Categories of Activities Providing Continuing Education Credits (CEC) Required for Specialist Certification

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• Category No. 1: Accredited Group Learning Activities: (e.g. Conference, subjects such as microbiology, microbial genetics, recombinant DNA, etc. given by a university or by a sponsor approved by the College.)
  The list of such sponsors includes the Health Protection Branch of Health & Welfare Canada, other Canadian Federal or Provincial Laboratories, Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health of the U.S.A., American Society for Microbiology, Canadian Society of Microbiologists, etc. Proper documentation of the attendance and successful completion of courses in this category is required when requesting certification. One credit per hour. There is NO maximum number of contact hours for this category.
  
• Category No.2: Learning Activities Not necessarily associated with accredited provider, including self-directed learning. (e.g.Non-accredited Rounds, Seminars, Journal Clubs, Industry sponsored workshops, Journal reading, CD ROM material, Internet Educational events,Videotapes/Audiotapes).
  
  This category includes continuing education activities, which are formal scientific events not necessarily previously approved activities, which are formal scientific events not necessarily previously approved by the College, or training courses not qualifying under Category No. 1. Workshops, seminars, relevant courses sponsored by community colleges or commercial organizations and related subjects are included here. Documentation of attendance at these events is required with the application for recertification. One credit per hour. Maximum number of contact hours for this category is 75 hours/ five years.
  
• Category No.3: Education Development
  Continuing education contact hours can be earned, on an hour-for-hour basis through teaching microbiology or development of standards. Training of graduate students qualifies for CEC as follows: 3 CEC for successful completion (graduation) of a Ph.D. student in the applicant's laboratory; 1.5 CEC for successful completion of a M.Sc. student.
  
• Category No.4: Education Delivery/Degree Supervision, Professional Consultation (e.g., M.Sc. & Ph.D. student supervision and teaching of Microbiology courses).
  Continuing education contact hours can be earned on an hour-for-hour basis through supervision of graduate students, or professional consultation. Evidence of successful completion or ongoing registration of graduate student is required for documentation. One credit per contact hour. Maximum number of contact hours for this category is 50 hours/five years.
  
• Category No. 5: Publications (e.g. Publications, exhibits (paper or oral), Books, or Multimedia).
  Continuing education contact hours in this category are based on the publication and/or presentation of research data. Publication or presentation of a non-referred paper or poster will earn a candidate five contact hours. Publication of a peer reviewed article or book chapter will qualify for 10 contact hours. Publication of a book (either hardcaopy or multimedia) will qualify for 50 contact hours. (Contact hours can be claimed only once for the scientific information published or presented.) Maximum number of credits for this category is 75 hours/five years.

The Table summarizes the information on the various categories of CEC available.
Category of Credits		Credit Limits
1.	Accredited group learning activities	No maximum
2.	Learning activities with a non-accredited sponsor	up to 75
3.	Education development	up to 50
4.	Education delivery	up to 50
5.	Publications	up to 75

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