Guidelines for Maintenance of Certification
by the American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB)

Under the PEER program, ABB Diplomates and Certificants are required to document 2.4 CEUs (24 contact hours) of acceptable continuing education every two years.

Acceptability of Programs for Continuing Education Credit

All programs submitted to meet the PEER continuing education requirement must be related to the function of the clinical, assisted reproductive, or public health laboratory.

PEER will also accept continuing education programs approved by Florida and California Clinical Laboratory Licensure Boards.

Determination of Deadline for Continued ABB Certification

ABB Individuals will have from January 1 to December 31 of the year they are first certified, plus an additional two (2) years, to meet their first CEU requirement of 2.4 CEUs (24 contact hours).  After that first period, each Diplomate or Certificant will have 2 years to document the 2.4 CEUs needed to maintain ABB certification.

ABB's Two-Year Recording Period

The two-year recording period begins on January 1 and concludes on December 31 of the following year.

CEU Annual Fee Required

An annual CEU recording fee is required for all ABB Diplomates and Certificants to participate in the PEER program.   This fee must be paid to maintain their ABB certification.  However, if you are a current member of the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB), [which is distinct from ABB], AAB will pay this fee for you.

Official CEU Transcript

ABB Diplomates and Certificants receive an official transcript of CEU credits twice each year, in July (for CEUs earned through the preceding June 30) and February (for CEUs earned through the preceding December 31).

CEU transcripts may be obtained at other times of the year for a $15 CEU transcript fee.  Requests for these transcripts must be submitted in writing to the PEER office.

ABB Extension of Deadline

Upon written request and explanation, PEER may, at its discretion, allow a grace period of 90 days beyond the period for the accumulation of CEU credits by an individual, provided the written request is received prior to the deadline.

PEER has established the following five categories of CEU credit:

A1:	Formal, structured, continuing education program with live faculty
A2:	Multi-media programs with no live faculty.   Utilizing slides, video tapes, audio conference, video conference, web conference, etc.
A3:	Home-study program - Correspondence and Self-instructional Courses including course evaluation
A4:	Formal, academic credit (semester hours or quarter hours)
A5:	Presentation of Scientific Seminar/Lecture/Workshop or Participation at an Item Writing Workshop

College credits acceptable to PEER may be substituted for CEUs.  Two (2) semester hours or three (3) quarter hours are equivalent to 2.0 CEUs.

At least one (1) contact hour is required for CEU credit, i.e., a minimum of 0.1 CEU will be awarded and recorded.

CEU credit will be awarded based on the number of contact hours during the presentation.  CEU credit will only be awarded the first time a particular topic is presented.

Every attempt should be made by the individual to submit CEU documentation to PEER within 30 days of the date of the program attended.  If an individual is unable to do so, he/she must inform the PEER office (in writing) of the reason for the delay in order to receive CEU credit.

CEU Documentation Should Include:

A program formally approved by PEER in advance will be given a unique identification number.  The attendees of a PEER-approved program should receive, during the program, a CEU recording form to complete, along with a sticker with the unique program identification number as verification of attendance.  This form should be turned in to the program sponsor before leaving the program.

The program identification number should appear on the program brochure or informational literature.   Without this number, the program has not been formally approved by PEER.

A Certificate of Attendance, or a letter signed by the sponsor, that verifies attendance at the program should be submitted, along with a program brochure or program description that contains the title, course description, length in hours, date, location, and the name and credentials of the instructor/speaker.

Certificates of Attendance must be signed by the sponsor or program official.   Transcripts of formal education must originate from the Registrar's office of the college or university.

CEU Recording Forms and Program Approval Forms are available at no charge by contacting PEER.  CEU Recording Forms are also available online and can be downloaded and printed.

Questions, comments or requests for the forms mentioned above should be directed to PEER at the address listed below:

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