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The Academy of Health Information Professionals

Summary of Academy Membership Levels

To top of page Provisional Member

  • American Library Association-accredited M.L.S. or a non-ALA-accredited master's degree with documented course work in all the Professional Competencies
  • evidence of current employment in the health information field, with less than five years of professional experience in the health information field following the master's degree
    OR
    currently seeking employment in the field, with less than five years experience. (Please note: Upon renewal one year later, Provisional Member is required to show evidence of employment in the field via employer letter).
  • because they are new to the field of health information sciences, Provisional Members are assigned a mentor and are required to document 8 points of continuing education each year following the first year of academy membership.

To top of page Member

  • ALA-accredited M.L.S. or a non-ALA-accredited master's degree with documented course work in all Professional Competencies
  • five years of professional experience in the health information field following the master's degree
  • 50 points for professional accomplishment in the last five years

To top of page Senior Member

  • ALA-accredited M.L.S. or a non-ALA-accredited master's degree with documented course work in all Professional Competencies
  • five years of professional experience in the health information field following the master's degree
  • 80 points for professional accomplishment in the last five years. No more than 50 points may be sponsored instruction, although all 80 points may be from professional accomplishment.
  • At least 5 of the 80 professional accomplishment points must be from professional organization activities, not necessarily MLA.

To top of page Distinguished Member

  • ALA-accredited M.L.S. or a non-ALA-accredited master's degree with documented course work in all Professional Competencies
  • ten years of professional experience in the health information field following the master's degree
  • 120 points for professional accomplishment in the last five years. No more than 50 points may be sponsored instruction, although all 120 points may be from professional accomplishment.
  • at least 10 of the 120 professional accomplishment points must be from professional organization activities, and at least 5 of the 120 points must be MLA activities.

To top of page Emeritus Member

  • retired
  • must have been a member of the academy at any level, EXCEPT PROVISIONAL at the time of retirement, and have been credentialed/certified by MLA for at least ten consecutive years at the time of retirement.
  • no points are required to renew at this level. Send a written request to the Professional Development department, along with a completed Form EMERITUS and copies of your academy certificate(s) documenting membership in the academy.


For more information on activities accepted for academy points, go to Point Index.

Return to the Am I Eligible? page and follow the steps to determine your membership level.
Continue to the Application Process

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!