Springl 2020
ASCP BOC Updates:
ASCP BOC COVID-19 Response
The ASCP BOC takes the health and wellness of our constituents very seriously and understands that you and your students may be concerned about how this ongoing health crisis will impact program completion, exam application, exam eligibility, or exam scheduling. The ASCP BOC is working to ensure that appropriate processes are in place and has created a COVID-19 page that we update regularly with the most current information. Thank you for your patience as we work to best support all constituents throughout this time.
ASCP Board of Certification – My BOC Lab Photo Contest
In celebration of the vital role medical laboratory professionals play in safeguarding society's health and wellbeing, the BOC held the My BOC Lab Photo Contest. The contest invited all BOC certificants to submit a photo, with a short explanation, showing how they used their credentials to contribute to better lab results and improved patient care.
The BOC received photos showing a beautiful and honest look at the day-to-day life of lab pros from around the world, and the BOC would like to thank all of those who shared their pictures! Many of these photos were highlighted on the BOC Facebook page during Lab Week, April 19 – 25.
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| We hope that you celebrated Medical Laboratory Professionals Week! April 19 - 25 |
Clinical Laboratory Educator's Conference (CLEC)*
The ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) Board of Governors Chair and the ASCP BOC staff had a wonderful opportunity to meet with the program directors at Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference (CLEC) February 27-28 in Orlando, Florida. On Thursday, February 27, Susan Johnson, MSTM, MT(ASCP)SBBCM, Chair of the ASCP BOC Board of Governors, gave the BOC update.
Pat Tanabe, MPA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCP BOC Executive Director and Kristin Blake, MA, Director, BOC Operations, staffed the BOC exhibit booth during the conference. The updated Program Director's Guide to Certification was available in paper copy, and is now available online. The new edition contains an expanded section about the exam itself, a useful Application Timeline, detailed information about how to best help your students before and after the examination, and complete information about the EEV and PPR. BOC staff also shared a brochure that highlights the certifications and qualifications offered by the ASCP BOC. These are particularly useful to have on hand at job or career fairs, when visiting high schools, etc. If you would like copies, please email us at PDInfo@ascp.org with your name, address, and number of brochures needed.
In addition, six copies of the enhanced 6th edition of the BOC Study Guide for Clinical Laboratory Certification Examinations, one copy of the BOC Study Guide for Phlebotomy Certification Examinations, and one copy of the BOC Study Guide for Histotechnology Certification were raffled off to eight lucky winners at the conference. We enjoyed meeting and talking with the program directors and educators. Thank you for visiting us at the BOC booth!
Revised Examination Content Guidelines Now Available
Examination Content Guidelines for the BB, SBB, M, and SM examinations administered beginning July 1, 2020, have been revised. The revised content guidelines are currently available on the ASCP BOC website under "Applicant Resources" for the appropriate category. www.ascp.org/certification
New Qualification in Biorepository Science (QBRS)
The new Qualification in Biorepository Science, QBRS, is being offered in conjunction with the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER). Applications are available and testing began April 1, 2020. Complete information is available here: www.ascp.org/boc/qbrs
Update from the April 2020 BOC Board of Governors Meeting
The ASCP BOC Board of Governors met via conference call on April 4th. The Board of Governors passed several motions regarding CMP requirements that will go into effect January of 2024. Complete information will be available online later this year. In addition, a motion was passed to transition the Donor Phlebotomy Technician (DPT) exam from a certification to a qualification beginning January 2022. Complete information will be available online this fall.
Upcoming Program Completion
We understand there is a lot of uncertainty at this time concerning the impact of COVID-19 and the ability for students to finish the didactic and/or clinical requirements of their program. Unfortunately, many programs are faced with this challenge with no clear-cut resolution. We recommend you join the BOC Program Director's Facebook group as a place to share ideas with other Program Directors who are dealing with similar situations. For specific questions regarding programs, please reach out to your accrediting agency. (www.abhes.org; www.caahep.org; www.naacls.org)
The ASCP BOC is committed to upholding the standards of certification; no changes to eligibility requirements are being made during this time. The BOC will work with individuals on a case by case basis as needed to ensure that we are doing everything we can to manage this ongoing and rapidly evolving situation.
Educational Resources Available Online*
All Program Directors of NAACLS, CAAHEP, and ABHES accredited/approved programs were sent an email in late March with student and Program Director codes to access free education being offered by ASCP. These offerings include ASCP Case Reports, ASCP LabQ in multiple disciplines, and recorded sessions from the 2019 Annual Meeting Laboratory Professionals Track. If you did not receive the email, it may have been blocked by your institutional firewalls. Please email PDInfo@ascp.org for the codes and complete information.
In addition, the ASCP BOC compiled a list of educational resources from a number of different social media channels. These resources are being brought to US and Canadian Program Directors and Educators to help support programs and students during the transition to distance education. This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement by the ASCP Board of Certification. Check back often as this list is updated regularly. If you have additions or corrections to this resource list, please contact us at PDInfo@ascp.org.
Review the Online Application
Before your students begin to apply, we encourage you to review the online application in order to better answer questions from your students. Log in to your ASCP account to apply without entering payment information. We encourage you to take screen shots to share with students and highlight any potential difficulties. Once saved, your application will remain in your account for six months. In addition, make sure to watch the video that walks applicants through the online application process at www.ascp.org/certification If you need assistance or have questions, email us at PDInfo@ascp.org.
Applying for an ASCP BOC Certification Exam – How and When Students Should Apply
Students should apply for an ASCP BOC certification exam no more than six weeks before program completion. If a student is uncertain about when they will be able to complete all components of the program, including clinical rotations, they should hold off on applying until they have a clearer timeframe.
Please make sure that your students know the correct date of their program completion, which is not necessarily the same as their graduation date. Students should enter their program completion date in the online application. Have students watch the application video, available here: www.ascp.org/certification Applications are processed on a continual basis, as they are received in office, and application processing time is up to 45 business days.
Exam Eligibility Verification (EEV) Report*
Please remember to check your email for notifications of Examination Eligibility Verification (EEV) Reports to review. You may log in to your individual ASCP account from anywhere you have access to the Internet.
The ASCP BOC has always encouraged Program Directors to not sign off on a student's eligibility until they are certain they will meet all components of the program, including clinicals and final exams, by the date indicated on the student's application. This is even more vital during this time.
If you have already signed off on a student's eligibility, and have since learned they will not complete their program by the date indicated, please immediately email Angela Nunn, Assistant Manager of Application Processing, at angela.nunn@ascp.org.
Please note: If the program end date entered by the student is within a week after their actual program completion date, it does not need to be updated on the EEV. Updating a program end date can add up to a week to the processing time of the application, so please be sure your students are aware of their correct program end date.
Your students will not be able to schedule appointments to take the examination until you sign off on their eligibility through this report.
Scheduling Exams at a Pearson VUE Testing Location
The status of Pearson VUE test delivery is changing rapidly due to the spread of COVID-19. Please be assured that the ASCP BOC is in constant communication with Pearson VUE. Students should check the Pearson COVID-19 page often for updates.
Pearson VUE will re-open all testing locations within the U.S., Canada, and international locations, beginning May 1st, 2020 where there are no restrictions prohibiting operation. They have received recognition as offering an essential service by delivering examinations for essential services personnel. The ASCP BOC has worked with Pearson VUE to ensure that all ASCP BOC examinations are recognized as examinations for essential services.
Please be aware that although examinations are only being offered for essential services, testing locations are operating at 50% capacity due to social distancing requirements. In addition, testing centers are following all federal, state, and local guidelines around COVID-19. Please make sure your students are aware of any local requirements for masks, etc. before arriving at their test center. Students should review the latest health and safety requirements at Pearson VUE test centers regularly.
Please note that Pearson VUE closed all U.S., Canadian, and many international testing centers from March 17th – April 30th. While a small subset of testing centers were open for essential services exams at reduced capacity in April, there will be a high volume of exam candidates looking for testing availability at this time.
The ASCP BOC has extended eligibility windows for all candidates for several months in order to accommodate the current situation, and to allow for candidates to test at a time when they are able to do so safely. All applications will remain active and valid through the extended eligibility window.
We understand that you'd like your students to test as soon as possible after program completion. As soon as they receive their Admission Notification, your students should go online to schedule their exam through the Pearson site. All available testing dates and locations will be found through the Pearson site.
Valid Identification at Pearson VUE – short term exceptions
It is understood that candidates may have an expired ID as many facilities at which they would renew their government issued IDs are closed due to COVID-19. The BOC and Pearson VUE will accept expired IDs from candidates through May 31, 2020. We anticipate that, beginning June 1, 2020, Pearson VUE will again require all government issued IDs to be non-expired.
Use of Pass/Fail Grades*
We understand that some institutions are investigating the use of Pass/Fail grades during this time. Note that the ASCP BOC has always accepted the use of "Pass" on an official transcript in lieu of a passing grade, provided the quarter or semester hour credits assigned to the course are also indicated.
*United States only
Ethics and the Appropriate Use of Social Media
ASCP BOC Examination Questions - Copyright and Ethics Violations
ASCP Board of Certification examinations are protected by copyright law. When your students apply for certification, they agree to adhere to the following statement stating, in part:
"I understand that this examination and all test questions are the exclusive property of the Board of Certification and are protected by copyright law. Because of the confidential nature of these copyright materials, I agree not to retain, copy, disclose or reveal any part of these examination materials . . ."
The ASCP BOC monitors the web and social media sites regularly for individuals or groups who claim to have questions from ASCP BOC examinations. These are sometimes called recalls, remembrances or brain dumps. Individuals who contribute to these sites, or share examination items in any manner, are infringing on the ASCP BOC's exclusive copyrights.
Be aware that students who reveal specific information on the examination, such as recalling examination questions and responses, to their peers and instructors, are committing copyright infringement. If certificants are found to be in violation, their certification will be revoked; all individuals found to be in violation will be barred permanently from taking any ASCP BOC examination.
Ethics Reminders
An ethics reminder has been added to all exams republished in 2020 as well as the MLT and MLS exams. Examinees must agree to a statement at the end of their examination that they will not share exam items and that they understand this is a violation of copyright. As well, starting in January 2020, students will receive an email the day after their exam to remind them that they have signed multiple pledges stating that they will not share exam material. In both of these reminders it is clearly laid out that if examinees do share this type of information and are caught doing so they may have their certification revoked and be permanently barred from taking an ASCP BOC examination in the future.
Posting of Certificates on Social Media
Please inform your students not to post images of their wall certificates or ASCP BOC documentation on social media. While we appreciate their enthusiasm and pride in becoming certified, these images can be used by unscrupulous individuals to misrepresent themselves as being certified. To protect the integrity of ASCP BOC credentials and records, and for patient safety and welfare, it is important for individuals to protect their certificates from misuse. Please share the following with your students:
- Do not share your wall certificate, score report, or ASCP Member ID card (if applicable) with anyone.
- Do not post a copy or image of your wall certificate, score report, or ASCP Member ID card (if applicable) on the Internet or social media.
For complete information, please visit our website.
Integrity Pledges
Please remind your students not to share information from the examination with anyone. Several program directors have instituted Integrity Pledges that students sign which explicitly state that sharing of exam content is an ethical violation. Please email us at PDInfo@ascp.org if you would like examples of these pledges.
PPR Information
Program Performance Report (PPR)*
The 2020 PPR invoice amount is $150 per program and covers access to all current and previous data for the period of January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020. Payment instructions are included on the invoice.
Please note that your PPR invoice must be paid in order to access data for previous years. If you believe your invoice has been paid, please log in to your account to ensure that you have access to PPR data. For complete information, see pages 30 - 34 of the Program Director's Guide.
If you have questions, please contact us at PDInfo@ascp.org.
Access to Program Performance Reports (PPR) for Faculty*
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 the individual(s) who should have PPR access. Please note that the Program Director will remain the only person able to access the Exam Eligibility Verification (EEV) to verify students' completion of the program.
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. Some schools have programs in multiple cities or states. Please advise your students to make sure they choose the correct program in the correct location. Students should not enter the name of the program manually as the school name will not be 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 us at PDInfo@ascp.org.
*United States only
Important Information for Students
Important Information for Students in California and New York
Please ensure that your students become certified and complete the examination for state 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. For complete information, please visit our website: State Licensure.
Applicants Requesting Modifications Due to a Disability
If any of your students require a modification due to a disability, your students must notify our office in writing before they apply. Complete information is available on our website.
Official Transcripts*
Students from NAACLS, CAAHEP, and ABHES accredited/approved programs are able to sit for their BOC exam one time prior to official transcripts being received and processed by the ASCP BOC.
If a degree is required to meet eligibility requirements, please remind your students to request an official college/university transcript be sent to the ASCP BOC. This official transcript is required before examination scores are made available. Please note that students are not certified until their transcript is received and processed by the ASCP BOC.
During this time, the ASCP BOC is requesting that all official transcripts be submitted electronically to transcripts.boc@ascp.org. All official transcripts must be sent directly from the institution. Please view complete official transcript requirements here: Official Transcript
If your institution is unable to submit transcripts electronically paper copies should be mailed to the address below through regular mail. At this time, there will be a delay in the processing of paper transcripts mailed to the ASCP BOC office.
ASCP BOC
Attn: Jackie Sanders
33 West Monroe St., Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603
Mailing Documentation Forms and Payment*
We understand that some programs pay the application fee for multiple students at one time. For complete information, see Program Director's section of the website. Payment information, invoices, and checks, should be mailed to:
ASCP Board of Certification
3462 Eagle Way
Chicago, IL 60678
*United States only
Get Involved!
Program Directors Group on Facebook
If you haven't already, please join the ASCP BOC Program Director's Group on Facebook. The group is for directors of NAACLS, CAAHEP, and ABHES-accredited or approved laboratory programs, as well as education and clinical coordinators and faculty, whose students seek ASCP BOC certification. Supported by volunteers with several years of program experience, the group aims to become the program director's resource for information and support.
BOC Facebook Page
In addition to the Program Director's Group, the ASCP BOC also has a Facebook page. You can follow the page to see the BOC Study Guide Question of the Week and to follow what is happening with the ASCP BOC.
Certification Exam Committees and Qualification Work Groups*
All ASCP BOC Examination Committees and Work Groups consist of laboratory professionals representing broad geographic regions of the United States and laboratory facilities of various types and sizes. They are responsible for the development, maintenance, and evaluation of exam items, as well as setting the standards for exams and performing job task analysis. To review the current Exam Committee and Work Group openings and submit an application, please visit the BOC Volunteer page.
*United States only
Program Director Resources
Annual Exam Statistics Available Online
2019 ASCP BOC examination statistics are available here: Annual Exam Statistics. See information about 2019 examinees, including NAACLS/CAAHEP/ABHES first time pass rate, as well as the total number of certificants in all categories. Information is available for US and International certifications as well as qualifications.
Changes in Program Director or Program Information
Please be sure to notify the ASCP BOC office at PDInfo@ascp.org if there has been, or will soon be, a change in program director. Please also let us know if any of your program information changes such as email address, program status, name of institution, or mailing address.
For program directors from international countries, and for questions regarding ASCPi certification, please email Angela Sreckovic at Angela.Sreckovic@ascp.org.
Program Director's Guide to Certification*
The updated Program Director's Guide to Certification contains information about ASCP BOC exams, a useful Application Timeline, detailed information about how to best help your students before and after the examination, and complete information about the EEV and PPR. Find it here.
ASCP BOC Credentials – Brochure Available*
The ASCP BOC has created a brochure that highlights the certifications and qualifications offered by the ASCP BOC. These are particularly useful to have on hand at job or career fairs, when visiting high schools, etc. If you would like copies, please email us at PDInfo@ascp.org with your name, address, and number of brochures needed.
Understanding ASCP BOC Certification Examinations
Brief explanations on a variety of topics related to the ASCP BOC certification examinations are available here.
How to Locate Your Certification Number
If you need to locate your certification number, you may access it by logging in to your ASCP account 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, you can place an order through our website at Verification of Certification. There is a $16 charge for this service.
ASCP Board of Certification Contacts:
Please contact the following individuals if you have questions or concerns regarding:
U.S. application processing |
Angela Nunn at Angela.Nunn@ascp.org |
Program Director inquiries (U.S. only) |
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International certification |
Angela Sreckovic at Angela.Sreckovic@ascp.org |
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 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 this newsletter will be delivered directly to you, and not to spam or junk mail.
Also, make sure that you have opted in to receiving BOC emails. Log in to your ASCP account and choose "Profile and Settings." From there, choose "Communications" to review your preferences. Please make sure that "Board of Certification" is not checked.
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.
*UNITED STATES ONLY