PRESENTED BY

JANNA LAWRENCE, MLIS, AHIPCHAIR, MLA CREDENTIALING COMMITTEE

MLA ’10, WASHINGTON, D.C.

MAY 24, 2010

PRESENTATION ORIGINALLY CREATED BY ANNA BETH CRABTREE, AHIP, 2003

MLA’s Credentialing Program

A Brief Overview

The Academy of Health Information Professionals is the professional development and career recognition program of the Medical Library Association.

There are several different AHIP membership levels – you are considered to be a fully qualified member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals at any of the levels.

What is AHIP?

What’s the Point?

A structure for professional development

Mentoring and support Encouragement and recognition of

professional activities “Visible” sign to employers

Who can be a member of AHIP?

Members of MLA Members of MLA Chapters Non-members of MLA working in

the health information field

There are approximately 1,125 health information professionals in AHIP, representing the full range of work experience and accomplishments found among health information professionals.

Am I Eligible to Apply?

Academic PreparationDo you have an ALA-accredited master’s degree in library and information science, or another master’s degree? If the latter, can you document coursework in MLA’s seven Professional Competencies?

Am I Eligible to Apply?

Professional ExperienceThe number of years you have worked in the health information field after attaining your master’s degree helps determine which level of AHIP membership you may achieve.

Am I Eligible to Apply?

Professional AccomplishmentsYou may earn points for AHIP membership by participating in a wide variety of professional accomplishments, both in MLA and its chapters and in other national, local, and regional library organizations.

7 Professional Competencies

1 Health Sciences and Health Care Environment and Information Policies

2Leadership and Management Theory and Techniques

3 Health Sciences Information Services

4Health Sciences Resource Management

5Information Systems and Technology

6Curricula Design and Instruction 

7Research, Analysis, and Interpretation

The AHIP Levels

Provisional Member Senior Distinguished Emeritus

Members at each level are full members of the

Academy

Provisional Level

Holds an ALA-accredited MLS or a non-ALA-accredited master’s degree with documented coursework in the 7 Professional Competencies.

Currently employed in the health information field with less than 5 years of experience, OR

Currently seeking employment with less than 5 years of experience.

For the Provisional level, a mentor is assigned to work with you.

Provisional Level

Must document 8 hours of continuing education each year; these hours will then count towards moving you to the next level at the end of your Provisional membership.

Provisional fee is paid once during the provisional period (a maximum of five years) although Provisional membership must be renewed annually.

Member Level

Holds an ALA-accredited MLS or a non-ALA-accredited master’s degree with documented coursework in the 7 Professional Competencies.

Has worked in the health information field for five or more years after attainment of the master’s degree.

Fifty (50) points of professional accomplishments completed in the past 5 years.

Senior Level

Holds an ALA-accredited MLS or a non-ALA-accredited master’s degree with documented coursework in the 7 Professional Competencies.

Has worked in the health information field for five or more years after attainment of the master’s degree.

Senior Level

Eighty (80) points of professional accomplishments completed in the past 5 years.

No more than 50 points may come from sponsored instruction.

At least 5 of the 80 points must be from professional association activities, not necessarily in MLA

Distinguished Level

Holds an ALA-accredited MLS or a non-ALA-accredited master’s degree with documented coursework in the 7 Professional Competencies.

Has worked in the health information field for ten or more years after attainment of the master’s degree.

Distinguished Level

One hundred and twenty (120) points of professional accomplishments completed in the past 5 years.

No more than 50 points may be sponsored instruction.

At least 10 of the 120 points must be professional association activities. At least 5 of 120 must be MLA leadership activities.

Emeritus Level

Retired. Prior member of the academy at any level

(except Provisional) at the time of retirement, and has been credentialed/certified by MLA for 10 consecutive years at the time of retirement.

No points are required to renew at this level.Send a written request, Emeritus Form, and

copies of your last certificate(s) to MLA headquarters.

Comparison of AHIP Levels

AHIP Education Health Info. Professional Max CE ExtraLevels Requirements Work Activity Points Points Assoc Pts

Experience Required Allowed Required

Provisionalunder 5 years

at least 8 pts CE per year

n/a n/a

Member5 or more

years50 points 50 points n/a

Senior5 or more

years80 points 50 points 5 points

Distinguished10 or more

years120 points 50 points

10 points (5 MLA pts)

Emeritus10 or more

years

AHIP member for 10 consecutive years at time of

retirement

n/a n/a

All require an ALA-accredited

master's degree or another

master's plus training in the 7

Professional Competencies

AHIP on MLANET

www.mlanet.org/academy/

Portfolio Review Process

It begins at MLA Headquarters You send in your portfolio

Primary Review An MLA Credentialing Committee member

Secondary Review The Credentialing Committee’s Chair

Designate It ends at MLA Headquarters

You are notified of the outcome

Changes to the Point Index for MLA Annual Meeting reporters.

Changes to Point Index for Web content writers/editors.

Online renewal at the same level with credit card only in development.

Online repository for storing and managing professional development activities.

New & Coming Soon!

LISA C. FRIED, MACOORDINATOR, CREDENTIALING, PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

AND CAREERSMEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

PHONE: (312) 419-9094 X28 FAX: (312) 419-8950E-MAIL: MLAPD2@MLAHQ.ORG

OR CONTACT YOUR CHAPTER CREDENTIALING LIAISON

“Who you gonna call”….. about Credentialing?

Credentialing/AHIP

Questions?