CEUs: What are they and how many do I have?

Application | CEUs | In-Service

What are They?

In order to get recertified, you'll need to have the appropriate amount of what we call Continuing Education Units (CEUs). You will find a number of potential routes to take to get your necessary CEUs. See below for NCA-approved equivalents and how to calculate your CEUs.

How Many Do I Have?

Calculating CEU's
A variety of professional and educational activities can earn the necessary CEUs for NCA recertification. All categories, except for phlebotomists, must submit 3.6 CEUs (36 hours) earned over the most recent three years. Phlebotomists must submit 1.8 CEUs (18 hours) of continuing education over the most recent three years. CEUs may be obtained in any combination of areas.

These may include:

1. College or university coursework:
This may include science, computer science or business management courses as well as other clinically relevant courses appropriate to the development of your clinical laboratory science career (15 contact hours per semester credit).

To Calculate CEUs:

• One semester hour = 15 contact hours = 1.5 CEUs
• One quarter hour = 10 contact hours = 1.0 CEUs

Acceptable Documentation:

• Official transcript
• Transcript Released to Student
• Copy of Transcript
• Grade Report if it includes semester hours and date of successful completion of class

2. Teaching activities:
The development and initial offering of clinical laboratory science or other career-related courses or workshops to clinical laboratory personnel, students or allied health professionals. If you teach as a profession you are not eligible for CEUs for this activity.

To Calculate CEUs:

• Lectures = 0.5 CEUs per hour of lecture (this includes 4 hours preparation time)
• Teleconferences = 0.5 CEUs per hour of lecture

Acceptable Documentation:

• Copy of syllabus, program or letter of appreciation that demonstrates content and length of teaching time
  Note: You can only receive credit for teaching the same topic once.

3. Papers, publications, books and exhibits (paper or poster sessions) including:

• publishing a paper in a recognized (indexed) journal or presented before a professional audience;
• writing a chapter of a clinical laboratory science or medically related book; or
• developing a technical scientific exhibit for display at a national or regional scientific meeting.

To Calculate CEUs:

• Single or dual authorship = 1.0 CEUs
• First (senior) authorship = 1.0 CEUs
• Multiple authorship = 0.5 CEUs

Acceptable Documentation:

• Title page of a publication
• Chapter listing and title page
• Abstract identifying poster session
• Meeting outline identifying presentation

4. Leadership and other activities:
Review of educational program self-studies, inspecting educational programs for accreditation, inspecting laboratories for accreditation, peer review of journal articles for publication, exam committee volunteer, and leadership activities in health care-related organizations.

To Calculate CEUs: • 1 CME = 1 contact hour = 0.1 CEUs Acceptable Documentation:

• Certificate of attendance
• Receipt of registration accompanied by letter of attendance

5. CE Activities Without Approved Sponsorship: Formal scientific or career-related activities (i.e., hospital seminars, journal club, in-service, workshops, regional meetings, etc.)

To Calculate CEUs:

• One contact hour = 0.1 CEUs

Acceptable Documentation:

• Letter or certificate of attendance or signed roster
• Title and brief description of activity with director’s signature

NOTE: The CEU (Continuing Education Unit) values listed above are established as guidelines and not absolutes. If you feel your particular project has been undervalued, please submit your request with documentation and your application will be reviewed.
Please remember that continuing education includes activities completed outside the realm of your job. For example, if you teach as a profession you are not eligible for CEUs for this activity.
Download Recertification Application
View Sample Certificate

An Abbreviated List of Acceptable CEU Providers

AABB (American Association of Blood Banks) www.aabb.org
AACC (Accent) www.aacc.org
AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians) www.aafp.org
ACMG (American College of Medical Genetics) www.acmg.net
ACMGA (American College of Medical Group Administrators)
AGT (Association of Genetic Technologist) www.agt-info.org
AMA (American Medical Association) www.ama-assn.org
AMT (American Medical Technologist) www.amt1.com
ASCLS (American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science) www.ascls.org/publications/edconn.asp
ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology) www.ascp.org
ASH (American Society for Hematology) www.hematology.org
ASHI (American Society for Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics) www.ashi-hla.org
ASM (American Society of Microbiology) www.asm.org
APHL (Association of Public Health Lab) www.aphl.org
CACMLE www.cacmle.org
CAP (College of American Pathologists) www.cap.org
CDC (Center for Disease Control) www.cdc.gov
CEUINC (Continuing Education Unlimited) www.ceuinc.com
CLMA (Clinical Laboratory Management Association) www.clma.org
CMEA (Continuing Medical Education Association)
CSLT
E Total Lab www.Etotallab.com
Health Learning Centers, Inc.
HIA (Health Insurance Associations of America)
InterQual www.interqual.com
ISCLT (Health Sciences Recording Consortium)
Joint Commission www.jcaho.org
LCM (Laboratory of Clinical Medicine) www.lcmpath.com

Mayo Foundation www.mayo.edu
National Laboratory Training Network www.nltn.org
NCA Examination Council www.nca-info.org/story/meetNCA_exam.asp
Ortho Diagnostics
PACE http://www.ascls.org/education/index.asp#Anchor-P.A.C.E-23240 wwwscls.org/education/index.asp#Anchor-P.A.C.E-232ucationhttp://www.ascls.org/education/index.asp#Anchor-P.A.C.E-23240
w.smokyhill.org
Red Cross www.redcross.org
Robert Anderson
SAFMLS (Society of Armed Forces Medical Laboratory Scientist) www.safmls.org
State Societies

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