The Academy of Health Information Professionals
Am I Eligible?
Admission to the academy is based on three areas of achievement: academic
preparation, professional work experience, and professional accomplishments,
including participation in professional organizations. Applicants may
apply for membership in the academy at any of the five membership levels.
The level at which you should apply depends upon your level of achievement
in these three areas.
There are two ways to determine the level at which you should apply:
review a summary of the requirements
for all levels or follow the steps below.
Step 1: Academic Preparation
All five levels of membership require a master's degree.
- Do you have a master's degree in library and
information science from an ALA-accredited
program? If so, continue to Step 2.
OR
- Do you have another master's degree? If so, you are required to document
course work in all seven Professional Competencies. The level at which to
apply depends upon one's achievement in these areas. Continue to a description
of the Professional Competencies.
Step 2: Relevant Experience in Health Information Science
The experience required for each academy membership level is shown below.
Usually only professional experience following receipt of the master's
degree is considered for academy membership. Calculate the full-time
equivalent for part-time employment using the method described in the
Glossary (see employment, length
of).
Years of Experience |
Academy Level |
If you are currently employed
in the health information field, and have less than five years experience...
OR seeking employment in the field, and currently have less
than five years experience in the field... |
...consider applying at the Provisional
Member level.
|
If you have worked in
the health information field for five years or more... |
...consider applying at the Member
or Senior Member level.
|
If you have worked in the health information field
for ten years or more... |
...consider applying at the Distinguished
Member level.
|
If you 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... |
...consider applying at the Emeritus
Member level.
|
If you will be applying as a Provisional Member, continue to the Application
Process. If not, continue to Step 3.
Step 3: Professional Accomplishments
Applicants must document a minimum number of points of professional accomplishment
achieved during the previous five (5) years. These accomplishments must
be in areas contributing to the effectiveness of the health information
profession and includes continuing education, teaching, publishing, research,
and association participation. Acceptable continuing education and individual
accomplishments are listed in the Point
Index.
The distribution of points is different for each level of academy membership. Use
the LEDGER form and the Point
Index to determine the number of points you have earned in the
past five years.
Step 4: Tallying Professional Accomplishment Points
Use the LEDGER Form and Point
Index to determine the number of points you have earned in the past
five years.
Academy Level |
Points Needed |
Provisional
Member |
Applicants
are not required to show professional accomplishments completed prior
to membership in the academy. If you will be applying at the Provisional
Member level, continue to the Application
Process. |
Member |
50 points
may be sponsored instruction (continuing education activities) within
the past five years. |
Senior |
80 points
of professional accomplishment within the past five years. No more
than 50 of these points may be sponsored instruction (continuing education
activities). At least 5 points must be professional
association activities. |
Distinguished
|
120 points of professional accomplishment
within the past five years. No more than fifty 50 of these points
may be sponsored instruction (continuing education activities).
At least 10 points must be professional
association activities, at least 5 of the 10 must be MLA
activities.
|
Emeritus
|
No points required. A member of AHIP
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.
|
Now that you know the academy membership level for which you qualify...
Continue to the Application Process
|