CREDENTIALING

The Academy’s HIV-focused professional certifications are the first and only credentials offered domestically and internationally to physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and pharmacists specializing in advanced level HIV care.  The HIV Specialist™ (AAHIVS) credential is available to practicing frontline clinical providers, while the HIV Expert™ (AAHIVE) designation can be earned by non-practicing clinicians.  The HIV Pharmacist™ (AAHIVP) certification is available to eligible HIV-specialized pharmacists.

HIV SPECIALIST (AAHIVS)

Physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners working in direct clinical care

HIV EXPERT (AAHIVE)

Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and pharmacists working in non-clinical environments

HIV PHARMACIST (AAHIVP)

Pharmacists working in HIV-specific care environments

JOURNEY TO ACADEMY CREDENTIALING

Looking for a roadmap of the credentialing process?  Watch this short informational video to help chart your route to earning one of the Academy’s credentials.

ELIGIBILITY

Prior to taking the HIV Credentialing Exam, candidates must demonstrate their eligibility in three areas, Licensure, Experience and Education. Below is a summary of how candidates may meet the requirements for each area. Please refer to the HIV Specialist™, HIV Pharmacist™ or HIV Expert™ pages for more details about the requirements for each credential.

 

LicensureExperienceEducation
Candidates must be licensed to practice as a physician, NP, PA or Pharmacist in their jurisdiction.Candidates must meet at least one of the following:

  • Provide direct or consultative HIV care to at least 25 persons living with HIV within the 36 months preceding the date of application.

  • Participate in the Academy Mentoring Program

  • Provide direct involvement or leadership in HIV care through a non-clinical work environment (HIV Expert only)
  • Candidates must complete 45 hours of HIV- or HCV-related CE. CE must be either AMA Category 1 CME, ANCC accredited CNE or ACPE accredited CPE.

    THE VALUE OF CREDENTIALING

    Since the inception of the Academy’s certification programs in 2002, thousands of HIV care providers have earned the HIV Specialist™ (AAHIVS) or HIV Expert™ (AAHIVE) designations.  Starting in 2011, HIV-specialized pharmacists can also now earn the HIV Pharmacist™ (AAHIVP) designation via a similar certification process.

    THE PETER M. FOX EXCELLENCE IN CREDENTIALING AWARD

    The Peter M. Fox Excellence in Credentialing Award is presented annually to those HIV practices where all of the eligible practitioners currently hold an American Academy of HIV Medicine AAHIVS, AAHIVE or AAHIVP credential.

    CODE OF ETHICS

    The Academy Code of Ethics applies to all individuals Credentialed by the American Academy of HIV Medicine as an HIV Specialist™, HIV Expert™ or HIV Pharmacist™; all individuals seeking Academy Credentialing, all provider Members of the Academy, all providers seeking Academy Membership, and, as applicable, all “non-provider Academy Members”, hereinafter referred to collectively as “Academy Providers”. The Code is designed to provide appropriate ethical practice guidelines and enforceable standards of conduct.