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

9 Healthcare Facility In-Services a) Healthcare facility in-services are accepted by AST for CE credits. In-service training is a key component of CE for all CSTs and CSFAs. Healthcare facility sponsored in-services is defined by AST as: 1. training that is planned and offered by the healthcare facility at no cost to the CST and CSFA that does not require the employee to complete a registration form to attend or complete the in-service, 2. training that assists employees in current or new techniques, equipment, instrumentation, or procedures, and 3. training that may be provided by the clinical educator, CST, CSFA, physician, OR supervisor, another employee of the healthcare facility, or representative of a CIO. b) The in-services may be live, recording of a live in-service, or hard copy or online course. c) BLS, ACLS, and PALS are accepted for CE credits. BLS includes CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. Additionally, courses completed to be a BLS, ACLS, or PALS instructor are accepted for CE credits. d) CE provided by a proprietary CE provider that has contracted with a healthcare facility must be approved by AST. e) If an employer sponsors or provides funds for an employee(s) to attend a conference, forum, seminar, symposium, or workshop, or complete any other type of CE activity sponsored by an organization other than the employer, the CE activity must be AST approved to have the CE credits count towards certification renewal. f) Healthcare facility orientation is not accepted for CE credits. g) AST will not accept in-services organized or sponsored by a CIO, or their representatives, that has a formal registration process and fee, referred to as a stand-alone event, where the employer’s role is only providing access to the healthcare as a venue. In those instances, CIOs and other third-party businesses are required to adhere to AST’s CE policies and complete the CE program approval. h) Documentation requirement options 1. Certificate of attendance or completion. If a certificate is submitted, the following information must be provided on the certificate: i. name of the healthcare facility, ii. date of the in-service, iii. title of the in-service and the title should contain the word “in-service”, for example, “Nailing of Hip Fractures In-Service”, iv. name of the individual, instructor, or lecturer, that provided the in-service, v. signature of the healthcare facility’s Clinical Educator or other approved individual, and vi. signature of the CST or CSFA attendee. 2. Other accepted options i. The sign-in sheet for live in-services is accepted and it must have the signature of the CST or CSFA attendee. ii. Also acceptable is an official healthcare facility transcript of the in-services the CST or CSFA has attended or completed.