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The Academy of Health Information Professionals

Summary of Academy Membership Level Requirements: Initial Application

To top of page Provisional Member Requirements

  • American Library Association–accredited MLS or a non-ALA-accredited master's degree with documented coursework in all the professional competencies;
  • evidence of current employment in the information field, with less than five years of professional experience in the information field following the master's degree OR currently seeking employment in the field, with less than five years experience (please note: on renewal one year later, provisional members are 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; and
  • as of January 1, 2014, provisional members will be required to document 5 points of individual professional accomplishments with their annual renewal.

To top of page Member Level Requirements

  • ALA-accredited MLS or a non-ALA-accredited master's degree with documented coursework in all professional competencies;
  • at least five years of professional experience in the health information field following the master's degree; and
  • 50 points of individual professional accomplishments in the last five years.

To top of page Senior Member Level Requirements

  • ALA-accredited MLS or a non-ALA-accredited master's degree with documented coursework in all professional competencies;
  • at least 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, with no more than 50 points being sponsored instruction, although all 80 points may be from individual professional accomplishment; and
  • at least 5 of the 80 individual professional accomplishment points must be from professional organization activities, not necessarily MLA.

To top of page Distinguished Member Level Requirements

  • ALA-accredited MLS or a non-ALA-accredited master's degree with documented coursework in all professional competencies;
  • at least ten years of professional experience in the health information field following the master's degree;
  • 120 points of professional accomplishment in the last five years, with no more than 50 points being sponsored instruction, although all 120 points may be from individual professional accomplishments; and
  • at least 10 of the 120 individual 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 Level Requirements

  • Retired;
  • must have been a member of the academy at any level, except provisional, at the time of retirement, and have been credentialed by MLA for at least ten consecutive years at the time of retirement; and
  • while no points are required to renew at this level, applicant must send a written request and a completed form EMERITUS to the MLA Professional Development department


For more information on activities accepted for academy points, visit the point index.

Visit the Am I Eligible? page and follow the steps to determine your membership level, or continue to the application process.

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