You’ve heard that writing needs assessments is a great way to break into CME writing.

But you’ve never seen an example of a needs assessment (they’re often proprietary), and you don’t know where to start.

3 arrows pointing up to stars, next level needs assessments is written below

Are you a medical writer looking to break into the rewarding field of CME?

Writing needs assessments is the perfect entry point, but it can feel overwhelming without seeing examples or knowing where to start.

That's where Next Level Needs Assessments comes in.

This comprehensive course will give you the skills and confidence to create compelling needs assessments to launch your CME writing career.

Level up your needs assessment writing strategy.

What You'll Gain from Next Level Needs Assessments:

  • A deep understanding of the anatomy and function of compelling needs assessments in the CME planning cycle

  • The ability to identify clinical practice gaps and craft actionable learning objectives

  • Skills to describe anticipated learning outcomes and behavior changes that resonate with learners and educators

  • Hands-on experience drafting a needs assessment based on course materials, which you can refine into a powerful portfolio sample

Skills that clients need

    • Brief Course Overview

    • What is CME?

    • Brief History of CME in the USA

    • The Role and Function of a Needs Assessment

    • Major Stakeholders in the CME/CE Needs Assessments Ecosystem

    • Global CME

    • Activity: Definition Flashcards

    • Read: Essential Components of a Needs Assessment

    • Activity: Anatomy of a Needs Assessment

    • Anatomy of a Needs Assessment

    • Types of Need

    • Create a Checklist

    • Example checklist

    • Activity: Identify Types + Sources of Need

    • Policies and Standards in Accredited CME/CE

    • Fair and Balanced Content

    • Listen to Graham McMahon, ACCME Executive Director, talk about integrity, trust, and independence

    • Test your knowledge of content standards for accredited CME

    • Where do NAs fit in the education planning cycle?

    • Examples of Grants and RFPs

    • A Note on Templates

    • Activity: Read and Retrieve

    • What are clinical practice gaps?

    • Gap Analysis Framework

    • Activity Challenge and Examples of Gap Tables

    • Activity: Practice Gap Worksheet

    • Activity: Build a Gap Table for Your Needs Assessment

    • Project Start Up + Process Checklist

    • Evidence Sources

    • The Writer's Role in Gap Analysis

    • Adult Learning Principles: A Primer

    • Learning Science Insights

    • Activity: Match Learning Science Definitions

    • Practical Strategies for Creating CME/CE Content

    • Applying Theory to Practice

    • Learning Objective Resources

    • SMART Goals Template

    • Practical Applications of Adult Learning Principles

    • Strategies to beat the forgetting curve

    • Activity: Can you Improve these Learning Objectives?

    • Activity: Learning Objective Practice

    • Tactics and Formats

    • Which Tactics Support Learning?

    • How to Develop an Activity Agenda for Education Needs Assessments

    • Activity: Create an Activity Agenda

    • Introduction to Outcomes Assessment and Evaluation

    • Defining Outcomes

    • Measuring Outcomes

    • Outcomes Standardization Project

    • Activity: Describe Anticipated Outcomes

    • Addressing Pain Points: Writing Craft

    • Assignment: Draft Needs Assessment

    • Assignment: Final Needs Assessment

Learn how to write lean, agile needs assessments.

Features

  • Deliberate Practice

    Practice writing each step in the needs assessment process before you develop your own needs assessment.

  • Insider Insights

    Learn about the supporter perspective on the Independent Medical Education (IME) grant process, how IME departments manage the RFP process, and how needs assessment fit into IME education strategy and planning.

  • Expert Feedback

    Get answers to your questions via Voxer coaching and monthly Ask Me Anything sessions.

    Add Content Critique at checkout for written feedback on your work.

Bonus Toolkit

A course-specific needs assessment toolkit includes everything you need to develop a needs assessment sample for your portfolio— references, a glossary, and templates.

    • Responses to your questions via Voxer.

    • Monthly Ask Me Anything sessions

    • Discounted Content Critique at checkout for written feedback on your sample

  • Understanding how to create a compelling needs assessment will set you apart from your peers.

    Needs assessments are entry-level deliverables that help new-to-the-field medical writers find their footing in CME/CE and, more importantly, find clients.

    Even if you never plan to write a needs assessment, you must know its function in the grant and education planning cycle and how it informs education strategy.

  • There are tons of resources on my website, in my podcast, Write Medicine, and in my bimonthly newsletter.

  • 1. Timeframe: 15 days from the date of purchase

    2. Requirements:

    • Must complete less than 25% of course content

    3. Exclusions:

    • Downloadable materials already accessed

    4. Process:

    • Submit a request via a designated form/email

    • 3-5 business days processing

    • Refund to the original payment method

    5. Special conditions:

    • No refunds for monthly membership after the access period starts

    • Annual memberships are pro-rated if canceled mid-term

Hi, I’m Alex

I used to be a clinician, academic, and researcher. Now, my mission is to help writers like you confidently create compelling education content and build a sustainable, rewarding CME/CE writing niche.

As someone who started out with no industry experience, no network outside of academia, and—really—no clue, I know you have what it takes to break into the field of CME/CE writing.

Together, we’ll navigate the world of CME/CE content and position you for long-term success in this thriving writing niche.