Medical Library Association | The Academy of Health Information Professionals : Academy Point Index

The Academy of Health Information Professionals

Academy Point Index I. Continuing Education
I. Continuing Education

(revised 01/11)

A. Sponsored Instruction
B. Academic Instruction
C. Discussion Group Program
D. Self-Directed Learning
E. Independent Reading Program

The number of points awarded for continuing education is determined according to established standards. In each case, the documentation required to support the request for points is specified.

NOTE: Teaching that is related to one's job will not be awarded points.

Only fifty (50) points can be claimed for continuing education for any level of membership; remaining points must be from individual accomplishments.

NOTE: Continuing education that is related to one's current job, such as learning to use the institution's new accounting system, will not be awarded points. If the knowledge and skills learned in a CE are applicable to another library position, points will be awarded.

A. Sponsored Instruction

Sponsored instruction covers continuing education activities sponsored by an organization. This does not include coursework taken for academic credit. (See below for information on academic coursework).

Activity	Points
Institutes, seminars, short courses, workshops, lecture series, year long programs, etc.	1 point per hour of attendance

Documentation required: copy of certificate including contact hours/CEUs and a completed Individual Participant Request (Form IPR), if required. (See Form IPR Guidelines.)

Clarification: MLA CE courses, NLM/CISTI, or other sponsored CE given by a provider accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Psychology Association are automatically approved for CE credit. They do not need an IPR form.

Clarification: No more than 30 points will be granted for a single activity that includes week-long courses, extended seminars, year long programs, or other continuing education activities. Examples would include Woods Hole Informatics course, MLA Emerging Leaders program, and the NLM/AAHSL Leadership Fellows program, which all qualify for the full 30 points.

Clarification: Activities sponsored by the following groups are not automatically approved for Academy points, although the sponsoring organization may apply for MLA approval:

affiliated chapters and sections of MLA
international, national, regional, state, and local library groups
NN/LM members
vendors, commercial firms, governmental agencies

Even if these groups have not received MLA approval in advance, points can still be claimed. Submission of a completed Individual Participant Request (Form IPR) in addition to the certificate of completion is required in order for academy points to be granted. (See Form IPR Guidelines.)

B. Academic Instruction

Points for academic instruction depend upon the number of credit hours awarded for the course and whether the course was taken for credit or audit. This category includes internships and fellowships for which academic credit was received.

Academic courses taken for credit

Activity	Points
one semester hour	15 points per credit hour
one trimester hour	14 points per credit hour
one quarter hour	10 points per credit hour

Documentation required: Copy of transcript.

Clarification: Points may be claimed up to a maximum of 30 points per five-year period.

Academic courses taken for registered audit

Activity	Points
one semester hour	8 points per credit hour
one trimester hour	7 points per credit hour
one quarter hour	5 points per credit hour

Documentation required: Copy of transcript.

Clarification: Points may be claimed up to a maximum of 30 points per five-year period.

C. Discussion Group Program

Activity	Points
MLA Discussion Group
Participants	8 points
Convener (includes 8 points for participation)	13 points

Documentation required: Copy of MLA CE Certificate for participants and copy of MLA notification of Discussion Group approval for convener.

Clarification: Points may be claimed to a maximum of 26 points per five-year period.

D. Self-Directed Learning

Activity	Points
MLA's Self-Directed Learning Program or other forms of self-study	1 point per 3 hours of work

Documentation required: Copy of contract and certificate of completion; non-MLA self-study programs also require the submission of a completed Form IPR (see Form IPR Guidelines).