Certification Maintenance

Summary of Annual Certification Maintenance Requirements

  1. Continuing Education specific to the topic of sports medicine:
    • All CCSP® certificants are required to attend 12 hours of continuing education specific to the topic of sports medicine between Jan 1 – Dec 31.
    • All DACBSP® certificants are required to attend 24 hours of continuing education specific to the topic of sports medicine between Jan 1 – Dec 31.
  2. All certificants must maintain an active healthcare provider level CPR certification at all times from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association or equivalent certification.
    • Compliant CPR courses must include: 
      • Hands-on training 
      • CPR for infants, children, and adults 
      • One person and two person CPR methods 
      • AED 

      Healthcare provider level CPR courses that include online education and a hands-on component are acceptable and meet ACBSP compliance criteria. Online education only courses are not acceptable. 

  3. All certificants must pay an annual maintenance fee as set by the board of directors.
    • The annual certification maintenance fee is due before January 31 each year. When paid prior to January 31 the fee is $135.
    • If paid February 1 – June 30, the fee is $160.
    • If the fee is not paid by June 30, the certification is placed in an inactive status and the doctor’s name and information is removed from the online certificant directory and the doctor is no longer permitted to use the credential.
    • Weekly reminders will be sent to all certificants that have not completed the certification maintenance registration form. Once a completed form is received, certificants will be removed from the email list.
  4. All certificants must complete a certification maintenance registration form annually. The web-based registration form requires each active certificant to:
    • Provide current business demographic data.
    • Attest to his/her current compliance and continued compliance with the requirements of the ACBSP™ Certification Maintenance Continuing Education Policy.
    • Attest to his/her acceptance of the Certificant Agreement and Release
  5. All ACBSP™ certificants are required to maintain personal records as evidence of meeting the requirements described here.

SafeSport Information

Policy Change – February 2026:

“As of February 2026, the ACBSP™ shall not require SafeSport training as a mandatory component to annual certification; however, SafeSport training hours may still be applied toward CEUs.”

Policy Change – February 2024:

“The ACBSP™ shall require certificants to demonstrate evidence of training to recognize, reduce, and respond to all misconduct in sport (i.e., SafeSport or comparable program) as a one-time requirement to maintain certification.”

Policy Change – October 2019:

“The ACBSP™ shall require certificants to demonstrate evidence of training to recognize, reduce and respond to all misconduct in sport (i.e. SafeSport, or comparable program) every four (4) years as a requirement to maintain certification.”