IHI Open School for Students and Residents

Format:

Online

Enrollment Type:

Valid Eligible Participants

Access Type:

Free Limited Access with No CE Credits

Interested in getting access to Continuing Education credits and the full course catalog? Consider purchasing a full IHI Open School subscription.

Already registered? Log in to begin courses.

IHI offers free access to Open School online courses to participants that meet certain eligibility requirements. This free Open School curriculum gives access to our Basic Certificate in Quality and Safety and the Safety and Quality Improvement Micro-Credential*, which is comprised of 13 courses that provide a well-rounded introduction to quality, safety, population health, equity, health care leadership, and person- and family-centered care. Completing these courses will earn students a certificate of completion demonstrating competency in these areas.

Important Update: After May 1, 2025, free Open School access for students will no longer be available. Learn More

Course Options

Free Courses for Students

Students who can demonstrate active enrollment in a degree-seeking program or residency program can register for the free IHI Open School curriculum. Students will be required to attest to student/resident status and may be asked to provide proof of enrollment to maintain active access to the free IHI Open School curriculum. If proof is not provided, IHI reserves the right to cancel access at any time without notice.

Important Update: This option will be discontinued on May 1, 2025. If you are currently on a free student account, all courses will need to be completed prior to this date. Learn More

The IHI Open School will continue to be available for institutions of higher learning and residency programs who purchase a group subscription. To confirm if your institution holds a group Open School subscription, please contact your faculty or institutional leadership.

Instructions and Resources for Free Student IHI Open School Access

I am a qualifying student or resident. How do I access the free IHI Open School courses?

Create an account at my.ihi.org. Download the IHI Open School User Guide for step-by-step instructions.
After successfully creating your IHI account, the process is complete. Do not attempt to complete the payment form or it will generate an invoice for payment on your account.
Your IHI Open School curriculum will be available in 24 hours. After that time, please proceed directly to the Education Platform Login webpage to access your courses.

What is included in the free limited-access IHI Open School curriculum for students?

The free IHI Open School curriculum for students includes the 13-course curriculum for the Basic Certificate in Quality and Safety. These newly updated courses provide students with a certificate of completion for each individual course and one certificate of completion for the entire 13-course curriculum.

Certificates of completion for courses offered through the free curriculum are only to acknowledge the student’s participation and endeavors in learning; we do not provide transcripts for courses taken through the IHI Open School. Certificates of completion are not valid for Continuing Education credits or for claiming contact hours.

The 13 courses are: Quality Improvement (QI 101-105), Patient Safety (PS 101-105), Triple Aim (TA 101), Person-and Family Centered Care (PFC 101), and Leadership (L 101).

Access to courses beyond the 13-course curriculum for the Basic Certificate in Quality and Safety requires a paid subscription and are listed in the student catalog as "Add to Cart." You can get full access to additional IHI Open School courses by purchasing an individual subscription or a group subscription.

Helpful Tips for Free Student IHI Open School Users

You have access to the IHI Open School free student curriculum, which includes the 13 courses in the Basic Certificate in Quality and Safety curriculum.
Visit the IHI Open School Updates page regularly to stay up to date with the IHI Open School.
Get additional guidance and troubleshooting.
Learn how to claim credits for your completed program.
For any questions, please reach out to OpenSchoolSubscribers@ihi.org.

Free Courses for Inhabitants of Least Developed Countries

IHI is committed to providing free access to the IHI Open School for inhabitants of Least Developed Countries (LDC) as defined by the UN**. Inhabitants can access the 13 courses available for the Basic Certificate in Quality and Safety, as well as a certificate of completion. Access will automatically be given to qualifying users upon registration.

**The list of Least Developed Countries is defined by the United Nations.

Courses Available in Spanish and Portuguese

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) provides a Spanish version of the Open School, which offers a variety of online courses in the fields of quality improvement, patient safety, and leadership. These courses were translated into Spanish with the assistance of students, teachers, and experts from Latin America and Europe. Each course takes about 1-2 hours and consists of several thematic units. Each unit requires approximately 15-30 minutes. At the end of each unit, students will take an assessment.

IHI offers a downloadable, comprehensive guide on how to sign up for the free IHI Open School curriculum as a student user, access your courses, and answer any frequently asked questions.

Download the IHI Open School User Guide for Students Accessing the Free Curriculum

*A micro-credential shows proof of completion for a series of courses from an accredited learning institution. They let employers and your professional network know that you have proficiency in a subject area. You can reference this micro-credential on your resume or CV as “Safety and Quality Improvement Micro-Credential, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, (Date of completion).”

Please note that users under the free curriculum cannot obtain Continuing Education (CE) credits. To be able to earn CE credits, we recommend signing up for an individual subscription.

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IHI Open School for Students and Residents

IHI Open School for Students and Residents

Course Options

Subscribe to Earn Continuing Education Credits

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