Certification Renewal FAQs
How do I access the Continuing Practice Journal through the website?
- You can access the Online Journal, click here.
- You can also download the journal in pdf. Go to journal.pdf. Please keep in mind that you must have the most current version of Adobe® Acrobat Reader in order to download the pdf file. If you do not have the most current version, please refer to the following link and follow the instructions. http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
About Points
What if I live in a remote area, and don't have ready access to continuing formal education? Program requirements are designed to be well within the reach of all active professionals. It is not necessary to spend a significant amount of money or to engage in difficult-to-accomplish activities in order to comply. The program offers a wide variety of ways in which to achieve the total points required for renewal, and continuing formal education is only one of the possible ways.
How many points do I need to achieve renewal? The program is based on the accumulation of at least fifteen activity points over a three-year period. Activities totaling more than fifteen points can be listed if a participant wishes to create a written record of the activities, but only fifteen points are necessary to achieve renewal. Points may not be carried over to the next cycle.
Should my points span all three years of my reporting period?
No. Points may be spread over all three years on which you are reporting,
or points may be obtained exclusively in any one or two of the three
reporting years.
Must I have points in all the activity categories?
No. It is not required that points be obtained in every category.
You may obtain the required fifteen points in any combination of
categories, with no more than 10 points in any single category.
Who signs if I have no supervisor or have recently changed jobs? If you are self-employed, or the head of your company and therefore do not have a supervisor, please so note on the appropriate signature line. If you have recently changed jobs,your current supervisor's signature will be sufficient. Note: On the new online Continuing Practice Journal, although an actual signature of the supervisor is impossible, it does require the name, telephone number and e-mail address of the supervisor so that he/she may be contacted by a reviewer.
The Online Journal
Who may use the Online Journal?
- Persons whose activities do not exceed the space provided in each category. If you are completing the Journal on a continuous basis, and you find that your activities exceed the space provided, you may print what you have and print additional pages from the pdf journal.
- Only credit card payments are accepted online. If you do not wish to submit your Journal with a credit card, you may print the completed Journal and send it by mail with a check or money order made out to the ICC/USCC.
What if I don't want to submit my journal online?
You can still maintain your journal online and when your journal is due, print it, then mail or fax it in. The address is ICC/USCC, 1110 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 220, Arlington, VA 22201. The fax number is (703) 276-0793. Keep in mind that payment must accompany journal submission
Documentation
I have a magazine subscription. Do I need to enter each issue on the
form?
When you have read several issues of one magazine, combine the magazine
issues into one activity item. In the field designated Date, Issue
or Volume Number, enter the range of issues and combine your hours
in the hours field.
I attend my local biomed organization meetings every two weeks. Must
I note each meeting separately?
No. If you have attended a recurring course, educational activity,
or association meeting on a regular basis (weekly, biweekly, monthly,
bimonthly, etc.), note the activity once in the appropriate category
with the frequency of the meeting in parentheses. Then enter the
date range of the activity and enter the appropriate points.