AST Continuing Education and Recertification Brochure

The NBSTSA GENERAL INFORMATION The following is general information in regard to renewing the credential through the NBSTSA. For specific questions contact the NBSTSA or review information that is available on its website, www.nbstsa.org . NBSTSA Renewal of the Credential by Continuing Education IMPORTANT – Once the CE credits have been submitted and recorded by AST you are not done with the renewal process. The NBSTSA is responsible for the renewal of the credential. A completed NBSTSA Renewal Form must be submitted to the NBSTSA with the renewal fee and a photo of yourself. Appli- cations are available online and in a printable format at www. nbstsa.org . The NBSTSA issues the new certification card with your photo as well as the new certificate. Renewal can be completed six months in advance of the expiration date of the certification cycle. However, this does not change the original expiration date/start date of the next certification cycle. Proof of earning CE credits does not have to be submitted to the NBSTSA; the CE credits that AST recorded can be verified automatically by the NBSTSA. Applications must be received by your expiration date; otherwise, a new date will be issued to illustrate the lapse in certification. The NBSTSA takes approximately four to six weeks to process the Renewal Form and issue the new certification card and certificate. All CE credits must be earned during the current certification cycle. CE credits earned outside the dates of the certification cycle will not be accepted by AST or the NBSTSA, and there is no 30-day or longer extension of the certification cycle in order to earn CE credits. The individual will be required to retake the national certification examination in order to renew the credential. Extra CE credits do not “roll” over to the next certification cycle per the NBSTSA policy. As stated above, CE credits must be earned during the current certification cycle; therefore, extra CE credits cannot be carried over to the next certifica- tion cycle. If you complete the renewal six months or less before the expiration date, it is recommended to wait until the start of the next certification cycle to submit CE credits. A TO Z OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND RECERTIFICATION 16