certification maintenance

Certification Maintenance (CM)
After an individual has passed the certification examination, he/she will be sent a certificate, a wallet card, a CD that includes certification maintenance information and a lapel pin. Maintaining certification is an important and vital part of becoming certified. As the industry changes and technology grows, so too must the knowledge of the CLSO and CMLSO. Click on the following links to download pertinent certification maintenance information:

CLSO Certification Maintenance Manual

CMLSO Certification Maintenance Manual

CM Point Request Form

Certification Maintenance Worksheet

Conference Verification Form

Journal Article Verification Worksheet

Certification Maintenance Points (CM Points)

• 10 CM Points must be obtained over a 3 year period.
  
  
• The CM cycle starts on January 1 of the year following the year in which the individual passed the exam and ends on December 31 of the third year.
  
  
• An individual must be in good dues standing to earn CM Points and be recertified.
  
  
• An updated list of courses and activities approved for CM Points is maintained by the BLS.

CM Point Categories for CLSO

1. Laser Safety Experience — maximum of 3 CM points¹. Earn 1 CM point per year for either the full or part time professional practice of laser safety to be certified in writing by CLSO's supervisor.


2. Attendance² and successful completion of laser safety specific education and training — maximum of 7 CM points. Point breakdown:

   < 2 hours = ¼ CM point
       2 hours to 4 hours = ½ CM point
       4 hours to 6 hours = ¾ CM point
   > 6 hours to 1 day = 1 CM point

3. Writing of laser safety articles published external of your organization in the form of peer review journals, proceedings, periodicals, books and book chapters, 1 CM point per article. Published magazine or newsletter submissions (print or online) will be accepted at ½ CM point per article — maximum of 3 CM points.


4. Teaching laser safety courses or laser safety in a course external from your organization, i.e., not part of your primary job responsibilities — maximum of 3 CM points. See point breakdown for education and training (category #2).


5. Membership in laser safety-related professional/technical organizations or societies, e.g., LIA, AIHA, or HPS, 1 CM point given per year of membership — maximum of 3 CM points.


6. Active participation in laser safety standards or regulations committees external of your organization, e.g., earn 1 CM point per year for active participation in ANSI ASC Z136 or one of its subcommittees — maximum of 3 CM points.


7. Attendance at laser safety or applications professional conferences or meetings, e.g., earn 1 CM point for each day of attendance at the International Laser Safety Conference³ — maximum of 4 CM points.


8. Presentations or poster papers at laser safety professional conferences or meetings, e.g., ILSC, AIHce, or LSO Annual Workshop, ½ CM point given per presentation — maximum of 2 CM points.


9. Writing CLSO Exam questions — ¼ point awarded for each accepted question — maximum of 2 CM points.


10. Other activities as detailed in CLSO Certification Maintenance Manual.

CM Point Categories for CMLSO

1. Laser Safety Experience — maximum of 3 CM points¹. Earn 1 CM point per year for either the full or part time professional practice of laser safety to be certified in writing by CMLSO's supervisor.


2. Attendance² and successful completion of laser safety specific education and training — maximum of 7 CM points. Point breakdown:

   < 2 hours = ¼ CM point
       2 hours to 4 hours = ½ CM point
       4 hours to 6 hours = ¾ CM point
   > 6 hours to 1 day = 1 CM point

3. Writing of laser safety articles published external of your organization in the form of peer review journals, proceedings, periodicals, books and book chapters, 1 CM point per article. Published magazine or newsletter submissions (print or online) will be accepted at ½ CM point per article — maximum of 3 CM points.


4. Teaching laser safety courses or laser safety in a course external from your organization, i.e., not part of your primary job responsibilities — maximum of 3 CM points. See point breakdown for education and training (category #2).


5. Membership in laser safety-related professional/technical organizations or societies, e.g., AORN, ASLMS, LIA, or AIHA, 1 CM point given per year of membership — maximum of 3 CM points.


6. Active participation in laser safety standards or regulations committees external of your organization, e.g., earn 1 CM point per year for active participation in ANSI ASC Z136 Standards Subcommittee 3 for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care — maximum of 3 CM points.


7. Attendance at laser safety or applications professional conferences or meetings, e.g., earn 1 CM point for each day of attendance at ILSC or AORN Congress³ — maximum of 4 CM points.


8. Presentations or poster papers at laser safety professional conferences or meetings, e.g., ILSC, AORN Congress, or ASLMS annual conference, ½ CM point given per presentation — maximum of 2 CM points.


9. Writing CMLSO Exam questions — ¼ point awarded for each accepted question — maximum of 2 CM points.


10. Other activities as detailed in CMLSO Certification Maintenance Manual.

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¹ For each category, maximum number of points is per the 3-year period.
² Attendance means online, electronic or in person.
³ Download and use the CM Point Request and/or Conference Verification forms as necessary.

Click here to see a list of sample conferences ancillary to laser safety

Click here to see a list of laser related professional/technical organizations and societies

Reviewing Certification Maintenance
It is the responsibility of the CLSO/CMLSO to submit the completed CM worksheet and recertification fee on time. Notices will be sent out via email and/or mail only as a reminder to turn them in.

All worksheets must be postmarked by February 1 after the third year.  Failure to recertify by February 1 will result in INACTIVE STATUS.  To restore status, submission of the CM worksheet accompanied with the recertification fee and a late fee of $50 will be accepted up to and including May 31.  After that time, it will be necessary to retake the exam to become active again, which includes reapplying, resubmission of reference letters and payment of the $50 application fee in addition to payment of the examination fee.

CM worksheets should include all supporting documentation.  The BLS may or may not ask for additional supporting documentation when reviewing the CM worksheet.  Once a CM worksheet has been reviewed and accepted by the BLS, a letter stating certification has been maintained will be sent to the CLSO/CMLSO. 

If there are any questions with the CM worksheet, a letter will be sent to the CLSO/CMLSO requesting clarification and/or resolution.  The CLSO/CMLSO then has 60 days to resolve the situation with the BLS.  If the situation is not resolved, the individual will go to inactive status.

Applying for CM Credit
Organizations or individuals may apply for CM credits.

If an organization believes it offers products and services that are beneficial to the continuing education of CLSOs or CMLSOs, it may submit its offerings to the BLS for consideration.

If an individual attends a training course, or participates in an activity that is currently not approved for CM points, the information may be submitted to the BLS for consideration.

The completed CM Point Request Form should be sent directly to the BLS with supporting documentation for consideration. The CM point approval process takes approximately one month. Only activities that contribute to continuing education in the area of lasers and laser safety will be considered. If an activity is approved by the BLS for CM points, a unique BLS approval code along with the number of CM points to be awarded will be assigned.