Guide to Maintaining Your Certification

1. Abide by the Code of Professional Responsibility

As an ABC certified individual you must abide by the Code of Professional Responsibility in order to maintain your certification. This includes abiding by the rules and policies of the board and conducting yourself in a manner that brings credit to the profession. If necessary, you must disclose any incidences of illegal, improper and/or unethical conduct of others in order to maintain the integrity of the profession. The Code is available on the ABC website.

2. Pay Your Annual Renewal Fees

All certified individuals must pay an annual renewal fee to maintain their certification. Fees are due on December 1 for the following fiscal year and notices are sent in mid-September. If you earned your certification prior to November, your annual fee will be prorated for the first year’s certification fee.

What does ABC do for you? Learn more about what services and activities your annual fee dollars help support here. 

Past-Due with your Annual Fee

If you fail to renew your certification(s) by not paying your annual fee, your credential(s) will automatically be suspended. You will no longer be permitted to use your ABC credential(s) or the ABC logo in any circumstance. To be removed from suspension and resume patient care, you will need to pay your annual fee(s) along with a $150 reinstatement fee per suspended credential.

If you fail to pay your fee(s) within the suspension year, your credential(s) will be revoked for non-payment. You can only reinstate your revoked credential(s) by passing the discipline specific certification exam(s) and paying the current year's annual fee. You are not required to meet the current educational and experiential requirements. Upon passing the exam(s), you will receive a new certification number, certification date and CE expiration date.

3. Continue Your Education

You must earn a specific number of credits during your five-year certification cycle with the intent that you keep current with new technology, techniques and advanced knowledge required to deliver the highest level of patient care.