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Re-Certification

• When to renew
• What are Continuing Education Points?
• Ways to Maintain Your Certification
• Maintaining Contact Hours

When to Renew?

Effective December 2009, any new member who joined the Association or became certified in December, or any month thereafter, will renew their memberships and submit their recertification points on the last day of their anniversary month the following year(s).

• If a member joins or becomes certified in December 2009, their membership renewal and recertification points submissions will be due December 31, 2010
• Those who join or become certified in January 2010 will be required to renew membership and submit recertification points by January 31, 2011, and so on

These renewal date changes do NOT apply to current Active and Associate members (those members who joined/became certified before November 30, 2009). These members will remain on the current April to April billing cycle, as follows:

• Membership renewal and recertification point submissions (points must be dated after April 2009) are due April 30, 2010, and continue to follow this April to April cycle annually
• If a member joined IAHCSMM or recertified prior to November 30, 2009, recertification points must be dated after April 2009, and membership renewal and points submission will be due by April 30, 2010, then the member would continue to follow this April to April cycle annually

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What are Continuing Education Points?

Our members realize the importance of continuing their professional education – to understand and apply new management techniques; to evaluate new procedures and products; to share their expertise and knowledge with their peers.  Continuing education is an invaluable tool to keep you abreast of changes within CS and healthcare in general.  Because of this, all members currently certified are responsible for submitting continuing education points to renew each of their certifications annually.

Points are to be accrued annually in hour increments (1 hour equals 1 point, a ½ hour equals a ½ point, etc.). 

CRCST certifications require 12 points per year to renew

• CRCST points must focus on advancements within the CS field and be of a technical nature

 CIS certification requires an additional 6 points per year to renew

• In addition to your core 12 points needed for CRCST re-certification
• CIS points must focus on instrumentation practices

CHL certification requires an additional 6 points per year to renew

• In addition to your core 12 points needed for CRCST re-certification
• CHL points must focus on supervisory/management skills

CHMMC certification requires 6 points per year to renew

• CHMMC points must focus on informational materiel management issues

CCSVP certification requires 6 points per year to renew

• CCSVP points must focus on advancements within the CS field

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Ways to Maintain Your Certification

Several Sources can provide educational points to help you maintain your certification:

Here’s 4 steps to get your points…fast and easy with IAHCSMM Online Lesson Plans:

1. Purchase lesson plans at the IAHCSMM online store.
   • The online store is www.iahcsmm.org/ecommerce/store.php
   • Purchase:
     • Single lesson plans ($10 member price, $15 non-member price; each plan is worth 2 points if a passing score of 70% or higher is achieved)
     • 6-pack bundle of lesson plans ($50 member price, $75 non-member price; each plan is worth 2 points if a passing score of 70% or higher is achieved; a 6 pack bundle will give you the core 12 points required for CRCST re-certification if all lesson plans score a passing grade)
2. Choose the lesson plan you want to have graded. Visit the main website and you will see several lesson plans to choose from (CRCST, CIS and CHL). Read the lesson plan thoroughly!
3. Get ready to take the quiz. Members will be asked to enter their name and membership ID number; non-members will require one of the activation codes you received when purchased in Step 1. After you enter the required information, the quiz will appear and you’re ready to start answering the questions. Choose submit at the end of the quiz and the computer will immediately grade your responses!
4. A result screen will appear, indicating your overall percentage score and if you passed or failed. Your score and user information are immediately sent electronically to IAHCSMM, and the results are posted to your account. You can print off the score sheet for your records, but you do not have to submit the printed copy with your renewal statement, because it’s already in your account! If you do not score a passing grade of 70% or higher, you will not receive credit for the failed lesson plan. You do have the opportunity at that point to purchase additional single lesson plans at the online store to accumulate your missing points.

And with 5 Easy Steps, you can re-certify and renew your membership with a renewal package!!!! Here's how easy it is:

1. Purchase a renewal package at the IAHCSMM online store
• The online store is www.iahcsmm.org/ecommerce/store.php
• Choose a renewal package that meets your current certification requirements ( CRCST , CRCST plus CIS, CRCST plus CHL, or CRCST plus CIS and CHL):
  • You’ll save additional amounts when purchasing the renewal packages rather than purchasing dues and/or lesson plans separately
  • Each package will allot enough lesson plans to renew all of your current certifications

2. Choose the lesson plan you want to have graded. Visit the main website and you will see several lesson plans to choose from (CRCST, CIS and CHL). Read the lesson plan thoroughly!
3. Get ready to take the quiz. Members will be asked to enter their name and membership id number; non-members will require one of the activation codes you received when purchased in Step 1. After you enter the required information, the quiz will appear and you’re ready to start answering the questions. Choose submit at the end of the quiz and the computer will immediately grade your responses!
4. A result screen will appear, indicating your overall percentage score and if you passed or failed. Your score and user information are immediately sent electronically to IAHCSMM, and the results are posted to your account. You can print off the score sheet for your records, but you do not have to submit the printed copy with your renewal statement, because it’s already in your account!
5. Once you’ve completed all of your lesson plans within your package, an email notification will be sent to IAHCSMM and your new re-certified card will be mailed the following business day! No need to call or fax or mail your points. The electronic notification system is an automated process, so the sooner you complete the plans, the sooner you’ll receive your card!

Additional resources for continuing education are:

• Hospital In-Services
• Seminars
• IAHCSMM Annual Meeting
• Chapter Meetings
• In-Services in Publications
• College Courses
• Vendor-Sponsored Educational Programs
• Purdue Lesson Plans (Pencil/Paper Subscriptions)
• Other Approved Lesson Plans in Periodicals

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Maintaining Contact Hours

To maintain certification with IAHCSMM,it is important to be updated on current trends in the field of Central Service / Sterile Processing. To apprise IAHCSMM of your knowledge and to renew your certification status,you must accumulate points as outlined below on an annual basis.Documentation to fulfill this requirement must be submitted with your annual dues payment.The following guidelines have been established to aid in fulfilling these requirements.

CRCST, CHL, CIS, CCSVP and CHMMC Responsibilities:

1. The CRCST,CHL, CIS, CCSVP and CHMMC is responsible for maintaining appropriate records and documentation for each certification
2. Upon receipt of the billing invoice, you should do one of the following:
   1. Electronic Fast Solution: Go online and purchase a renewal certification package
      1. Your dues payment is received electronically using either a credit card or online check
      2. Your points are accrued as soon as you complete and pass an online lesson plan (scoring 70% or higher)
      3. Update any address and/or name changes within the Member Portal
      4. Upon successful passing of all required lesson plans, a new re-certification card is mailed to you the following business day
   2. Mail or Fax Solution: Submit the following materials to the IAHCSMM Headquarters office:
      1. Billing invoice (with address and/or name changes)
      2. Point Submission form with appropriate supporting documents indicating total appropriate point submissions
      3. Re-certification/membership renewal payment
      4. Re-certification submissions will be reviewed; either a re-certified card or notification of improper point submissions will be sent after this review process, which can take 3-5 business days from the time of receipt at Headquarters
3. All points must be accrued on an annual basis
   1. All members who became certified or joined IAHCSMM prior to November 2009 are on an April to April cycle (all points must be dated after April 30th of the previous year)
   2. All members who become certified or joined IAHCSMM December 2009 or after, are on an anniversary date cycle (all points must be dated after your anniversary month of the previous year)
4. Failure to meet the requirements will cause forfeiture of status and reclassification as non-certified

CRCST Points:

1. All CRCST must accumulate 12 points of continuing education per billing year
2. All points submitted must show a direct relation to Central Service/Sterile Processing, expanding upon one's technical expertise and/or advancement in the field

CHL Points: (CHL are required to maintain current CRCST status in addition to CHL requirements)

1. All CHL must accumulate 6 points of continuing education per billing year, in addition to points submitted for all other certifications
2. All points submitted must reflect knowledge attained on a management/supervisory level, expanding upon one's management expertise

CIS Points: (CIS are required to maintain current CRCST status in addition to CIS requirements) move BEFORE CHMMC

1. All CIS must accumulate 6 points of continuing education per billing year, in addition to points submitted for CRCST status, and for all other certifications
2. All points submitted must show a direct relation to Instrument Handling, expanding upon one's technical expertise and/or advancement in the field

CCSVP Points:

1. All CCSVP must accumulate 6 points of continuing education per billing year, in addition to points submitted for all other certifications held
2. All points submitted must show a direct relation to Central Service/Sterile Processing, expanding upon one's technical expertise and/or advancement in the field

CHMMC Points:

1. All CHMMC must accumulate 6 points of continuing education per billing year, in addition to points submitted for all other certifications held
2. All points submitted must show a direct relation to Materiel Management, expanding upon one's technical expertise and/or advancement in the field

Point Values:

1. Points are determined by hours used for learning: 1 Point equals 1 Hour, 1/2 point equals 1/2 hour,etc.
2. 2 Points for IAHCSMM Continuing Education Lesson Plans (www.iahcsmm.org)
   Two (2) points will be awarded for successful completion of each lesson plan graded through www.iahcsmm.org. Scores are submitted electronically to IAHCSMM and posted directly to your account after completion of each quiz (visit the Member Portal at www.iahcsmm.org to print a score sheet for your records)
3. 1 Point per hour at Workshop/Seminar Attendance
   Attendance at a workshop, seminar or in-service where the topics relate directly to the specific certification. Point assignment is made according to the length of the program (i.e.1 point for each contact hour, ¼ point for each 15 minutes,etc.) .Supervisor verification and/or copies of certificates (indicating point earnings) will serve as supporting documentation for attendance
4. 6 Points for College Course Completion
   Successful completion of a junior or secondary college course where the content relates directly to knowledge that can be applied to functions of the specific certification. A copy of the final grade transcripts must indicate name and location of school ,topic studied, dates attended, length of course and final grade of "C" or better
5. 1-12 Points for IAHCSMM Educational Seminar Attendance
   Attendance at any national IAHCSMM Educational Seminar may meet the minimum requirements for re-certification. Most seminars offer more than the 12 points needed, and the attendees can choose which sessions will be most beneficial and meet the attendance point minimum
6. 1-12 Points for Hospital Oriented In-Services
   One (1) point per contact hour will be awarded, provided proper supporting documentation of subject and dates of attendance is authorized and signed by a departmental supervisor.One hour in-services are worth one (1) point; 1/2 hour in-services are worth half (.5) points, etc. In-service instructors will be awarded one (1) point per contact hour of presentation of topics directly relating to Central Service
7. 2-12 Points for Purdue Self Study Lesson Plans
   Two (2) points will be awarded for successful completion of each lesson plan published in Communiqué or directly from Purdue University, with grading provided by Purdue University. A final grade sheet printed from Purdue University will serve as supporting documentation.

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