Editing Medical Library Association (section)

== Membership ==
MLA's members comprise more than 400 institutions and 3,000 individuals in the health-sciences information field worldwide,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=21|title=MLA: About: Vision, Values & Mission|website=www.mlanet.org|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref> though—as many other countries now have their own national health library organizations—it now primarily represents health sciences libraries and librarians in the United States.

Membership is structured to accommodate varying needs and professional status of a diverse field of practitioners. Categories include Regular Membership, Institutional Membership, International Membership, Affiliate Membership, and Student Membership.

=== Academy of Health Information Professionals ===
The Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP) is MLA's peer-reviewed professional development and career recognition program.

Members of the academy are credentialed as health information professionals by demonstrating their academic preparation, professional experience and professional accomplishments. Credentialing differs from certification in that certification focuses on the attainment of minimum standards and measurable competencies, whereas credentialing recognizes the time and effort that is required for professional development. It also differs from licensure because licensure is a legal requirement for professionals in certain professions, such as medicine.

==== History of the Academy ====
MLA established its credentialing program in 1949 and the Academy of Health Information Professionals was established January 1, 1978. The program has been revised subsequently. The most recent action by MLA occurred in April 1995, when the MLA Board of Directors appointed members to the Task Force to Review the Academy of Health Information Professionals. In May 1996, the task force completed its report and recommendations to the MLA Board of Directors, who reviewed the academy in its current form and made recommendations for future goals.

==== AHIP membership Levels ====
There are five levels of membership in AHIP – Provisional, Member, Senior Member, Distinguished Member, and Emeritus Member.  Each level is based on earning points for professional activities and a series of professional competencies, which can be found online.<ref>[http://mlanet.org/academy/competency.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926083558/http://mlanet.org/academy/competency.html|date=September 26, 2010}}</ref>