Bell, Jo Ann H.2011-04-292011-05-172011-04-292011-05-171996-07Bulletin of the Medical Library Association; 84:3 p. 320-333http://hdl.handle.net/10342/3450Since the Medical Library Association (MLA) adopted the Code for the Training and Certification of Medical Librarians in 1949, MLA members have reviewed and revised the program regularly. This paper traces the history of MLA's professional recognition program to illustrate how the program has changed over time and to identify the issues that have surrounded it. These issues include the value of the program to individual members, cost to MLA, appropriate entry requirements, certification examinations, and recertification requirements. The development and operation of MLA's current credentialing program, the Academy of Health Information Professionals, is described in detail. Originally published Bulletin of the Medical Library Association, Vol. 84, No. 3, July 1996en-USAuthor notified of opt-out rights by Cammie Jennings prior to upload of this article.Medical Library AssociationAcademy of Health information professionalsTraining and certificationArticlePMC226152