completion certificates. Detailed instructions are included with the renewal form.

College courses: Send a copy of the college transcript (official or unofficial) with the appropriate course(s) highlighted. The document should indicate the name of the school, course title, name of the home inspector, passing grade, number of credit hours, and when the course was completed.
Other courses/workshops/seminars: Send a copy of the completion certificate. The certificate should contain the name of the school/organization, specific course title (not “July workshop”, “Bend seminar”, etc.); name of the home inspector; date the course was completed; and actual hours of the course or the number of education units granted. Also acceptable is a letter on the providers’ letterhead with the same information.
Ride along: Submit the Home Inspector Continuing Education Ride-Along Credit form if you: accompanied a licensed Building Codes Division (BCD) plumbing, electrical or heating/air conditioning contractor on a repair or maintenance job or hosted a ride-along for a home inspector applicant
Officer of a home inspector trade association: If you served as an officer of an Oregon or national home inspector professional trade association, submit a copy of a letter from the association that states the office held and dates served (month/year to month/year).

Tracking and Viewing CEUs

You can easily track and view your CEUs by logging in to your online account with your username and password and click “My CEUs”.

Earning CEUs Through Specific Activities

SCCE & HCCA Events: Participate in SCCE & HCCA's live webinars. SCCE & HCCA hosts more than 90 events annually.
Publications: Publish an article in SCCE's Compliance & Ethics Professional or HCCA’s Compliance Today magazine or in any organization’s educational publication.
Self-Study: Complete any self-study activity such as online training modules that relate to compliance.
Speaking/Instructing/Authoring: To receive CEUs for speaking, instructing, or authoring a published article you must submit an Individual Accreditation Application and a copy of your presentation, syllabi, or article. State speaker or instructor within event title field on submission form.
Other Activities:
1. Conference, Workshop, Seminar, Lecture, etc. (Must be related to the Kinesiotherapy Scope of Practice.) Continuing education credits must be indicated on certificate of attendance.
2. Home study courses (Must be related to the Kinesiotherapy Scope of Practice).
3. Research Projects - Variable credit up to a maximum 1.2 CEU’s for publication in a refereed journal.
4. Publications - Variable credit up to 1.2 CEU’s awarded for publication of books, articles and abstracts.
5. Performing Lectures, Seminars - Variable credit given up to 1.2 CEU’s per lecture/seminar, preparation year only.

Pre-Approved Events

It is any event that has been pre‑approved by CCB to offer CCB CEUs to participants. The event’s sponsor submitted the content to CCB prior to the event for CCB CEU consideration, and the CCB certification staff determined that CCB CEUs should be awarded for the event. Events may include conferences, workshops, webinars, and presentations, among others. At the end of the event, the event sponsor will distribute a certificate of attendance to all participants.

If event is approved: All approval documents must be sent to every attendee seeking CCB CEUs. No fees may be charged for those seeking CCB CEUs for their attendance of your approved event. Attendees must have a copy of the official CCB CEU certificate for their records. Only official CCB CEU certificates are valid for reporting earned CCB CEUs and accepted for attendance verification. CCB reserves the right to audit continuing education submissions at any time. Sponsors are not required to send certificates to CCB on behalf of the individuals seeking credit. It is the responsibility of the individual receiving CCB CEUs to submit the certificate to CCB for credits. Additionally, it is the candidate’s responsibility to maintain a file of continuing education activities and certificates of attendance.

Submitting CEUs for Non-Pre-Approved Activities

Are CEUs awarded for an activity that wasn’t CCB pre-approved? You still can submit CEUs for activities and events that were not pre‑approved for CCB CEUs but are, at least in part, relevant to compliance. After completing the event, log into your account → then select “Claim CEUs” → then choose “Individual Accreditation Application” from the drop‑down menu. Follow the prompts to complete the upload of your supporting documentation and submit. For Individuals looking to submit external education, log in to your account and select Individual Accreditation Application (from an outside organization). Supporting documentation will be required for review (i.e. timed agenda and certificate of attendance).

If the event is not accredited, a CCB certification specialist will notify the program sponsor. Decisions regarding accreditation may be appealed to the CCB Board of Directors. The board may, at its discretion, uphold the findings of the Continuing Education Committee or render its own findings regarding accreditation and total award, or it may refer the application back to the committee for a second review.

CLE and CPE Credits

SCCE and HCCA regularly apply to outside organizations for pre-approval of continuing education for its events. In addition to being CCB pre-approved, SCCE and HCCA events are often pre-approved for Continuing Legal Education, RN and NASBA/CPE credits.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE)

The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics is a provider/sponsor, approved/accredited by the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas. An approximate maximum of 14.0 clock hours of CLE credit for qualifying sessions will be available to participants of this conference licensed in these states. Upon request, if there is sufficient time and if there are sessions that meet their CLE requirements, SCCE may submit qualifying sessions to additional state CLE authorities for consideration. This includes meeting state CLE authorities’ requirements for sessions being offered live and virtually. Only written requests from registered participants will be considered. All CLE credits will be assessed based on actual participation and in accordance with each state CLE authority’s requirements.

NASBA/CPE

The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Sponsor Identification No: 143451. The education level for this activity is considered basic. No prerequisites are required for this education. Delivery Method: Group Internet Based. Advanced Preparation: None. A recommended maximum of 21.6 credits based on a 50-minute hour will be granted for this activity. This program addresses topics that are of a current concern in the compliance environment and is a Group Internet Based activity in the recommended field of study of Specialized Knowledge.

Specific Event CEU Breakdown Example

Sunday | 7.2 CCB CEUs
Monday | 6.0 CCB CEUs
Tuesday | 7.2 CCB CEUs
Wednesday* | 9.6 CCB CEUs*To meet this total, Wednesday virtual sessions would also have to be attended

Certification Renewal

The Compliance Certification Board follows basic International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as it relates to commonly accepted practices for renewal of its certifications. Once you have completed the online renewal application and submitted the renewal application fee, you will then be renewed into your next certification period. The certification renewal fee is $145 for members and $265 for non-members. Certification Renewal fees are subject to change.

CEU Requirements for Renewal

You will need 20 CCB CEUs (minimum of 10 live) earned in the last 12 months. If CEUs are added after your current eligibility period expires, you will need to submit a new exam application and pay the full exam fees. You will need to add 20 CCB CEUs (minimum of 10 live) and submit a new exam application and pay the full exam fees.

CEU Redemption and Carryover

The CEUs that you accumulated prior to passing an exam are considered redeemed once you pass an exam, and do not carry over into your renewal period. Excess CEUs earned beyond the required 40 CCB CEUs (minimum of 20 live) do not carry over into the next renewal period.

Grace Period and Extensions

CCB provides an automatic one-month grace period. In addition, you can purchase a 1-month or 2-month (two month maximum) extension beyond your renewal date to earn and submit the required 40 CCB CEUs (minimum of 20 live) by completing the online Renewal Extension request from your online account. Login with your username and password > Click Certification > Click Purchase Extension > and select the 1-month $50 or 2-month $100. You can purchase one month first ($50) and if additional time is needed, then purchase the second month ($50).

Additional Information

Digital Badges

A digital badge is an electronic representation and verification of a professional accomplishment. Digital badges are a great way to quickly showcase your knowledge and expertise to a broad audience. Your badge will help to verify your certification status with your current organization or highlight your achievement and compliance knowledge for a future employer. Digital badges protect the integrity of our credential by providing a link to verified data from the issuing organization that cannot be falsified. To verify a badge, click on the “Show Credential” button.

CCB's Role in Healthcare Compliance

Compliance is a top priority for any organization, but for healthcare especially. In fact, the concept of “compliance” reaches into all areas of operation - from compliance with HIPAA standards to alignment with workplace safety standards, and even compliance with labor regulations. Many healthcare organizations prioritize hiring CCB accredited individuals - or even pay for their existing staff to go through CCB examination and certification. They see this as an investment in the continued excellence of their facilities, healthcare programs, and provider success. For healthcare professionals looking to get on a strong career path, CCB certification helps them stand out as leaders. In 2023, Healthcare Compliance Officers see an average salary of nearly $88,000 annually, with a pay scale that can rise as high as $150,000+ with experience.

CHC, CHRC or CHPC Certification

CHC certification is geared toward general healthcare compliance while CHRC is geared toward compliance professionals in the research realm.

SCCE or HCCA Membership

Do I need to be an SCCE or HCCA member to become certified? Do my SCCE or HCCA membership dues include the exam or renewal cost? SCCE or HCCA membership dues do not include the cost of becoming CCB certified or renewing a CCB certification. SCCE or HCCA membership and CCB certification are two separate renewal processes. Does my event fee also apply toward the exam or renewal fee? The cost of attending an SCCE or HCCA Academy or other event does not apply toward the cost of initial certification or certification renewal.

USC Gould School of Law

USC Gould School of Law's certificates in Compliance, Financial Compliance, Health Care Compliance, and Human Resources Law and Compliance are accredited by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB). The certificates may be earned on a standalone basis or concurrent with the Online or On-Campus Master of Studies in Law (MSL) and Online Master of Laws (LLM) degree.

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