Credentialing: - Association for Healthcare Documentation

Professional credentials like the RMT and CMT illustrate
to the industry that you meet benchmark standards
of excellence. They also show your commitment
to lifelong learning and professional development.
Earning the credential is only the fi rst step. Once you
have proven your abilities by passing either the RMT or
the CMT exam, you enter into a three-year cycle of continuing
education. The process differs slightly between
the entry-level RMT and the expert-level CMT, but the
intent is the same: to assure the public and the industry
that you are qualifi ed to practice in your fi eld.
CERTIFIED MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST (CMT)
The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity
(AHDI) has been offering the CMT credential since the
early 1980s. AHDI endorses this credential in order to
protect the public interest by promoting high professional
and ethical standards, improve the practice of
medical transcription, and recognize those professionals
who demonstrate their competency in medical transcription
through the fulfi llment of requirements as outlined
in the AHDI Model Job Description for Level 2 MTs.
These individuals have a depth and breadth of knowledge
that spans across medical specialties and document
types. They are often assisting others in research and
quality control. Because of the rapidly changing world of
medicine, it is vital that CMTs maintain almost constant
continuing education. The minimum requirement is to
earn a total of 30 continuing education credits (CECs)
every three years; however, many CMTs submit hundreds
of CECs at the end of their cycle.
CREDIT-WORThY ACTIvITIES
Continuing education credits may be earned by participating
in credit-worthy activities relevant to medical
transcription. An activity is defi ned as a single presentation,
lecture, educational course, workshop on a single
topic, an approved quiz or puzzle, and article summary.
Live activities such as lectures, workshops, seminars, and
symposia may be approved for CE credit based on contact
hours, rounded down to the nearest quarter hour.
No credit is given for activities of less than 15 minutes
in length; unrelated activities of less than 15 minutes
aHdi strives to provide ample continuing
education opportunities for CMTs throughout the
year and across a variety of mediums.
cannot be combined to meet the minimum 15-minute
requirement. All activities are evaluated individually for
creditworthiness. A written summary of a credit-worthy
activity earns only one CEC regardless of the length of
the original activity.
AHDI strives to provide ample continuing education
opportunities for CMTs throughout the year and across
a variety of mediums. The Annual Conference and Expo
(ACE), typically held the fi rst week of August each year,
provides more than 30 different credit-worthy sessions
to choose from. Regional meetings, monthly online
webinars, and credit-worthy articles in Plexus and Health
Data Matrix are other convenient ways to earn CECs.
AHDI also offers a variety of credit-worthy products in
the online store. Visit the AHDI website and download
a copy of the Credentialing Product Catalog under the
Education/Training tab, followed by Credentials and
Designations.
CMTs AND CECs
There are four core areas of focus for CMTs earning
continuing education. A minimum of eight credits must
voLuME 5 • IssuE 6 novEMBER 2009
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