CONTINUING EDUCATION

Please keep copies of your CEUs if you need them for licensure or for your employer. We do retain copies of CEUs sent to us by email and fax, but we do not retain paper copies that are mailed to us. CEU copies will only be stored for the current certification period and the certification period immediately previous, then they will be destroyed. Any CEUs sent prior to January 1, 2010 were not retained, regardless of submission method.

REQUIREMENTS FOR RE-CERTIFICATION AND PROCEDURES FOR EARNING CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS

Each Surgical Assistant who has been certified by NSAA is required to re-certify every two years. The re-certification, period begins upon successful completion of the CSA examination. In order to qualify for re-certification, a total of 50 CEUs are required over a two year period. These CEUs may be earned in the following ways:

1. The Annual Conference sponsored by the NSAA offers CEUs. Those in attendance will receive credit towards their re-certification.
2. Attendance at organized surgical and/or medical conferences, lectures, or job related in-services within a hospital or other setting will earn 1 CEU per clock hour of attendance. Staff meetings do not constitute Continuing Education Units. Attendance must be verified by the supervisor/manager in charge of the conference, lecture, or in-service. CEUs must be dated and signed by a supervisor or an education director.
3. College or university courses in Medicine, the Sciences or other job-related studies will receive 2 CEUs for each credit hour completed. A college home study course, where credit hours are awarded for completion, will be given for 2 CEUs for each credit hour completed. For those who are working towards a degree in medicine or nursing or any other job related field, 2 CEUs for courses needed to complete the degree will be awarded, (i.e.) English, foreign language, etc. You must submit documentation for credits.
4. Those who are involved in teaching of medically related subjects, may earn 1 CEU in the following manner: one CEU per clock hour will be awarded for teaching and/or lecturing in a medically related subject. A maximum of 3 CEUs per subject taught per semester will be allowed. Precise documentation and verification must be submitted in order to be granted these units.
5. Any other medical education experiences, permitted not included in the above categories, will be considered on an individual basis. Any such request for special consideration must be submitted with appropriate documentation.
6. CPR certification will be awarded 5 CEUs.
7. Certificates are issued upon submission of the required 50 CEUs and on your re-certification date.

All CEUs (50) must be earned within the two year re-certification period. If a Certified Assistant is unable to submit the required 50 CEUs, he or she must submit a written request for an extension to the Board of Directors. THIS MUST BE DONE PRIOR TO THE END OF THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD. A maximum of 25 CEU's may be carried over to the next re-certification period.

The Committee Chair will review the request, and if granted, will extend the period for 60 days. Only CEUs earned and documented during the two-year period will be accepted. NO NEW CEU INFORMATION WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR AN EXTENSION.

The new re-certification period begins at the end of the previous period, NOT AT THE END OF THE EXTENSION GRANTED.