SMB ASCP Specialist In Molecular Biology: Certification, Eligibility Routes, Study Guide, Material & Exam Prep Questions

SMB ASCP specialist in molecular biology has an important role in disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Meanwhile, the demand for molecular biology specialists is continuously increasing.

Therefore, molecular biology certification by the American Society For clinical Pathology BOC has gained immense popularity.

SMB ASCP certificate is capable of boosting your career exponentially. It will take your career to another level. In today’s article, we will discuss all about SMB (ASCP) and how to become SMB (ASCP)^CM certfied by the American Society For Clinical Pathology.

Are you ready? Let’s dive into that!

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SMB (ASCP), What Is It?

ASCP Specialist in Molecular Biology is one of American Society For Clinical Pathology BOC cerificate in the filed of molecuar biology. It is awarded for a molecular biology specialist who pass the ASCP certfication exam to be nominated SMB (ASCP)^CM.

ASCP molecular biology specialist play an imprtant role in diagnose and characterization of acquired and inherited diseases, including the diagnosis of malignant, metabolic, and infectious diseases.

They make use of molecular biologic methods. Furthermore, they assist in complex and advanced test procedures on DNA and RNA.

Moreover, SMB (ASCP) makes them skilled with novel practices. They can also attain supervisory and leadership positions because of ASCP SMB . Meanwhile, they can also give advisory sessions within their area of expertise.

SMB ASCP Routes Requirement For ASCP Certification In Molecular Biology

There are five routes for ASCP specialist in molecular biology certfication by the American Society for Clinical Pathology. It is mandatory to fulfil any one eligibility route.

Route 1

• Non-expired MB (ASCP) certification.
• A bachelor’s transcript.
• 3 years of practical experience in a molecular bio lab.
• Otherwise 3 years of experience in one of the following:

1. Veterinary field.
2. Industrial exp.
3. Research exp in a molecular biology lab.

ASCP Specialist In Molecular Biology Route 2

• A master’s degree in a relevant field.
• 3 years clinical experience. Furthermore, it must be in one of the following:

1. Molecular bio lab.
2. Veterinary field
3. Industrial experience
4. Research in a molecular bio lab.

Route 3

• PhD in relevant field.
• 2 years’ experience in one of the following:

1. Post-doctoral fellowship.
2. Clinical experience.
3. Veterinary experience.
4. Industry experience.
5. Research experience.

ASCP Specialist In Molecular Biology Route 4

• Non-expired MB (ASCP) certification.
• A bachelor’s degree.
• 3 years of clinical molecular biology teaching experience. Meanwhile, it must be attained from the past 6 years.

Route 5

• Non-expired MB (ASCP) certification.
• PhD in relevant field.
• 1 year of academic educator experience. However, it must be in clinical molecular biology. Meanwhile, it must be attained from the past 5 years.

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SMB ASCP Specialist in Molecular Biology, How to Figure Out?

Do you want to build a career as an ASCP molecular biology specialist? You’ve to clear the SMB (ASCP) certification exam. First of all, you have to make sure that you can apply for SMB (ASCP).

For this, you can use the American Society For Clinical Pathology Board of Certification eligibility checker. ASCP BOC has devised an eligibility assistant. So, you can view eligibility before applying for this certificate.

Don’t you know how to use ASCP eligibility assistant? Here’s is the guide for checking eligibility for Molecular Biology Certification by ASCP. So, we are taking route 1 here.

1. Open ASCP BOC Eligibility Checker For ASCP Specialist in Molecular Biology

Go to the American Society for Clinical Pathology eligibility assistant and open it. Then mark the checkbox at the bottom. So, you can agree to ASCP BOC conditions. Finally, press begin.

2. Select ASCP Certification Type

Now, select the ASCP BOC certification type.

Furthermore, for ASCP molecular biology, select the SMB – Specialist in Molecular Biology. Select this from the ASCP additional certificates category. Then, press next.

3. Fill in SMB (ASCP) Eligibility Questionnaire

Now, answer the following ASCP eligibility questions. Meanwhile, you can find the description (if any) of each question at the end.

4. Question 1: Do You Have A Valid (Not Expired) ASCP MB Certification?

Hit yes. Then press next.

5. Question 2: Do You Have A Baccalaureate Degree From A Regionally Accredited College Or University?

Again, press yes. Then, click next.

6. Question 3: Do You Have Three Years Of Full Time* Acceptable Experience (Clinical**, Veterinary, Industry Or Research) In A Molecular Biology Laboratory In The U.S., Canada Or An Accredited Laboratory** Within The Last Six Years?

Mark the yes option. Then, press next. Kindly note that any local accredited laboratory is okay for international people. Accredited means licensed by the local governing authority in your country.

7. Question 4: Were these three years of experience acquired post-baccalaureate degree?

Again check the yes option. Then, press next.

8. View ASCP Certification Eligibility Results for Specialist in Molecular Biology

You can now have a look at eligibility results for SMP (ASCP). The results will tell you the route you have qualified for. You can also view your answers at the end.

You can also change your SMB (ASCP) answers. For this, simply press the previous button. You can find the eligibility assistant here, https://apps.ascp.org/BOCROUTEFINDER

ASCP Exam For Specialist In Molecular Biology

There are 100 questions in the SMB (ASCP) certification exam. You have to complete the paper in just 150 minutes. Moreover, both US and Internationa examination comprise computer adaptive testing.

However, each ASCP molecular biology question has a different score. The American Society For Clinical Pathology Board of Certification uses difficulty levels to allot scores to exam questions.

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SMB ASCP Exam Content And Study Guide Acc to BOC Guildines

Based on the ASCP site, SMB certification comprises four themes. However, the percentage varies for each subject. The subject areas for ASCP molecular biology specialist exam are:

The Applications Of Molecular Testing covers the major portion of the SMB (ASCP) certification exam i.e. 35 to 40%.

Laboratory Operations queries comprises 25 to 30%.

Molecular Techniques portion ranges from 30 to 35%.

Molecular Science has a small portion in ASCP specialist in molecular biology certification. It is about 5 to 10%.

American Society For Clinical Pathology BOC.

The content areas for these subjects are as follow:

For Molecular Science

The Molecular Science portion will include, Human/microbial genetics, Nucleic acid chemistry, Biochemical reagents and Basic molecular theory.

For Molecular Techniques

The Molecular Techniques questions will revolve around all the molecular procedures. Some of them are Nucleic acid amplification, Separation and detection, Nucleic acid isolation and Sequencing etc.

For Laboratory Operations

Content areas that come under laboratory operations are Laboratory administration, Contamination, Safety, Specimen Processing, Quality control, Proficiency testing, Results calculation, interpretation, reporting, Reagents, Continuing education, Assays performance, validation, and troubleshooting, Competency, Guidelines and regulations and Instrumentation.

For Applications of Molecular Testing

The Molecular testing applications included in the exam are related to Infectious diseases, Engraftment, Pharmacogenomics, Histocompatibility, Oncology, Genetic disorders and Genetic identity.

SMB ASCP Certification Exam Content for Reading Per ASCP BOC

You can go through these books to pass ASCP molecular biology exam.

General Molecular Biology

Molecular Pathology: The Molecular Basis of Human Disease (2nd ed.). Elsevier Inc. Coleman, W.B. & Tsongalis, G.J. (Eds.). (2018).

Principles and Applications of Molecular Diagnostics. Elsevier Inc.

Molecular Biology of the Cell (6th ed.). New York: Garland Science.

Lewin's Genes XII (12th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Molecular Diagnostics: Fundamentals, Methods, & Clinical Applications (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.

The Cell: A Molecular Approach (8th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

The American Society For Clinical Pathology BOC.

Applications Of Molecular Science

Molecular Microbiology: Diagnostic Principles and Practice (3rd ed.). Washington D.C.: ASM Press.

Diagnostic Molecular Pathology: A Guide to Applied Molecular Testing. Elsevier Inc.

Thompson and Thompson Genetics in Medicine (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Inc.

Hematopathology – CHAPTER 6: Molecular Diagnosis in Hematopathology ONLY (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier, Inc.

Molecular Pathology in Clinical Practice (2nd ed.). New York: Springer.

Clinical Genomics: A Guide to Clinical Next Generation Sequencing. Elsevier Inc.

Principles and Practice of Oncology: Primer of the Molecular Biology of Cancer (3rd Ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health.

ASCP BOC.

Management

Clinical Laboratory Management (2nd ed.). Washington D.C.: ASM Press.

Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods (24th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Inc.

Laboratory Management: Principles and Processes (4th ed.). St. Petersburg: D.H. Pub. & Consulting, Inc.

American Society For Clinical Pathology BOC.

Mathematics

Required Calculations for the Medical Laboratory Professional. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company.

Calculations for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: A Guide to Mathematics in the Laboratory (3rd ed.). London: Academic Press.

Mathematics for the Clinical Laboratory (4th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier.

The American Society For Clinical Pathology BOC.

SMB (ASCP) Certification Related Associations

However, online content is also available to become ASCP Molecular Biology Specialist. So, here are the names of those associations:

• AGT, Association of Genetic Technologists
• PASCV, Pan American Society for Clinical Virology
• AMP, Association for Molecular Pathology
• NCBI, National Center for Biotechnology Information
• AASLD, American Association for the Study of Liver Disease
• CAP, College of American Pathologists
• ASHI, American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics
• CLSI, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute
• ASM, American Society for Microbiology

How To Be SMB (ASCP)^CM Certified?

Get Your ASCP Specialist In Molecular Biology Exam Classes & Study Materials Here?

For SMB (ASCP) exam, you have to apply online. Here’s the detailed procedure on how to apply for specialist in molecular biology.

MB ASCP vs. SMB (ASCP)

MB (ASCP) certified technologists conduct research and tests at the molecular level. However, SMB (ASCP) certified specialists not only conduct testing but also introduce novel testing techniques and procedures for diagnosing disease.

Molecular Biology Specialists can also avail supervisory and leadership opportunities in their domain. However, a technologist can not avail supervisory roles.

For qualifications and prerequisites for MB ASCP, check this post.

SMB ASCP Specialist In Molecular Biology Certification FAQs

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