Recertification and relicensure in the allied health professions.

This article identifies and clarifies some of the major issues concerning recertification and relicensure of allied health practitioners. Various methods of recredentialing are discussed; while mandatory continuing education may not provide evidence of competency, it may be more acceptable to health care practitioners than any other type of requirement. However, statewide peer review/audit, on-the-job performance evaluation, and a national written examination may be more suitable as recredentialing methods if certain conditions are met. Criteria are suggested for the evaluation of any proposed recredentialing program; for example, the program should be criterion-referenced based, valid, reliable, accessible, cost-effective, and acceptable. If such a recredentialing program is developed, the credentialing board and the practitioners--and ultimately employers, third-party payers, and consumers--must bear the additional costs. The major questions are "Is it necessary?" and "Is it worth it?"