A recent study compared continuing professional development (CPD) quality assurance systems in France and the United States to identify similar traits in terms of principles of quality and independence. Both France's government-administered CPD quality assessment/accreditation system and the voluntary, profession-regulated U.S. equivalent have the common goal of upholding improvements in competence, performance and patient care. Both systems are designed to align CPD programs with identified clinical gaps and priorities in patient safety and population health; ensure that formats and learning strategies are appropriate; support scientific validity and independence of content; certify competency and independence of faculty staff; and evaluate the effectiveness of CPD activities. The countries' approaches to interprofessional learning highlight their differences, with a national accreditation body serving as the central platform for all health professions in France working to cultivate interest in interprofessional education. Meanwhile, the United States has had individual professions develop specific CPD recognition and quality assurance systems, with accrediting bodies then implementing joint accreditation to promote interprofessional continuing education. The U.S. framework, being independent of government authority, allows more flexibility than France's in demonstrating its value. "By building consensus and collaboration, the community of accreditors can aim to achieve a shared strategic vision — we can better meet the needs of upcoming generations of clinicians, drive quality in medical education, and improve care for the patients and communities we all serve," the authors conclude.

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