Recertification Policy

LANA® Certification is valid for six years. Each certificate given to the candidate indicates the expiration date. All certifications expire on December 31st, six years from the last certification date. An individual whose certification is set to expire must submit an application for recertification or an application for inactive status postmarked by December 31st of the year their certification expires. Failure to apply for recertification or apply for inactive status by the deadline will place the individual in expired status. It is the responsibility of the CANDIDATE to recertify at the appropriate time (see “Extensions” for additional information).

Application for Recertification

All candidates for recertification must submit the following:

1. Proof of a current and unrestricted U.S. professional state license, registration or equivalent Canadian provincial or territorial license, or registration as stated in initial certification process
2. A completed recertification application
3. Current recertification fee
4. Documentation of meeting the criteria for recertification as outlined below. It is the responsibility of the candidate to provide documentation identifying the activities AND hours earned toward recertification.

Options for Recertification

CLT- LANA therapists may attain recertification status through ANY combination of the options listed below as long as the total reaches a minimum of 24-contact hours. Documentation of required hours is the responsibility of the candidate. Options are:

1. Continuing education. Topics must relate to the management of individuals with lymphedema. Examples include but are not limited to: anatomy or physiology of the lymphatic system, treatment of lymphedema, wound care, therapeutic bandaging/taping, cancer rehabilitation, chronic venous insufficiency, lymphedema self-management programs, and various upper and/or lower extremity courses providing they take into consideration the circulatory system (candidates may be required to show syllabi from such courses). To avoid duplication of effort by candidates when applying for recertification, the recertification committee will accept formal records or documents such as excel spreadsheets or other records such as those required by individual states and provinces for licensure. These documents could be used in place of copies of certificates as long as the information needed by the committee is clearly indicated. Information needed would include but not be limited to course title or activity, number of CEUs, credits, or hours and date of course or activity.
2. Attendance at a national or international lymphology or lymphedema-related conference.
3. Teach college-level courses related to lymphedema management. Topics include but are not limited to: anatomy or physiology, lymphedema treatment, therapeutic taping, wound care, vascular and/or integumentary disorders. Documentation must include course outline with hours in classroom.
4. Participate in literature reviews or webinars available to LANA members only, through the LANA website. Regarding literature reviews: links to articles are available online in the LANA learning center and each article has a corresponding quiz. Candidates must be able to obtain the article; unless full text is posted online, depending on copyright. Regarding webinars: links to videos are available online in the LANA learning center with a corresponding quiz. To receive one-hour credit per quiz toward recertification, candidates must score of at least 70%. Candidates may earn a maximum of 10 credits in one cycle of recertification upon successful quiz completion. Candidates may submit a quiz for credit one time, retakes are not allowed. (Note that online literature reviews and webinars with quiz questions are not approved for CME/CEU credits by professional organizations other than LANA.)
5. Teach an approved, educational-lymphedema course. Teaching an approved, educational lymphedema course will be counted as two-contact hours for every in-class contact hour. A one-time additional two-contact hour preparation time will be accepted. Documentation must include course outline with hours in classroom.
6. Author an article in a peer-reviewed journal, author a chapter in a published book, or edit a multiple-author published book. Authoring an article, authoring a chapter, or editing a book will each be counted as 15-contact hours. Documentation must include a copy of evidence of completion of the activity.
7. Make a peer-reviewed poster or platform-research presentation. A peer-reviewed poster or platform-research presentation will be counted as five-contact hours. Documentation must include a copy of evidence of completion of the activity.
8. Retake the LANA certification examination (including payment of the full examination fee). Eligible candidates are invited to consider the option of retaking the LANA examination as a means of recertification. No continuing education contact hours are required for individuals taking this option.
9. Participants on LANA’s Examination Committee will be awarded five-contact hours per day towards recertification for examination development meetings (2.5 –contact hours for a half day or two- to four-hour examination development conference calls).

Any of the options listed above can be combined to reach the minimum total of 24 hours required for recertification.

Inactive Status

Upon petition, an inactive status may be granted on a case-by-case basis. Candidates petitioning for inactive status must submit in writing a request for inactive status, stating the reason for the request. Decisions to grant inactive status and the details regarding what a candidate must do to obtain said status will be made by the Recertification Committee of LANA®. The length of the inactive status will also be decided on a case-by-case basis by the Recertification Committee at the time of the request. Individuals who have their certification placed on inactive status will be removed from the LANA® website and other LANA® relevant materials. Candidates who apply for inactive status must pay the current fee to be placed on inactive status. Once the inactive status has expired, the individual will be required to meet all the current recertification requirements and any requirements stipulated in their inactive status.

Expired Status

Individuals, who do not apply for inactive status and allow their LANA® certification to expire, will be required to apply for certification by examination as a noncertified CLT-LANA® therapist and can no longer use the CLT-LANA® credentials. Candidates must meet the eligibility requirements for recertification and successfully complete the certification examination. Therapists who allow their certification to expire will be removed from the LANA® website and other relevant materials.

Extensions

In unusual situations, special extensions may be arranged allowing a candidate to recertify if the deadline has passed, but the request to recertify falls within one year of the original deadline. A candidate in this situation should contact LANA® to learn the details of the extension policy. The granting of special extensions is rare and will be determined by the Recertification Committee of LANA®.

Denial of Recertification Application

Candidates submitting incomplete recertification applications will be notified in writing of any deficiencies and will be provided 30 days to address issues as described. If the candidate does not complete the recertification application in the 30-day window, the application and supporting documents are destroyed. Any monies paid will be returned and the candidate must re-submit the application in its entirety. Candidates who suspect they may not meet CLT-LANA® recertification eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to contact LANA® prior to submitting a recertification application.