CAPC Designation

The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) was established to increase access to quality palliative care services. CAPC leads the nation in providing health care professionals and organizations with the training, tools, and technical assistance necessary to meet this need. An important part of this mission is ensuring that all clinicians working with seriously ill patients have key skills, many of which are not yet taught in standard clinical education.

CAPC Designation reflects a clinician’s proven commitment to continued progress in improving the care of patients living with a serious illness, and their families. Health care professionals who show this commitment deserve public recognition.

Designation status is available to all staff at member organizations who complete all CAPC courses in any of the following units:

• Communication Skills
• Pain Management
• Chronic Pain Strategies for Patients with Serious Illness
• Symptom Management
• Best Practices in Dementia Care and Caregiver Support

Designation status is also available to all staff at member organizations who complete the following Learning Pathways:

• Social Work Serious Illness Designation
• Registered Nursing Serious Illness Designation
• Age-Friendly Health Care
• DEA 8-Hour Opioid and Substance Use Disorder Training
• Core Palliative Care Skills for Medical Students
• Comprehensive Palliative Care Skills for Medical Students
• Core Palliative Care Skills for Medical Residents and Fellows
• Comprehensive Palliative Care Skills for Medical Residents and Fellows

CAPC courses are case-based, interactive, and provide free continuing education credits. See the list of clinical competencies addressed by each unit of the curriculum.

A CAPC Designation Certificate will be awarded upon completion of each eligible unit listed above. Designations can be added to your performance file or resume to indicate comprehensive training in these core competencies.