Procedures For Examination and Qualification: JULY 2019
Procedures For Examination and Qualification: JULY 2019
Procedures For Examination and Qualification: JULY 2019
org/BOC
JULY 2019
The Board of Certification does not discriminate among applicants as to age, gender, race,
religion, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
A S C P B O A R D O F C E R T I F I C AT I O N
Qualification in Apheresis, QIA.................................................................................................. 4
Qualification in Immunohistochemistry, QIHC.........................................................................4-5
Qualification in Laboratory Safety, QLS..................................................................................... 5
APPLICATION PROCESS 1
Completing the Application Form.............................................................................................. 8
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Change of Name, Email Address, Mailing Address................................................................... 8
Review of Documents............................................................................................................... 9
Application Status.................................................................................................................... 9
Study Materials......................................................................................................................... 9
Scheduling Your Examination.................................................................................................... 9
Cancellation Policy................................................................................................................... 9
Reapplying for Examination...................................................................................................... 9
Examination Results and Certificate.......................................................................................... 9
MAINTAINING QUALIFICATION
Credential Maintenance Program.......................................................................................10-11
A S C P B O A R D O F C E R T I F I C AT I O N
ASCP Board of Certification, the credentialing agency representing
of Genetic Technologists (AGT)
the majority of the laboratory community. We wish you success in
• One representative from each of the following
completing your qualification.
six additional participating specialty societies:
»» AABB
»» American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants
»» American Society for Microbiology A qualification must be renewed every three
»» American Society of Cytopathology years by completing continuing education
»» Clinical Laboratory Management Association related to the area of qualification as specified
»» National Society for Histotechnology by the Credential Maintenance Program (CMP).
• One public member
• Past Board of Governors Chair
3
Qualification and Credential Maintenance
QUALIFICATION CATEGORIES AND
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What are the advantages of completing a qualification?
APPLICATION FEES
• Visible recognition of specific skills in a technical area with the
qualification credential after the ASCP credential Application fees are non-refundable. Be sure you meet
• Recognition by state licensure—the state of Florida recognizes the eligibility requirements for the category and route as
those individuals certified and qualified as HT(ASCP)QIHC toward stated and are able to provide the required documentation
meeting the specialist licensure requirements for histology
before submitting your online application and fee.
• More job possibilities—career mobility throughout the country
• Professional growth—keeping up with state of the The Board of Certification establishes all candidates’
art technology eligibility based on review and verification of documentation
supplied through formal application process forexamination.
To receive this credential, candidates must meet the eligibility
requirements and take the qualification examination (QIA, QIHC, QLS). Qualification Application Fee
Candidates who complete the qualification process, will receive a wall
Qualification in Apheresis, QIA $240
certificate valid for three years.
Qualification in Immunohistochemistry, QIHC $240
A qualification must be renewed every three years by completing Qualification in Laboratory Safety, QLS $240
continuing education related to the area of qualification as specified by
the Credential Maintenance Program (CMP). A qualification will not, in The requirements and fees stated in this booklet are subject
itself, entitle the individual to ASCP membership. CMP requirements to change without notice.
and process for qualification renewal can be found at this link
www.ascp.org/cmp.
Examination Eligibility Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS
4 ROUTE 5
• Doctorate in medicine* or equivalent of a U.S. Doctorate in Medicine**, Qualification in Immunohistochemistry, QIHC
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• AND one year of acceptable experience as an apheresis physician To be eligible for this Qualification, an applicant must satisfy the
within the last five years. minimum requirements of one of the following routes:
ROUTE 6 ROUTE 1
• Doctorate in medicine* or equivalent of a U.S. Doctorate in Medicine**, • ASCP or ASCPi certified as an HT or HTL
• AND documented training in a relevant accredited post graduate • AND six (6) months of full-time acceptable experience in
medical education program which includes apheresis (e.g., transfusion immunohistochemistry (clinical, veterinary, industry or research) in the
medicine, hematology/oncology, nephrology, clinical pathology). U.S., Canada or an accredited laboratory* within the last five years.
* Applicants must submit a notarized copy of their official certificate, diploma, or ROUTE 2
license.
** Accredited/approved by a governing regulatory association or Ministry, or eligibility • ASCP or ASCPi certified as a technologist/scientist or specialist
will be determined by transcript evaluation. The baccalaureate degree must be • AND twelve (12) months of full-time acceptable experience in
equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree. A doctorate in medicine must be a combination of routine histology and immunohistochemistry,
equivalent to a U.S. doctorate in medicine. Applicants who are practicing physicians with a minimum of six (6) months in histology (clinical, veterinary,
in the U.S. must submit a copy of their official state license to practice medicine. industry or research) and a minimum of six (6) months in
immunohistochemistry, in the U.S., Canada or an accredited
laboratory* within the last five years.
ROUTE 3 Qualification in Laboratory Safety, QLS
• MLT(ASCP) or MLT(ASCPi) certification
To be eligible for this Qualification, an applicant must satisfy the
• AND eighteen (18) months of full-time acceptable experience in
a combination of routine histology and immunohistochemistry, minimum requirements of one of the following routes:
with a minimum of six (6) months in histology (clinical, veterinary,
ROUTE 1
industry or research) and a minimum of twelve (12) months in
immunohistochemistry, in the U.S., Canada or an accredited • ASCP or ASCPi technologist/scientist or specialist certification
laboratory* within the last five years. • AND at least six (6) months of acceptable experience in laboratory
safety (clinical*, veterinary, industry, or research) in the U.S., Canada
ROUTE 4 or an accredited laboratory* within the last five years.
• Baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited
college/university, ROUTE 2
• AND twenty-four (24) months of full-time acceptable experience • ASCP or ASCPi certification (HT, MLT)
in a combination of routine histology and immunohistochemistry, • AND twelve (12) months of acceptable experience in laboratory
with a minimum of nine (9) months in histology (clinical, veterinary, safety (clinical*, veterinary, industry, or research) in the U.S.,
industry or research) and a minimum of fifteen (15) months in Canada or an accredited laboratory* within the last five years.
immunohistochemistry, in the U.S., Canada or an accredited
A S C P B O A R D O F C E R T I F I C AT I O N
laboratory* within the last five years. ROUTE 3
* CMS CLIA certificate of registration, compliance, accreditation; • Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited
OR JCI accreditation; OR accreditation under ISO 15189 college/university
• AND eighteen (18) months of acceptable experience in laboratory
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS safety (clinical*, veterinary, industry, or research) in the U.S.,
Canada or an accredited laboratory* within the last five years.
To fulfill the experience requirements for the Qualification in
Immunohistochemistry, the applicant must have experience in the * CMS CLIA certificate of registration, compliance, accreditation;
following areas: OR JCI accreditation; OR accreditation under ISO 15189
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IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE PREPARATIONS
• First aid
ALL the following should have been performed by the applicant:
• Physical and environmental (i.e., electrical, equipment, spills,
• Selection of proper control material waste management, shipping)
• Staining technique • Safety management (i.e., risk assessment, monitoring,
• Titration of immunologic reagents safety committee)
• Training and education
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Direct performance, training and/or management/supervision
The applicant should have participated in Quality Assurance related to
of Laboratory Safety procedures are acceptable in meeting the
ALL of the following:
experience requirements.
• Method selection, validation, documentation
• Quality control
• Reagent selection, preparation, storage, disposal
• Safety
• Specimen fixation, processing, microtomy
A S C P B O A R D O F C E R T I F I C AT I O N
authenticity of the form. This letter must be printed on original
1. Applicants from regionally accredited colleges/universities in letterhead and state that the experience documentation form was
the United States and Canada completed by the immediate supervisor or laboratory director,
An official transcript(s) from the regionally accredited colleges/ with the date and signature. Documentation forms and letters of
universities, bearing the embossed seal of the college/university, the authenticity must be completed and signed by your immediate
signature of the Registrar and the date the degree was conferred, supervisor or laboratory director at each place of employment to
must be submitted to ASCP Board of Certification office in order to establish the required clinical laboratory experience within the time
determine eligibility. limits of the specific route of eligibility. Experience documentation
forms will be audited to verify authenticity.
Regionally accredited colleges or universities must be accredited by
one of the following associations: • STEP 3: Mail your experience documentation form(s) and letter(s) of
authenticity once you complete your online application to:
• HLC—Higher Learning Commission
• MSCHE—Middle States Commission on Higher Education ASCP Board of Certification
• NWCCU—Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities 33 W. Monroe St., Suite 1600
• NEASC—New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. Chicago, IL 60603
• SACSCOC—Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 7
Commission on Colleges FULL AND PART-TIME EXPERIENCE DEFINED
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• WSCUC—Western Association of Schools and Colleges Full-time experience is defined as a minimum of thirty-five (35)
Note: A three year baccalaureate degree from a Canadian University is equivalent hours per week. Individuals who have part-time experience may be
to 3 years of undergraduate course work in the U.S. A four year baccalaureate permitted to utilize prorated part-time experience to meet the work
degree from a Canadian University is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree. experience requirements.
2. Applicants from regionally accredited college/university For example, if you are employed 20 hours per week for one year, your
outside of the United States and Canada experience would be computed as 20 divided by 35 multiplied by 52
A foreign academic transcript(s) must be evaluated by an acceptable weeks, or the equivalent of 29.7 weeks of full-time employment.
evaluation agency listed in Appendix A, on page 12. Only evaluations The number of years of experience required must be completed within
from these listed agencies will be accepted. Contact the agency the time frame, specified in the eligibility requirements, calculated
directly for information on obtaining an evaluation verifying U.S. from the date of application (e.g., application submitted 12/1/2019;
degree equivalency and a course by course evaluation. The original or experience acceptable from 12/2009 for a ten-year time frame).
certified copy of the evaluation showing U.S. degree equivalency and
course by course evaluation must be submitted when you apply for ASCP CERTIFIED APPLICANTS
examination.
Although you may be ASCP certified, you must resubmit all required
documentation necessary to establish your eligibility for the qualification
IMPORTANT NOTE: Continuing Education courses are not examination. Official transcripts must be submitted each time you apply.
accepted towards fulfilling the academic requirements.
3. SUBMIT REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION It is your responsibility to keep your mailing address current. A valid
Submit documentation required to establish your eligibility, i.e. mailing address must be provided prior to the examination in order to
experience documentation form(s), letter(s) of authenticity, official receive your certificate at the correct address. If current address is not
transcript(s) verifying the appropriate degree, notarized or official valid at the time of examination, it will be your responsibility to order
certificate(s) of training (if required) and foreign transcript evaluations and pay for a replacement certificate if necessary.
(if your education is outside of the U.S.). To update your mailing address:
The required documents must be mailed to our office at the time of • Go to www.ascp.org/login
application. Faxed documentation will not be accepted. • Click on “Profile & Settings” link
• Update mailing address and save
Submit all documentation required to establish your eligibility to:
Please allow 7-10 business days for processing. You will be notified
when your name change request has been completed.
Application Processing REAPPLYING FOR EXAMINATION
If you cancel, do not schedule your self-administered examination
REVIEW OF DOCUMENTS
within the 60 day examination period or are determined ineligible, you
All required documentation must be submitted to our office within must apply online and submit a full application fee to reapply.
45 business days of submission of your application or you will be
You are permitted to take the examination five times under one
determined ineligible for examination. You will be notified within 6
eligibility route provided you meet the current eligibility requirements.
weeks of receipt of your application if any documentation is missing.
If after five unsuccessful attempts under one route of eligibility, you
APPLICATION STATUS must meet the current requirements for eligibility in that particular
examination category under an alternate route of eligibility. If you do
When the status of your examination application changes
not meet the requirements under an alternate route of eligibility under
(i.e., is determined deficient, ineligible, eligible, etc.) you will receive
that particular examination category, you will no longer be eligible to
an email notification informing you to login to your ASCP account for
apply for that particular category of examination.
specific information/details regarding the status of your application.
All notifications regarding the status of your application
(from submission to examination results) are accessed by
A S C P B O A R D O F C E R T I F I C AT I O N
logging into your ASCP account. Examination Results
To access your ASCP account: RESULTS AND CERTIFICATE
1. Go to www.ascp.org/login
You will receive your examination score within four business days of your
2. Login using your ASCP Customer User ID (8 digit number)
examination date, followed by your wall certificate within 4–8 weeks.
and Password (for login assistance contact ASCP Customer
Service 800.267.2727) USE OF QUALIFICATION
3. Click under BOC Activities
This qualification will not, in itself, entitle the individual to membership in
4. Click on Completed BOC Exam Applications link
ASCP. Individuals must be ASCP certified as a technician, technologist
5. Click on the Show Details button to view the current status
or specialist to be eligible for ASCP membership. Individuals awarded
of your application
qualification may use their credential in the following manner:
STUDY MATERIALS • Mary Smith, QIACM (for individuals who are ASCP qualified)
Study materials and recommended reading lists are available to • Mary Smith, CT(ASCP)QIACM (for individuals who are ASCP qualified
prepare for examination. Information may be found at this link and also ASCP certified)
www.ascp.org/boc.
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Maintaining Qualification
Scheduling Your Examination
CREDENTIAL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM (CMP)
Once your application and documentation required to establish
eligibility has been approved by the BOC, you will receive an Admission Qualifications are valid for a three-year period. To maintain a valid
Notification with an authorization number to take the examination. qualification you must complete the continuing education requirements
for the Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) in your qualification
The examination consists of a 50 question, multiple choice, timed
category every three years. If you allow your qualification to expire*
test that must be completed within a 90-minute time period. The test
and then seek reinstatement, you must pay a CMP reinstatement
is self-administered on your own computer on the date and time of
fee in addition to the application fee. For details and instructions for
your choice within the 60 day examination period indicated on your
completing the CMP please visit this link: www.ascp.org/cmp
Admission Notification.
* Individuals who allow their qualification to expire for ten or more years they
CANCELLATION POLICY will be required to retake and pass the qualification examination in order to
reinstate their quantification.
You will not receive any refund of your application fee nor can it be
transferred to another examination period if you do not complete your
examination within the 60 day examination period indicated on your
Admission Notification.
CREDENTIAL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM (CMP)
In keeping with our ongoing commitment to assure the continued • STEP 3: Up to three (3) months prior to your qualification expiration
competence of laboratory medical laboratory personnel, the ASCP date, complete the online CMP declaration process and submit with
Board of Certification (BOC) requires participation in the Credential the application fee payable by credit card. Please allow 30 business
Maintenance Program (CMP) every three years to maintain days to process you declaration form.
qualification. Completing the CMP demonstrates to the public that
individuals qualified by the BOC are performing continuing education DO NOT SUBMIT any documentation of your continuing
activities to remain current in their practice. education to the BOC office. This documentation will only be
required if your declaration form is selected for audit.
CMP Requalification Requirements • STEP 4: You will receive email notifications regarding the status of
The CMP provides an opportunity to obtain a variety of learning the processing of your CMP declaration form. You may login to your
experiences that demonstrate your continued professional competency ASCP account at any time to follow and view the status of your
and dedication to excellence in the workplace. Some of the eligible requalification application.
activities include employer offered courses, formal continuing education
• STEP 5: If you receive notification that your declaration form is
A S C P B O A R D O F C E R T I F I C AT I O N
the ASCP Board of Certification will review and audit a percentage of 3. Donor Apheresis
declaration forms each year. If your declaration is selected for audit, 4. Theraputic Apheresis
you will be notified and requested to submit supporting documentation 5. Cellular Therapy
of the completed continuing education credits submitted for 6. Donor/Patient Care
requalification. 7. Instrumentation
8. Quality Assurance/Quality Control
EXPIRED QUALIFICATION 9. Safety
Individuals who allow their qualification to expire may reinstate their 10. Supervision/Management
expired qualification by completing the online CMP process and
QUALIFICATION IN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY (QIHC)
submitting a reinstatement fee in addition to the application fee. If
1. Histology
the qualification is expired for ten or more years, the individual will be
2. Immunodeficiency
required to retake the online examination to reinstate their qualification.
3. Immunoflourescence Preparations
4. Immunohistochemical Preparations
COMPLETING CMP-STEP BY STEP 5. Immunology
• STEP 1: Review the CMP requirements and information for 6. Immunophenotyping
requalification. Please visit www.ascp.org/cmp. 7. Immunoproliferative Disorders
8. In-situ Hybridization
• STEP 2: Complete the continuing education required for your
9. In-situ Polymerase Chain Reaction
qualification and save original documentation for completion
10. Laboratory Information Systems
of these activities during the three-year period following
11. Laboratory and Patient Safety
qualification/requalification.
12. Pathology of Diseases for which Immunohistochemistry 15. Network and data communications
is a Diagnostic Procedure 16. Quality Control
13. Quality Assurance 17. Quality Improvements
14. Quality Control 18. Pathology Informatics
15. Supervision/Management 19. Regulatory compliance for clinical information
16. Transplantation systems and data
17. Validation (Instrument and Assay) 20. RHIO and HIE
18. Regulations and Compliance 21. Rule writing and calculations
19. Digital Pathology 22. Security: physical data and administrative control
23. Software installation, validation and maintenance
QUALIFICATION IN LAB INFORMATICS (QLI) 24. System or vendor training
1. Autoverification
2. Billing and charge capture QUALIFICATION IN LABORATORY SAFETY (QLS)
3. Coding and nomenclature systems 1. Biohazard control (i.e., bloodborne pathogens, infection control)
4. Computer system and data quality assurance 2. Chemical safety
A S C P B O A R D O F C E R T I F I C AT I O N
5. Data mining 3. Ergonomics
6. Database administration 4. Fire safety
7. Hardware installation and maintenance 5. First aid
8. Hardware/software change management and quality control 6. Physical and environmental (i.e., electrical, equipment, spills,
9. Informatics system disaster recovery waste management, emergency preparedness, shipping)
10. Information system selection and procurement 7. Safety management (i.e., risk assessment, monitoring,
11. Interfaces safety committee)
12. Management reports 8. Training and education
13. Meaningful Use
14. Middleware
11
SUGGESTED CONTINUING EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
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You are required to submit documentation of completed CEs only if your declaration is selected for audit. 1 CMP credit = 1 contact hour
Authoring a book
• over 300 pages 21 contact hours Title page of publication and table of contents
• less than 300 pages 14 contact hours containing author name
• chapter 7 contact hours
Editing a book 5 contact hours (per year) Copy of cover or inside page containing editor names
Serving on an active examination committee Letter from organization verifying participation, in what
3 contact hours (per year)
or qualification workgroup capacity and dates of service
*You are required to submit documentation of CEs if your application is selected for audit.
APPENDIX A
Website: www.ece.org
International Education Research Foundation, Inc.
Educational Perspectives PO Box 3665
PO Box A3462 Culver City, CA 90231-3665
Chicago, IL 60690-3462 310-258-9451
312-421-9300 310-342-7086 FAX
312-421-9353 FAX Email: infor@ierf.org
Email: info@edperspective.org Website: www.ierf.org
Website: www.edperspective.org
International Evaluation Service Center for
Foreign Academic Credentials Services, Inc. Applied Research, Evaluation & Education, Inc.
105 West Vandalia St, Suite 120 PO Box 18358
Edwardsville, IL 62025 Anaheim, CA 92817
618-656-5291 714-237-9272
Email: hello@facsusa.com Email: info@iescaree.com
Website: www.facsusa.com Website: www.iescaree.com
A foreign transcript evaluation with U.S. degree educational equivalency and course by course evaluation is required. Information on this page is
subject to change without notice. For the most current information, visit the ASCP BOC website at www.ascp.org/boc.
J U LY 2 0 1 9 A S C P B O A R D O F C E R T I F I C AT I O N
13
ASCP Board of Certification
EXAMINATIONS
JULY 2019
Qualifications
Qualification in Apheresis, QIA
Qualification in Immunohistochemistry, QIHC
Qualification in Laboratory Safety, QLS