Continuing Education

Transcription

1 Continuing Education Physicians, Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS), and Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT) can earn up to 18 free CME or CMLE credits per year through an arrangement between API and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Multiple credits are offered each year in Chemistry, Microbiology, Hematology, and Immunology. Credits are also occasionally offered in Blood Banking, Coagulation, Microscopy, and Laboratory Management. Each educational exercise is available for between three and four months. The number of exercises available at any one time will vary and the number of earned credits depends on individual participation. The acceptability of the credits provided by API is up to the organization requiring you to earn continuing education credits. Please check with the organization setting your requirements to determine if these credits will be accepted. To Enroll in a Free Continuing Education Account: 1) Log in to Paperless Proficiency Testing (like you would if you were going to enter PT results). 2) Once you are logged in, click Enroll in the blue section, under Continuing Education, on the left-hand side of the screen. 3) Complete the fields with the requested information then click Enroll. 2 3

2 4) If the enrollment is successful, the information in the fields will disappear and you will receive a message that says, The enrollment is complete and an has been sent to the designated person. 5) Additional staff members can be signed up at any time. To Log in to a Continuing Education Account Already Enrolled: 1) When the account is created, the User ID and a link to set up a password will be sent to the address on the account. a. If the user has forgotten his/her User ID and password, click on Login under Continuing Education. Then click Lost Your Password? and enter the correct address. An with the login information will be resent. 2) Click the link and follow the instructions to set up your password. 3) Once the password has been created, click the Login button in the blue section, directly underneath Continuing Education. 4) Enter your User ID in the appropriate field. When entering the password, turn the Caps Lock button off and use the Shift key for all capital letters. 5) Once logged in, you will be prompted to enter additional information. Read the paragraph on Identifying Information and then either fill out the section with your birthdate and ASCP BOC Certification Category & Number or check the box that says I decline to have my transcripts sent electronically to any organization. 6) If the account is activated successfully, you will now see a button that will allow you to change your password, if you choose. Account settings can be updated at any time, when logged in, by clicking on My Account. How to Earn CE Credits: 1) Log in to Continuing Education.

3 2) Select Earn CE Credits in the blue section. Available exercises will be listed under their respective categories. 3) Click on the name of the exercise. a. Step 1 provides a link to the ASCP educational commentary that is related to the questions. The commentary is in a PDF format and should open when you follow your browser s prompts. b. Step 2 provides instructions to answer the multiple-choice questions shown on the screen and an option to print the questions. Please note: If you print the questions, the answers still need to be submitted on the website to earn credit ) Once you ve answered all of the questions, click Submit for Credit at the bottom of the screen.

4 5) Correct answers will be highlighted in green. Incorrect answers will be highlighted in red. All answers must be correct for credit to be awarded. 6) Once all answers are correct, you will be able to continue to the next screen and you will be asked to participate in an optional survey that will allow you to provide feedback on the exercise. 7) Repeat Steps 2-6 to earn additional credits for other available exercises. To View Credits 1) Log in to Continuing Education 2) Select Credits Awarded in the blue section, under the Continuing Education heading. 3) Click on the name of the exercise. Follow your browser s prompts to open the certificate as a PDF. 4) Repeat Steps 2-3 for different activities to print additional certificates. 3 2

5 Please note: New courses are posted around the same time that evaluations are available online (or approximately one week after another exercise s posted expiration date). Credits are transmitted to ASCP electronically two times per month. These instructions may not cover all of the issues and/or questions that you may encounter. If, at any time, you have a question about Continuing Education accounts, please contact API Customer Service. We will be happy to answer your questions or help walk you through any of these process!