With all the challenges and disruptions introduced daily into the surgical world, have you had a chance to check continuing education off of your to-do list?
Most of the certifications required for those working in patient care need to be renewed every year in order to remain valid. In addition to a fee, those certifications often require a specific amount and type of continuing education credits in order for renewal to be processed. For example, here are the requirements for yearly recertification with the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA):
- Certified Registered Central Sterile Technician (CRCST) Renewals: 12 CE credits, technical in nature and focused on the Central Sterile (CS) field.
- Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) Renewals: 6 CE credits, technical in nature and focused on endoscopes
- Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) Renewals: Current CRCST status + 6 additional CE credits, technical in nature and focused on the CS field
- Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) Renewals: Current CRCST status + 6 additional CE credits focused on management or supervisory topics
- Certified Central Service Vendor Partner (CCSVP) Renewals: 6 CE credits, technical in nature and focused on the CS field
In previous years, you may have had the opportunity to earn continuing education credits only at local or national conferences, workshops in your area, or even lunch lectures. But ever since 2020, the delivery of continuing education has expanded to virtual or online settings, with learning opportunities that are diverse and broad.
Consider using your time to fulfill continuing education requirements and perhaps even branch out into a different area of learning. You might learn a new specialty of the job you didn’t know you’d enjoy or you could find yourself set up to pursue an additional certification! Regardless of which reason pulls you toward continuing education learning, here are a few outlets we recommend getting started with:
Opt for Self-paced Learning with HSPA
If you’re seeking a new or additional HSPA certification or need to renew a current one, HSPA makes it easy to earn continuing education credits through their online lesson plans. You simply log in to your account, select the lesson plan that goes with your certification, purchase it for a small fee, and then take the quiz upon completing it. Once you pass the quiz, you’re set up to easily renew (or obtain for the first time!) your certification. If you fail the quiz, no fear—you get two chances to pass it.
Learn as a Team
With International Sterile Processing Week happening in October, you could also use that time to set apart an hour or two for the whole department to learn something or take a class together. Not only does this provide a break from work (make sure to include lunch or coffee and snacks, depending on the time of day), but it also gives you a chance to lead some team building while earning colleagues some continuing education credits.
Explore Continuing Education from Censis
Our continuing education opportunities here at Censis give you opportunities to hear from healthcare professionals, surgical tracking experts, and other diverse industry experts to keep you current on what’s trending, as well as maintain your compliance for yearly recertification credits.
You can subscribe to our blog list so that you don't miss monthly CE opportunities from our team. Our articles and videos can be accessed from any location, and you can read or listen in on your own time!
Regardless of what you choose for your continuing education adventure, make sure your choice meets the requirements for your certification renewals and gives you the chance to learn something new to grow your skills and advance your career.
