The American Board of Medical Physics recognizes the importance of continuing professional development and awards certification on a time limited basis. Recently, due to increasing costs, the ABMP Board has voted to increase the recertification fees and change the initial term. A new structure for CEU’s has also been determined. The new policies are: TERM: The initial ABMP certification term will be for 5 years and then renewable every 5 years thereafter (no longer 10 years). VERIFICATION OF STANDING: diplomate must verify professional standing by submitting an attestation statement from a board-certified medical physicist and a physician. CONTINUING EDUCATION: Effective beginning January 1, 2014, recertification will require 150 CEU’s during the previous 5 year cycle. This means that for a diplomate seeking recertification for the five year term beginning in 2009, i.e.: The 2009 – 2013 recertification term: your CEU requirements will not change from the previous requirements (72 hrs for the past three years, etc; as listed on the current ABMP Recertification Form). These hours do not change for this renewal in 2009. However, if you wish to seek recertification for the next 5 year term, i.e.: The 2014 – 2018 recertification term: effective in 2009 and thereafter, your CEU requirements will increase to 150 CEU’s during the previous 5 year cycle. These must be reported when you renew for the next time in 2013. Therefore, for recertification in 2014, diplomates must begin to accumulate the new annual CEU requirements beginning in 2009 and each year thereafter. The process is the same for these later recertification dates: For 2010-2014, 2011-2015, 2012-2016 and 2013-2017 recertifications: your CEU requirements will not change from the previous requirements (72 hrs for the past three years, etc; as listed on the current ABMP Recertification Form). These hours do not change for this renewal. For your next recertification (2015-2019, 2016-2020, 2017-2021 and 2018-2022): your CEU requirements will increase to 150 CEU’s during the previous 5 year cycle. These must be reported when you renew for the next time. Therefore, after 2014, diplomates must begin to accumulate the new annual CEU requirements beginning 5 years prior to their renewal date. BREAKDOWN OF NEW ABMP CEU REQUIREMENTS: at least 75 Category I credits (average of 15 per year being CAMPEP or ACCME recognized) and the remainder may consist of Category II Credits. Category I credits are limited to a maximum of 30 per year and Category II credits are limited to 20 in a year. Category II credits can be obtained (1 CE unit per hour) from: non-accredited meetings and conferences books or chapters read or published in-service presentations, lectures or articles. More information on CEU’s can be obtained from the CAMPEP website (see Policy and Procedures tab).                                                          Fee        Deadline for Application Recertification fee (five years)              $310                        1/31/2010 Recertification fee and late fee             $435        2/01/2010-04/01/2010 Reinstatement of expired certification   $620               after 04/01/2010 A recertification application, and form can be downloaded to assist you in keeping track of your continuing education credits and a letter explaining the process is enclosed. Click Here to download the recertification form (Adobe Acrobat pdf format) Continuing Education credits should be recorded on a signed ledger and attached to the recertification form. A total of at least seventy-two hours of approved continuing education credits is required for the three years preceding this application. If you do not have complete documentation of credit hours received, please estimate them as accurately as possible. Continuing education credits acceptable to the ABMP are those issued by the following organizations (hour-for-hour contact time): American Academy of Health Physics American Association of Physicists in Medicine American College of Medical Physics American College of Radiology American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Health Physics Society International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Radiological Society of North America Society of Nuclear Medicine and any of their regional organizations or for attendance at the following events they may sponsor: Refresher Courses Symposia Scientific Sessions Workshops Summer Schools In the future each Diplomate should retain documentation showing proof of attendance at each continuing education activity claimed on the ledger for a random audit. We encourage you to get an early start, and send your application and check to ABMP Executive Director at: American Board of Medical Physics P.O. Box 487 Barker, TX 77413. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Cynthia Archer at (281) 944-9482, fax (866) 861-8280 or send email to abmpexdir@comcast.com.