Program Details

Important Dates

Application dates for 2024: November 1, 2023 - February 19, 2024

Core institute modules are held every Tuesday at 1:00 PM (CT), beginning May thru July. Other institute modules are held monthly, September through June of the next year. Periodic mentor group meetings occur throughout the institute year. All institute modules and mentor group meetings will be conducted on Zoom and be 1-1.5 hours in length. (30 hrs approx.). See Schedule

• May: Pre-institute learning activities
• May–July: Core institute modules, Tuesdays, 1:00 p.m., Central Time
• August–June: Participants conduct research projects
• September–April: Monthly institute modules. 
• June–June of next year: Periodic mentor group meetings. 
• May of next year: Research Poster Presentation @ MLA Annual Conference

Application Procedures and Registration

• Learn more about application requirements and deadlines.
• Review the application instructions thoroughly before completing the online application form.

Institute Fees

• Registration Fees:
• MLA member: $1,595
• Student: $795
• Non MLA member: $2,125

Scholarships are open to all MLA members who indicate on the application form that they have a financial need. Non MLA applicants should explore benefits available to MLA members. First time members ($150/year) and librarians with salaries $40,000 or less ($120/year) have reduced membership fees. Learn more about MLA membership fees and benefits. Registration fee includes tuition and participation in RTI online community of practice.

MLA Continuing Education (CE) Credit and AHIP Points

RTI Participants receive 48 MLA continuing education (CE) contact hours. Interested participants may apply for 30 points toward membership in the Academy of Health Information Professional (AHIP).

Research Training Institute Fellow Certificate Program

RTI  Fellow Candidates are encouraged to earn their RTI Fellow Certificate and become an RTI Fellow. All Candidates who have completed the RTI program are eligible to apply for an RTI Fellow Certificate. The certificate program provides professional recognition for librarians and graduate students who have completed the RTI advanced research training and conducted and disseminated a research study. To earn the RTI Fellow Certificate, RTI Fellow Candidates must have completed the full RTI program (met the four RTI program requirements). The RTI program requirements are:

• Successful completion of all RTI coursework (all RTI modules in MEDLIB-ED) verified by an MLA CE Certificate
• Participation in group mentor meetings
• Poster presentation of your research project/findings at an MLA annual meeting
• Leading and completing a health information study (defined as completing all stages of your research project, including the statistical/data analysis and research results)

MLA will process your application and, on approval, send you a certificate recognizing your accomplishment. Your award letter will include a link to a digital badge you can include in your email signature line or website:

See the RTI Fellow Certificate Program Application to apply.

Scholarship Opportunities

RTI offers various scholarships to MLA members to support practicing health sciences professionals to attend the institute. Scholarships are open to all MLA members who indicate on the application form that they have a financial need. Non MLA applicants should explore MLA membership options and benefits in order to apply and receive RTI scholarship opportunities. Learn more about MLA membership fees and benefits.

For questions regarding the institute, please contact Susan Lessick, AHIP, FMLA, project director, RTI.