Navigating AI in Continuing Education: New Guidance for BOC Approved Provider
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the way organizations create, deliver and evaluate educational content. As AI continues to evolve, BOC Approved Providers may explore how these tools can support continuing education (CE). To help BOC Approved Providers navigate this emerging landscape, BOC has developed Guidance on the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for BOC Approved Providers.
Available as part of the AP Toolkit, this new resource provides practical recommendations and best practices for the responsible use of AI in CE. The guidance is intended to help BOC Approved Providers explore the potential benefits of AI while maintaining the educational quality, integrity and independence that learners expect.
Importantly, these guidelines are guidance, not new standards or additional requirements. Instead, they translate existing BOC Approved Provider standards into practical considerations for the use of AI in CE, highlighting key issues, best practices and guardrails to consider when incorporating AI into educational activities. This guidance is designed to help BOC Approved Providers make informed decisions about using AI while protecting providers, learners and patients as AI becomes increasingly integrated into education and health care. Providers using AI in CE should read and apply this guidance to understand how AI use intersects with existing standards and to ensure those standards are met through the educational design and delivery process.
A key theme is the importance of human review and oversight. While AI can be a useful tool for developing or supporting educational content, BOC Approved Providers remain ultimately responsible for the accuracy, quality and appropriateness of the content they provide. Appropriate human review is essential to identify errors, misinformation, bias or other issues that may be present in AI-generated content or outputs.
BOC Approved Providers are encouraged to consider several important factors when incorporating AI into CE, including accuracy, bias, confidentiality, transparency and learner trust. Responsible AI use requires consideration of not only what the technology can do, but also how its use may affect the educational experience and the professionals who rely on that education to inform patient care.
BOC encourages its Approved Providers to explore this resource and consider how responsible AI practices can support high-quality CE while aligning AI use with BOC standards and preserving the integrity and trust essential to CE. As AI technology and its applications continue to develop, this resource will evolve as well. BOC considers the guide a living resource that can be updated as the technology, its capabilities and its role in CE change.
Check out the Guidance on the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for BOC Approved Providers and other resources available in the BOC Approved Provider Toolkit.
