What is a recertification journal, and when do I need to submit mine?
For your convenience, here is a recertification journal that you can write in, or complete as you accumulate your points. A recertification journal (PDF, 332 KB) is a form you can use to record activities that can count toward your recertification, such as courses you have taken, employment history, committee work you have performed, and publications you have authored or co-authored.
You may submit recertification journal packets up to six months before or after your certification expiration date. (The six months after your expiration date is a "grace period," so that you can collect your documentation and submit your journal packet along with payment.) Credits collected after your expiration date will apply toward your next recertification cycle.
ASQ returns any journals submitted before the six-month period.
If you submit your journal after the six-month period, you'll have to recertify by exam, unless you made special arrangements before your expiration date.
Early submission of your recertification journal does not change your original expiration date. For example, if your certification expired December 31, 2008, and you submitted your packet in October 2008, your new expiration date would be December 31, 2011, not October 2011.
If you submit your journal early, you may include your employment period up to your certification expiration date (up to six months' credit) when calculating your total recertification units. For example, if your certification expired December 31, 2008, and you submitted your journal in July 2008, you can include the time until your certification expiration date when you calculate your recertification units (e.g., 6 months x 0.3 recertification units).
If you submit your recertification journal packet before your certification expiration date, and have completed additional activities within your current three-year recertification period, these additional activities do not carry over into your next three-year recertification period.