HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL-LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS CREDENTIALING PROGRAM

Since the Medical Library Association (MLA) adopted the Code for the T raining and Certification of Medical Librarians in 1949, MLA members h ave reviewed and revised the program regularly. This paper traces the history of MLA's professional recognition program to illustrate how th e program has changed over time and to identify the issues that have s urrounded it. These issues include the value of the program to individ ual members, cost to MLA, appropriate entry requirements certification examinations, and recertification requirements. The development and o peration of MLA's current credentialing program, the Academy of Health Information Professionals, is described in detail.