ASCP: Maximizing Success with American Society for Clinical Pathology

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is the biggest umbrella for clinical pathology worldwide that presents powerful credentials to every field of medical laboratory.

These certificates offer better job prospects, dual salaries, a top position, and many job opportunities to enhance experience and skills.

The ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) is the world’s largest, independent, and non-profitable credential agency.

The organization conducts the exam for medical lab professionals every year and offers them certificates that are enough to do jobs in any part of the world.

Besides certificates, the ASCP offers many other opportunities, including study resources, annual meetings, membership programs, and much more.

All these resources not only enhance the candidate’s experience but also increase their network within and outside of the country.

In this article, we will explain the ASCP and all its aspect including the certification type, eligibility requirements, and certification and recertification exam.

In addition, you will also learn the benefits and preparation resources.

Understanding the ASCP

The ASCP came into being in 1922, when pathology was a new specialty.

At this time, there is no set rule for measuring the competence of lab technicians.

To set some rules for medical laboratory technician registration, the ASCP board established a committee.

In 1928, the current ASCP was organized under the name of Registry of Medical Lab Technologists.

From then, the ASCP made many contributions to reach its current destination.

Many more certificates are inserted into the ASCP certification.

Following are the ASCP progress history

CAT (Computer Adaptive Testing)	1994
Certification Maintenance Program	2004
International Certification	2006
Accreditation of American National Standard Institute	2007
Entry of Board of Certification	2009
Many certificates are also added	2016-2018

The mission of ASCP is to offer better environments and treatments to patients.

Besides this, enhancing the experience and skills of professionals and offering them the best working environment is also part of its mission.

Board of Certification (BOC)

The BOC relationship with ASCP is based on operational and fiscal purposes.

The BOC is autonomous in all its activities and handles conflicts of interest.

The BOC does not differentiate as marital status, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, or race.

For many countries it's commonly know as American board in clinical Pathology.

Following are the Board of Certification Commitments

• Within every five years, do practice analysis
• Hold ANAB accreditation
• Within five years, publish the exam based on the updated database.
• Review questions every year

Certification Exam

The ASCP BOC conducts more than twenty-five exams for medical lab generalists and specialists.

All certifications of the American Society for Clinical Pathology are given below:

For Generalist

• Medical Laboratory Scientist/ Generalist (MLS)

For Technologists

• Blood Banking Technologist (BB)
• Microbiology Technologist (M)
• Cytologist (CT)
• Cytogenetic Technologist (CG)
• Hematology Technologist (H)
• Molecular Biology Technologist
• Chemistry Technologist
• Histotechnologist (HTL)
• International Gynecologic Cytologist (CTgyn)

For Technician

• Medical Lab Technician (MLT)
• Histotechnician (HT)
• Phlebotomy Technician (PBT)
• Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) for U.S. only

For Specialist

• Blood Bank Specialist (SBB)
• Molecular Biology Specialist (SMB)
• Chemistry Specialist (SC)
• Cytology Specialist (SCT)
• Microbiology Specialist (SM)
• Hematology Specialist (SH)
• Cytometry Specialist (SCYM)

Exam Format and Structure

The American Society for Clinical Pathology certification exam format is CAT.

Computer Adaptive Testing shows the difficult or easy questions by checking the answer to your previous question.

An incorrect answer triggers the easy questions and a correct answer triggers the tough questions.

To book the exam, you have to submit an application with fees.

Before applying, you have to meet some eligibility requirements.

You will receive an email notification that shows all registration details.

By following the registration guidelines, you can schedule your exam.

Eligibility Requirements

The ASCP never awards its certificates without knowing the applicant’s previous and current experience related to their area of specialty.

This is why it sets some eligibility routes for each certification examination.

Academic and Educational Criteria

• For technologist certificates, you have to earn a bachelor’s degree in relevant subjects.
• For technician, almost an associate degree/ diploma is required.
• Master’s degree in appreciate subjects to meet some route requirements for specialist.
• A doctorate in most certificates, reduces the requirements of clinical experience to a one year only!
• All these education degrees must be earned from an approved institution.
• Besides, for a few credentials, you have to get the ASCP certification.

Clinical Experience and Training

With education certification, you have to earn clinical and training experience.

• Clinical Experience of one, two, three or more years from an approved laboratory.
• You must get this experience from the board-recommended labs, including ISO 15189, JCI, CMS CLIA, and DoD CLIP certificate registration accreditation.
• Letter of authenticity also required with clinical experience
• You must get training from accredited agencies. These agencies include NAACLS & ABHES.
• A letter of authenticity is also required with training program

Exam Preparation Resources

The ASCP BOC offers many preparation resources for each certificate so you can perform well in exams.

ASCP Official Resources

• Expert Video Interview
• Reading List
• Content Guideline
• Study Guide
• Review Course
• Practice Exam
• BOCStudyGuide Questions of the Week

Expert Video Interview

These are the expert interviews that help you to determine the best experience of experts related to getting the ASCP certification.

Following is the list of interviews

• (CLM) Mercedes Cedeno, CLM ASCP
• HT (ASCP) QUHC QBRS
• (QBRS) Lisa M. Turner, BS,
• (QIHC) HM1 Neisha V. Wright, HT (ASCP) QIHC
• (SBB) Karen Miks, MLS and SBB (ASCP)
• (SM) Laksana Sierra, MLS and MS (ASCP)SM
• (SMB) Hana Fukuto, SMB ASCP, PhD
• (SB) Danielle Mullins, MLS (ASCP) SBB

Reading List

The board determines the reading list for all certifications.

This is a list of preparation resources that includes books, online associations, and journals.

Content Guidelines

This guideline comprises the subjects with question percentages. It also explains the exam content area with topics and sub-topics.

Study Guide

You will get the following study guides

• Histotechnology Certification Examinations BOC Study Guide
• Phlebotomy Certification Examinations BOC Study Guide
• Clinical Lab Certification Examination BOC Study Guide
• Clinical Chemistry 2e
• Practical Clinical Pathology eBook

Review Course

The MLS online review course is available for U.S. and International candidates.

This course covers all exam content area.

It also helps you determine your preparation percentage.

Practice Exam

• BOC Phlebotomy Interactive Practice Exam
• BOC 2023 Medical Lab Interactive Exam
• BOC 2023 Histotechnology Interactive Exam

BOCStudyGuide Question of the Week

The BOCStudyGuide Questions of the Week is a bundle of questions that are selected from important topics of the certification syllabus.

These questions help you a lot in exam preparation.

You can get these questions from the ASCP BOC Facebook page every week.

Third-Party Study Tools

With the American Society for Clinical Pathology preparation resources, you can also use third-party study tools.

In this regard, you must depend on the best online preparation course that helps prepare you for all examination aspects.

Before purchasing an online course, you must check its history, study tools, tutor’s experience, and preparation plan.

MLSIAcademy.com is a well-known academy for offering preparation services for the ASCP exam.

The following is what MLISA Academy offers:

• Live classes for each certification
• Recording of all lectures (you can watch these recordings at your suitable time)
• Excellent study guide that aces the reading list resources and content guidelines.
• Practice exam (make you an expert in exam format)

Renewal and Maintenance of Certification

The Board of Certification (BOC) also offers CMP for renewal and maintenance of certification.

This program helps medical lab health professionals stay current in their field by learning the latest medical lab technology.

Like ASCP certification eligibility requirements, the recertification process also has some eligibility prerequisites that are necessary to meet.

Continuing Education Requirements

To participate in the continuing education program, you have to get CE credits.

The number of these CE credits is different for each certificate.

For many credentials, you have to get 36 credits, while for a few, you need 9 credits.

The board divides 36 credits in the following ways:

• 2 points in the area of specialization
• Patient safety or lab safety required 1 point
• Medical ethics, 1 point
• 26 points in lab operation-related work including education, management, etc.

Division of 9 points

• Two points in the area of specialty
• One point in patient or lab safety
• One point in medical ethics
• Five points in the area of lab operation

You can get these credits from ASCP and non-ASCP activities.

You can get CE credit from ASCP like this:

• Participating in the ASCP annual meeting
• Serve the American Society for Clinical board or committee
• Attending the ASCP workshop presentation
• Writing articles or journals for Lab Medicine

Following are list of some non-ASCP provides

• American Society of Hematology (ASH)
• American Society of Microbiology (ASM)
• American Society of Apheresis (ASFA)
• Clinical Laboratory Management Association (CLMA)
• American Medical Association (AMA)
• The American Red Cross

Recertification Process

The CMP fee is $95 for each certification.

But, if you fail to send the declaration on time, you have to pay $125 (expired certificate + CMP fee)

You must send your declaration before three months of your certificate expiration date so that you can get time for processing.

Benefits of Board Certification

There are many certifications available for medical lab professionals that enhance their value in their field.

But, when it comes to getting board certification, it makes you stand out from the crowd.

Following are the benefits of the American Society for Clinical Pathology certification:

Professional Recognition and Credibility

By having ASCP certificate you can easily get your work license as a medical lab professional to join any lab team in USA.

The board provides many opportunities to its candidates for their professional recognition and credibility.

Through annual meetings and membership programs, you can increase your network.

Besides this, the ASCP Facebook page also enhances your networking.

All these opportunities are enough to get the experience of experts and streamline credibility.

Career Advancement Opportunities

The board also presents many programs for professional developments.

The continuing education program is a very powerful weapon of the Board of Certification. It inserts advancement in professional credentials every three years.

The expert professionals share their experiences with other attendees at the annual meeting.

You must join these meetings because you not only get the latest experience from experts but also earn CMP CE credits.

Enhance Job Security and Marketability

Being board-certified, you can perform many jobs with one certificate.

For instance, by getting the MLS ASCP certificate, you can perform as

• Microbiology technologist
• Immunology technologist
• Blood bank technologist

Besides this, these certificates offer you a top position among your peers and the best working environment.

ASCP (Final Verdict)

There is no alternative certification that competes with ASCP in terms of strength, credibility, career satisfaction, and job opportunities.

Wondering how to start you ASCP certification journey.

Check these prep courses to make the shortcut.

It is one that not only offers many chances to increase credibility and marketability but also introduces the certified to the latest technologies.

If you belong to the medical lab field, you must get the American Society for Clinical Pathology credential, to skyrocket your success.

 FAQs for American Society for Clinical Pathology Certification