December 2018
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Continuing History of the ASCP Board of Certification (formerly Board of Registry) In 1994, paper and pencil tests were eliminated. All certification examinations were administered by Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) at Sylvan Technology Centers around the country. In 1996, the ASCP put up their first web site, and in 1997 the voluntary Continuing Competence Recognition (CCR) program was released. In 2003, the Board of Registry celebrated its 75th anniversary, and Program Performance Reports (PPRs) were first made available. In 2004, the Certification Maintenance Program (CMP) was implemented for all certification categories, and eLinks for Program Directors was developed. In 2005, the 400,000th certificant was awarded certification, and Dr. E. Blair Holladay, PhD, SCT(ASCP)CM was hired as Vice President and Executive Director of the Board of Registry. In 2006, the first international examinations were offered in Korea, and in 2007 the ASCP Board of Registry became accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). In 2009, the ASCP Board of Registry (BOR), the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA), and the Association of Genetic Technologists (AGT) signed an agreement to form a single certification agency – the ASCP Board of Certification (BOC). In 2011, Patricia Tanabe, MPA, MLS(ASCP)CM was named Vice President and new Executive Director of the ASCP BOC. In 2013, the online application process was instituted with paper applications eliminated in 2014. Also in 2014, the 500,000th certificant was certified. From 2015 – 2018, three certifications and one qualification were added to the ASCP BOC catalogue of credentials. Read about the continuing history of the ASCP Board of Certification from 1994 through 2018. View a video showing the evolution of the Board of Certification over the last 90 years. |
ASCP and BOC Offices Closed Dec. 24, 2018 through Jan. 1, 2019
The ASCP and Board of Certification offices will be closed for the holidays from Dec. 24, 2018, through Jan. 1, 2019. If you have any questions during this time, please review the ASCP BOC website.
Examination Eligibility Verification (EEV) Report – Important Information for Holiday Break*
Please remember to check your email for announcements of Examination Eligibility Verification Reports to review over the holiday break. You may login to your account from anywhere in the world where you have access to the Internet. Your students will not be able to schedule appointments to take the examination until you sign off on these reports.
Reminder: 2019 Program Performance Report Invoice Payment Due Jan. 1, 2019*
Emails with a link to access the 2019 Program Performance Report (PPR) invoices were sent to all program directors of NAACLS, CAAHEP, and ABHES accredited/approved programs, as well as BOC recognized structured phlebotomy training programs on Oct. 29, 2018. The invoice amount is $150 and covers the period of Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2019. Payment instructions are included on the invoice.
Please note that you will need to pay the invoice by Jan. 1, 2019, to access data for previous years. If you have any questions, please contact Kristin Blake at PDInfo@ascp.org.
MLS and MLT Practice Analyses Results
The results of the latest Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) and Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Practice Analyses are now available on the BOC website: MLT & MLS Practice Analysis Report
MLS and MLT Revised Examination Content Guidelines Now Available
Examination Content Guidelines for MLS and MLT examinations administered beginning Jan. 1, 2019, have been revised. The revised content guidelines are currently available on the BOC web page under Applicant Resources for each category.
Access to Program Performance Reports (PPR) for Faculty
We have listened to your feedback and are now able to add multiple users from an institution to access PPR data for your program. If there is someone other than the Program Director who should also have access to the PPR information, please email PDInfo@ascp.org with the name of the institution, school code, and name and email address of individuals who should be added. Please note that the Program Director will remain the only person able to access the EEV (Exam Eligibility Verification) to verify students' completion of the program.
When Should Your Students Apply for Certification?
Students should complete the online application and submit their application fee when they are on track to complete the program by the official program end date. Applications should not be submitted more than six weeks prior to the date of program completion. If there will be a delay in completing the program for any reason, the student should not apply until they have an actual program end date. Application fees are non-refundable. Please review the Program Director's Guide to Certification for detailed information on all facets of the certification process. This booklet contains a handy planning calendar with application guidelines at the end to assist you.
Important - Program Changes
Please be sure to notify the BOC office if any of your program information changes, such as your email address, program status, program director, or mailing address. Please notify Kristin Blake at PDInfo@ascp.org. For program directors from international countries for ASCPi certification, please notify Angela Sreckovic at Angela.Sreckovic@ascp.org.
Important Information for Students in California and New York - Revised
Please ensure that your students become certified and complete the examination for licensure by applying for Certification and Licensure on the online application. If students apply for licensure only, they will be required to reapply for certification and take the certification examination. By applying for and taking the certification examination, their examination scores are acceptable for licensure in California and New York. All other state licensure requirements must be met to obtain state licensure. For additional information, see the CA and NY NAACLS student information form.
BOC Examination – Copyright Violations
The ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) monitors the web regularly for copyright violations on web sites that purport to have questions from BOC examinations. Individuals with ASCP BOC certifications who contribute to these sites or share examination items in any manner are in violation of the pledges they sign on the application form and on site prior to taking the examination. Certification will be revoked, and individuals will be barred permanently from taking any BOC examination by violating these pledges. Please remind your students not to share information from the examination with anyone.
FYI -
Understanding ASCP BOC Certification Examinations
Brief explanations on a variety of topics related to the BOC certification examinations are available at Understanding ASCP BOC Certification Examinations.
Do You Have Students Missing From Your PPR or EEV Reports? *
When your students complete the online application, please remind them to use the drop-down list of programs to select the program they completed. When students enter the name manually, the school is not recognized, and these students' names will not appear on your PPR or EEV reports. If your program is not listed, please let us know immediately by contacting Kristin Blake at PDInfo@ascp.org.
Determining Your Students' Examination Eligibility and Transcripts*
For information on determining your students' eligibility and transcript requirements, details on these topics are provided at Students' Eligibility and Transcript Requirements.
Applicants Requesting Modifications Due to a Disability
If any of your students require a modification due to a disability, we request that your students notify our office in writing at the time of application. Complete information regarding documentation is available on the website.
User's Guide for Program Performance Reports*
Please see the User's Guide for Program Performance Reports for all the latest information on accessing and using the PPRs to your program's best advantage.
How to Locate Your Certification Number
If you need to locate your certification number, you may access it by logging into your record and clicking on "Home Page" under "My BOC Activities." Then click on the "View Certifications" link.
If you require primary source verification of your certification, this information is available at Verification of Certification. There is a $16 charge for this service.
*UNITED STATES ONLY
Board of Certification Contacts:
Please contact the following individuals if you have questions or concerns regarding:
U.S. application processing |
Angie Nunn at Angela.Nunn@ascp.org |
Wall Certificates/Credential Maintenance |
Julie Mueller at Julie.Mueller@ascp.org |
Program Performance Reports (PPR) and |
Kristin Blake at 312.541.4949 or |
International certification |
Angela Sreckovic at Angela.Sreckovic@ascp.org |
Program Director inquiries (U.S. only) |
Share eLinks
Feel free to forward eLinks to Education Coordinators or other program officials, who might benefit from the information included in this Newsletter.
Having Difficulty Receiving Emails?
Please note that the email address has changed. Please add ascp@site02.ascpmail.org to your "safe" email list. This will ensure that emails regarding program performance reports (PPRs), examination eligibility verification (EEV) reports and, of course, this newsletter will be delivered directly to you, and not to spam or junk mail.
Questions or Comments?
If you have any questions or comments on the information contained in this issue, please email us at PDInfo@ascp.org. We look forward to hearing from you.