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Recertification for ABMDI

In order to recertify, you must provide documentation that you are currently employed at a medical examiner/coroner office or equivalent federal authority and have the experience and responsibility to independently conduct medicolegal death scene investigations or supervise such investigations, or show continued competency in the field, complete an Ethics Statement and provide the appropriate continuing education documentation.

Audits begin six months prior to the Registry/Board Certification expiration, although you have the full five-year period, if needed, to accumulate the mandatory 45-hours of approved continuing education. Because you must verify employment at the time of recertification, early review will not occur. The office will notify you by mail that your recertification date is approaching. It is your responsibility to mail in the completed documentation for review.

Packets not returned in the ABMDI Continuing Education Folder or through your online account will be considered incomplete. Why is it important to submit it in the folder or online? Many of you submit documentation that is neat and orderly. However, we also receive copies of documents that make no sense to us. The continuing education folder and the online profile helps provide an outline for what needs to be submitted for review.

If you are not currently in good standing because of outstanding balances, recertification will not be possible unless ALL fees have been paid in full.

Recertification Processing Fee $25

Continued Competency

The ABMDI is accredited by the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB), which requires proof of continued competency in order to be recertified. Continued competency can be demonstrated by current employment or by examination. Current employment is verified by a notarized employment verification form. For those individuals not employed by a medical examiner/coroner jurisdiction or equivalent federal authority as a medicolegal death investigator is verified by competency assessment. Tests must be proctored at a local college, university or approved testing center. Testing must be completed prior to your expiration date.

Recertification Test Fee $200 (for those who must verify continued competency)

Recertification Retest Fee $50 per section not to exceed $200

Continuing Education Documentation

You cannot begin accumulating continuing education until successfully passing the Registry or Board Certification examination(s). Each activity must be recorded in a continuing education folder or submitted to your online profile, including all supporting documentation (i.e. copy of certificate indicating hours from approved provider, transcript, copy of brochure or letter indicating course approval, etc). Documentation must show proof of attendance, number of hours, dates, and approving agency.

The ABMDI accepts continuing education that is approved by the American Medical Association (AMA), American Nursing Association (ANA), American Bar Association (ABA), American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), College of American Pathologists (CAP), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), Pennsylvania Coroner's Education Board, Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST or equivalent), US Department of Homeland Security and post secondary institutions recognized by national educational accrediting agencies. All courses must be relevant to the field of medicolegal death investigation.  Training courses that are not preapproved by an agency listed above may be submitted to the ABMDI for review. Information on how to get a course accredited by ABMDI can be found on the Continuing Education Opportunities page.

Please make sure that the continuing education you are submitting meets this criteria or we cannot accept it. It is recommended that you keep a photocopy of all documentation submitted.

Other activities accepted for continuing education:
1. College and University Courses
A passing grade and transcript is required.
Conversion for credits is:
One Instructional Hour: One (1) Continuing Education Hour
One Educational Quarter: Ten (10) Continuing Education Hours
One Educational Semester: Fifteen (15) Continuing Education Hours

2. Leadership
Leadership positions acceptable for continuing education credit include:
* officer of a state or national organization of which death investigators are members (ABMDI not included),
* editor of a professional journal or book on a death investigation related topic,
* active member of a national panel producing a substantial written product,
* chair of a national conference or meeting, or
*other similar leadership positions with justifiable professional learning experience.
Proof of attendance with copy of minutes is required. One (1) hour of continuing education is granted per leadership activity. Maximum of five (5) hours of continuing education credit will be granted for leadership activities within a certification period.

3. Published/ Refereed Article
Materials acceptable for continuing education credit include:
* Publications in refereed journals,
* A chapter in an edited book, or
* A published book.
Must be relevant to the field of death investigation. Ten (10) hours of continuing education credit is granted per article. Maximum of ten (10) hours of continuing education credit will be granted for a published/ referred article within a certification period.

4. Presentation
Presentation must be presented by the certificant at a national or state meeting on a topic relevant to death investigators. The certificant must be listed as an author and deliver the presentation.

5. Teaching
Conversion for teaching credits is:
One Instructional Hour: One (1) Continuing Education Hour
One Educational Quarter: Ten (10) Continuing Education Hours
One Educational Semester: Fifteen (15) Continuing Education Hours

Maximum of fifteen (15) hours of continuing education credit will be granted for presentations and teaching within a certification period.

Continuing Education Folder

ABMDI Ethics Statement - pdf

ABMDI Code of Professional Responsibility - pdf

ABMDI Recertification Work Verification - pdf