Lifelong Learning with Continuing Education

The AMI encourages lifelong learning to ensure professional knowledge and practice for medical illustrators and animators throughout their career. Board Certified Medical Illustrators (CMI) maintain their status by attending approved continuing education courses within a five year period.

See a list of recommended CE courses.

The AMI uses a fully automated system for the submission of requests for Continuing Education (CE) activity approvals and CE credits. You can access all items related to CE and approval of CE activities by clicking here and logging in with your AMI account credentials. 

Requesting CE Activity Approval

To seek approval for education activities such as workshops, courses, or programs not previously approved, log in to your account via the link noted above, and utilize the "CE Eligibility Application". This will generate a request to the CE committee for review and approval. If the activity is approved you will receive an email notification and the activity will appear on the "Education Opportunities" list.

PLEASE NOTE: To avoid disappointment and expense, the activity approval form should be submitted prior to participating in the continuing education activity. If this form is submitted later than 30 days after the activity is completed, CE credit will not be awarded.

Adding CE Credit To Your Account

To add new CE credits to your account, log in to your account at the link above and navigate to the "Certified Medical Illustrator Renewal" option and then click on "Continuing Education". Choose the category of credit you would like to add credit for. Then, from the "Education Opportunities" area you can submit hours for the courses listed. 

PLEASE NOTE: This verification form MUST be submitted within 30 days of completing your activity, or no CE credit will be awarded. The activity is automatically removed from the approved list 30 days after the end date of the activity.

You can view your CE credit record by logging in to your account and clicking on "Certified Medical Illustrator Renewal". For a full FAQ on how to utilize the CE tracking system - click here.

Requirements for maintaining CMI status

Over the 5-year certification period, a total of 35 hours of continuing education (CE) is required to maintain and renew Certified Medical Illustrator (CMI) Status.

The CMI exam, in its entirety, must be taken again to regain CMI status if the appropriate number of CEUs is not earned during the 5-year term of certification.

What are the categories and hour requirements for CE courses/workshops?

A total of 35 CE credit hours is required at the end of the 5-year certification period to retain CMI status.

Required categories:
Art: 14 hours minimum required (21 hours maximum)
Biomedical: 14 hours minimum required (21 hours maximum)

Optional categories:
Business: 7 hours is the maximum allowed Business & History combined (both are optional)
History:  7 hours is the maximum allowed for Business & History combined (both are optional)

How is CMI status maintained?

1. Begin acquiring the required 35 CE credit hours by finding courses to take either at the AMI meeting or elsewhere: colleges, universities, museums, hospitals, on line, commercial computer schools, etc. Designated courses and workshops given at the AMI, HeSCA and GNSI meetings are pre-approved for credit. Courses or workshops taken elsewhere require pre-approval for CE credit by the CE committee. For a full FAQ on how to utilize the CE tracking system - click here. 
   
   
2. Pre-approval of the CE session must be done before the course is taken. Approval is granted by the CE committee, not AMI HQ.
   
   
   1. Online
      Fill out the online CE Eligibility Application. This will automatically be emailed to the CE committee. You should receive emailed approval or non-approval from the CE committee chair within 2 weeks.
      
      
   If pre-approval is not obtained before taking the course, or within 30 days after the course - at the latest - NO CE CREDIT can be issued.
   
   
3. Take the pre-approved course.
   
   
4. After a course is completed, you must add the credit to your account online. You can access all items related to CE and approval of CE activities by clicking here and logging in with your AMI account credentials.
   
   
5. When the 5-year Certification period ends, you must renew your certification (demonstrating required CEUs) to avoid retaking the CMI exam.
   
   Renewal of certification requires completion of a renewal application form, payment of a fee, and verification by AMI HQ that your required CE credits have been earned and properly recorded during the 5-year certification term. The CMI exam, in its entirety, must be taken again to regain CMI status if the appropriate number of CEUs is not earned during your 5-year term of certification.
   
   
   1. Check your CE credit status (login by clicking here) online to ensure you have sufficient CE credit (in both required categories) to renew your certification.
      
      
   2. Complete the renewal process and submit the fee. AMI Headquarters will check your online database record to confirm sufficient CE hours have been earned in order to renew.
      
      
6. Start racking up another 35 hours!
   
   

What is the difference between the Continuing Education Committee and the Board of Certification?

The AMI Continuing Education Committee is charged with evaluating courses, workshops etc. given within the AMI meeting and elsewhere, and determine their relevance to the practice of medical illustration. Does that course have meaning and substance for a medical illustrator? Does the course satisfy the IACET criteria and guidelines for awarding CE credits? They recommend to the Board of Certification the required number of CE credit hours and course categories. The CE Committee deals with that five-year period between the time certification begins and the time to renew.

The Board of Certification manages the beginning and end of the certification process by administering the written test and portfolio review that get you certified, and by keeping track of the term expiration dates of certified AMI members. The Board of Certification is not an AMI committee, but an administratively and financially independent entity answering to the AMI Board of Governors on an information basis. The Board of Certification of Medical Illustrators is a member of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA), which develops standards and accredits organizations that meet those standards. In turn, NOCA is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the only national accreditation body for private certification organizations in all disciplines. NOCA's members come from nearly all health professions that need to establish and maintain competency standards.

AMI Continuing Education Committee contacts

Kaitlin Lindsay, CE Committee Chair
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Courtney White, CE Committee Vice Chair
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ryan Hallman, CE Committee member
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Adam Pellerite, CE Committee member
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Lori Messenger, CE Committee Member
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Anne Erickson, CMI, CE Committee member
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jennifer Fairman, CMI, CE Committee member
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Carolyn Holmes, CMI, CE Committee member
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Julie Coats, CE Committee member
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jessica Holland, CE Committee Member
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Rob Flewell, CE Committee Member
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sigrid Knemeyer, CMI, CE Committee Member
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Application and Forms

Online versions

Certification Exam Application
CMI Login Page (existing CMI's)