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The Academy of Health Information Professionals

Mentoring for the Academy

To help acculturate newer health information professionals into the profession, the Academy of Health Information Professionals matches each Provisional member with a mentor. The mentor provides expertise in selecting continuing education opportunities and professional activities. 

Mentoring a Provisional member in the academy is a rewarding way to contribute to the health information field by fostering newer professionals. Take time to review this page to determine if being an academy mentor is right for you.

To top of page Mentor Requirements

Academy mentors must be:

  • members of the academy at the Member level or above
  • able to fulfill the responsibilities listed below

To top of page Sign Up Online to Become a Mentor

If you meet the above requirements, sign up to express your interest in serving as a provisional mentor. If a mentor opportunity becomes available you will be contacted by the Academy.

Mentor Agreement:

Complete the mentor agreement to receive Academy points. (1 point per mentee, and up to five points per five year Academy membership period).

To top of page Mentor Responsibilities

When you have been assigned a provisional member, you will receive his or her portfolio. Review this portfolio immediately.
  1. Examine the provisional member's education, experience, and the goals he or she has identified
  2. Identify areas in which continuing education may be appropriate, using:
    3. The provisional member can fulfill his or her yearly continuing education requirement (8 contact hours) through MLA CE courses, other CE courses pre-approved by MLA, academic courses at a university or community college, or an MLA journal club. 
Contact the Provisional member within two weeks of receiving the portfolio.
  • Discuss the requirements for renewal at the provisional level
    • Annual contact with the mentor (in-person, phone, or email)
    • completion of 8 hours of continuing education per 12-month period
  • Remind the member that when he/she has five years of full time professional work experience, he/she must upgrade to Member or Senior level to remain a member of the academy.
    • Encourage regular review of requirements for the levels
    • Encourage regular review of the current Point Index to be aware of the types of activities that are awarded points and the documentation required
  • Encourage good practices to prepare for the upgrade:
    • Encourage creation an academy folder
      • copy of provisional application packet
      • copy of each yearly renewal
      • documentation for all continuing education and professional accomplishment
Annually sign the Provisional member's renewal form (Form PROV-REN)
  • MLA Headquarters will send Form PROV-REN to you to sign, verifying annual contact with the Provisional member
  • Sign the form and forward it to the Provisional member within three working days of receipt
  • If you have not been in contact with the Provisional member during the year, contact him/her as soon as possible.

To top of page Provisional Member's Responsibilities

  • Annual contact with mentor (in-person, or by phone or email)
  • Seek out continuing education opportunities that fulfill the annual 8-hour CE requirement
  • Seek out individual accomplishment activities in preparation for applying at the Member or Senior member level

To top of page Mentor Rewards

In addition to the satisfaction of mentoring a new professional, academy mentors receive one academy point per year per mentee. These points count toward the five-point MLA activity requirement for the Distinguished membership level.

Thanks to Rittenhouse for their sponsorship of MLA's website.

Thanks to Mosby's Index for their sponsorship of the MLA website.

Thanks to the Endocrine Society for their sponsorship of the MLA website!