IHI Open School Updates

Stay current with the latest IHI Open School updates.

Recent Updates

Important Update: Changes to Free Student Accounts (4/1/25)
Important Update: Changes to Free Student Accounts (4/1/25)

Starting May 1, 2025, IHI Open School will discontinue the option to register for a free student account. Students currently registered under free student accounts must complete their courses by April 30, 2025

Next Steps

IHI began communicating these updates to institutions of higher learning in the fall of 2024. However, if you have not received information about these changes from your faculty members or institution, please reach out to them directly.

Colleges, universities and residency programs interested in incorporating IHI Open School courses into their curriculum are eligible for the updated, low-cost Higher Learning and Residency Programs group subscription. Individual subscriptions are also available for those who are interested.

See Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at the end of this notice.

Why Are Free Student Accounts Being Discontinued?

When Open School launched in 2008, IHI was committed to providing quality improvement and patient safety education to students who had limited access to these resources. While IHI has been able to successfully maintain this model for 17 years, it has become challenging to sustain Open School through rising technology and infrastructure costs.  

Over the past year, we have listened to feedback from our higher learning customers and, as a result, have recently introduced an updated, low-cost group subscription to better support these institutions. As we transition to this updated Higher Learning and Residency Programs group subscription model and continue to enhance and sustain IHI Open School, we are discontinuing the free student accounts. This change allows us to provide a more valuable experience for both individual learners and institutions alike.

FAQs for Learners

Q: After May 1st, my college or university is still going to require me to take courses as part of my class curriculum. What do I do?

A: Contact your instructor or administrator and inform them that IHI requires them to purchase a paid group subscription for their students to access Open School courses as part of their curriculum. Please provide them the following contact email so IHI may assist them with purchasing a subscription: OpenSchoolSubscribers@ihi.org

Q: After May 1st, how do I access my certificates of completion for courses I have already completed if I do not have a paid subscription?

A: After May 1st, you may continue to log in and download your certificates of completion without a subscription.

Q: After May 1st, can I review the course content of courses I have already completed?

A: A paid subscription will be required to access course content. You will either need an access code as part of a group subscription through your institution, or you must purchase an individual subscription.

Q: After May 1st, I would like to continue to enroll in new courses. What are my options? 

A: A paid subscription will be required to enroll in new courses. You will either need an access code as part of a group subscription through your institution, or you must purchase an individual subscription.

Visit this page regularly to stay up-to-date with the IHI Open School. For any questions, please reach out to OpenSchoolSubscribers@ihi.org to get support.