AST Continuing Education Policies for the CST and CSFA - 4 year Certification Cycle

5 CE Program A CE program is defined as a live program including conferences, forums, healthcare facility sponsored in-services, seminars, symposiums, or workshops in which the CST and CSFA attend CE lectures. Commercial Interest Organization A commercial interest organization (CIO), also referred to as a healthcare manufacturer, is an organization that produces, markets, sells, or distributes healthcare goods and services consumed by or used on patients, or is owned or operated, in whole or in part, by an organization that produces, markets, sells, or distributes healthcare goods or services consumed by or used on patients, or advocates for the use of the products or services of a CIO. Enduring Material Enduring material is defined as a non-live CE offering, including CE articles delivered hard-copy or electronically that have a post-article exam, or viewing a recorded CE lecture on-line, CD, DVD, or other electronic means that has a post-article exam. Proprietary CE Provider Proprietary CE providers are non-healthcare businesses that offer CE programs or enduring materials. Stand-Alone Event A single live event, conference, forum, symposium, or workshop that is planned, sponsored, and offered by a business or organization that is separate from healthcare facility in-services. FOUR-YEAR CERTIFICATION CYCLE a) NOTE – If you are in a four-year cycle, you will complete that cycle by earning 60 (CST) or 75 (CSFA) CE credits, and upon recertification, you will then start a two-year certification cycle. b) CST – 60 CE credits must be earned to recertify. c) CSFA – 75 CE credits must be earned to recertify. d) You are NOT required to earn Live CE credits while completing the four-year certification cycle. METHODS TO EARN CE CREDITS AND DOCUMENTATION Live event CE credits can be earned through the following methods. a) College courses b) Surgical missions c) Healthcare facility in-services d) AST approved CIO live events e) Attendance to AST State Assembly meetings f) CE lecturer or instructor at conferences or workshops g) Participation on the following national boards, national standing committees, or panels, as well as completion of volunteer assignments may also be acceptable forms of CE if they are determined to involve substantial contributions to professional efforts related to certification, education, guidelines development, and research.