CTH® Renewal Qualification and Audit Guide
Use this guide to confirm which continuing education, clinical practice, and professional activities qualify for CTH renewal and what documentation must be retained in case of audit.
Continuing Education Requirement for Both Pathways
Applicants must complete at least 50 CE points directly related to travel medicine and the ISTM Body of Knowledge. One CE point equals 60 minutes of eligible education or one AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Applicants self-report the total at renewal and retain supporting documentation in case of audit.
Eligible Continuing Education
|
Activity |
CE Points |
Conditions |
|---|---|---|
|
Accredited learning modules, webinars, in-person or online programs, short courses, and accredited journal activities |
Points awarded by the provider |
Must relate directly to travel medicine and the ISTM Body of Knowledge |
|
Live attendance at a CISTM |
5 |
May be claimed twice during the five-year cycle (maximum 10 points) |
|
Live attendance at another international travel medicine conference |
3 |
May be claimed once per eligible conference |
|
Academic coursework leading to a certificate, diploma or degree |
15 per academic semester credit |
Coursework must relate directly to travel medicine and the ISTM Body of Knowledge |
|
Exam question writing |
5 |
Awarded for five validated test items accepted by an official credentialing board such as ISTM, ASTMH, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow |
Repeat courses may be claimed only once during the five-year cycle. Courses delivered by the applicant do not qualify for CE credit. CE points above the required 50 do not carry over and cannot replace the additional requirements for Pathway A or Pathway B.
Pathway A: Clinical Practice
Pathway A requires 50 CE points plus at least 1,500 hours of eligible travel medicine professional practice during the five-year renewal cycle. The practice-hour requirement is a threshold and is not calculated on a sliding point scale.
Eligible professional practice:
- Direct patient care in pre-travel, post-travel or in-transit travel health
- Clinical supervision, precepting or mentoring of clinicians and students
- Telehealth and volunteer clinical care related to travel medicine
- Administrative oversight involving advanced practice providers or faculty
Documentation required if audited:
- Paid practice: a letter or email signed by the applicant’s immediate supervisor, preferably on organizational letterhead, confirming at least 1,500 qualifying practice hours during the five-year cycle. Multiple letters may be submitted if the applicant changed employers.
- Self-employed practice: a notarized statement confirming at least 1,500 qualifying practice hours during the five-year cycle.
- Volunteer practice: an official letter or other documentation from the sponsoring organization describing the qualifying duties and dates of service.
Pathway B: Professional Activities
Pathway B requires 50 CE points plus 50 professional activity points. Applicants may earn the 50 professional activity points from one, two, three, or all four categories. There is no minimum number of points required in any individual category. All activities must relate directly to travel medicine and the ISTM Body of Knowledge.
Review the category descriptions, point values, limits, and audit documentation below before submitting the renewal application.
Category 1: Teaching and Professional Presentations
Eligible teaching and presentations must transmit travel medicine knowledge, skills or abilities in a structured learning setting for healthcare professionals or the public. Examples include conferences, grand rounds, in-services, seminars, online learning, teleconferences and public education.
|
Activity |
Points |
Limits and Conditions |
|---|---|---|
|
Original lecture or professional presentation |
2 per 60 minutes |
Credit is awarded only for the initial presentation. Repeat delivery, modification of the same material and service as a panel moderator do not qualify. |
Audit documentation: a printed program, brochure or official agenda identifying the applicant as the speaker.
Category 2: Publications
Eligible publications must add to the travel medicine knowledge base and relate directly to travel medicine and the ISTM Body of Knowledge.
|
Publication Activity |
Points |
Limits and Conditions |
|---|---|---|
|
Travel medicine textbook, primary author |
50 |
Published work |
|
Travel medicine textbook, editor |
50 |
Published work |
|
Travel medicine book chapter, author |
20 |
Published work |
|
Travel medicine book chapter, editor |
20 |
Published work |
|
Peer-reviewed travel medicine journal article, author |
20 |
Recognized professional journal |
|
Peer-reviewed travel medicine journal article, editor |
20 |
Recognized professional journal |
|
Primary author of peer-reviewed e-learning or other media content |
20 |
Content must relate to travel medicine |
|
Primary author of a non-peer-reviewed article or newsletter |
2 each |
Up to five articles; maximum 10 points |
|
Scientific poster |
5 each |
Initial presentation only |
|
Letter to the editor in a peer-reviewed journal |
5 |
Must relate to travel medicine |
Not eligible: publications completed as a routine component of the applicant’s job, including patient education materials or course syllabi; letters to the editor in non-peer-reviewed publications; and work listed as in press that has not yet been accepted.
Audit documentation: the published table of contents, article abstract, masthead or equivalent evidence of publication and authorship or editorial role.
Category 3: Professional Participation and Leadership
Eligible activities require active participation or volunteer leadership in organizations, boards, committees or task forces related to travel medicine.
|
Professional Activity |
Points |
Limits and Conditions |
|---|---|---|
|
Officer in an international, national or local travel medicine organization |
15 |
For every two years of service during the five-year cycle |
|
Committee chair in an international, national or local travel medicine organization |
10 |
For every two years of service during the five-year cycle |
|
Active member of a qualifying health board, committee or organizational task force |
5 |
For every two years of service during the five-year cycle |
|
ISTM membership |
1 per year |
Up to five years during the five-year cycle |
Professional participation or leadership performed as a routine component of the applicant’s job is not eligible.
Audit documentation: an official letter of appreciation or attendance certificate issued by the board or committee chair.
Category 4: Research
Eligible research must support knowledge or practice in travel medicine and the ISTM Body of Knowledge.
|
Research Activity |
Points |
Limits and Conditions |
|---|---|---|
|
GeoSentinel or similar national or international surveillance project participation |
5 per year |
Qualifying participation during the five-year cycle |
|
Principal or co-investigator on an IRB-approved or evidence-based practice project |
25 |
Project must relate to travel medicine |
|
Dissertation, thesis or graduate-level scholarly project |
25 |
Completed during the five-year cycle and related to travel medicine |
|
Content reviewer on an IRB, dissertation, thesis or scholarly project board |
20 |
Project must relate to travel medicine |
|
Primary grant writer for a federal, state, or national organization project |
20 |
Project must relate to travel medicine |
|
Primary author or investigator on a quality improvement project |
20 |
Project must relate directly to travel medicine and the ISTM Body of Knowledge |
Audit documentation: an official letter confirming the applicant’s role and describing the research question, methods and outcomes.
Self-Reporting and Audit Process
Applicants self-report completion of the applicable renewal requirements. They do not need to submit a detailed list of every CE program or professional activity with the initial application. The CPD Committee randomly audits 10 percent of CTH renewal applications each year.
If selected for audit, the applicant must provide documentation supporting the active professional license and all claimed renewal requirements, including CE points and either Pathway A professional practice hours or Pathway B professional activity points. Applicants should retain supporting records and may upload and store renewal documentation in their ISTM portal. If an audit identifies missing information or ineligible credit, ISTM will notify the applicant and provide an opportunity to submit additional materials before the application is rejected.
Continuing Education Documentation
CE certificates should include the applicant’s full name, course title, completion date, provider name, and number of CE points awarded. All submitted CE must relate directly to travel medicine and the ISTM Body of Knowledge.