The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) provides the world's most potent certification, improving candidates' lives in many ways.

Whether you are going to complete the ASCP application process or the exam, you must be attentive to proceed.

ASCP provides step-by-step information regarding its processes, including ASCP recertification and certifications, eligibility requirements, application process, membership programs, and much more.

You only need to follow these instructions attentively and carefully to approach your goal related to ASCP.

In this article, we are going to describe the ASCP application process.

You will learn exactly what you need and how to apply for it.

Understanding ASCP Certification

Ascp is the world's biggest certification agency and conducts exams all around the world every year.

The board offers multiple credentials (more than 25) for various fields of medical laboratories.

All certificates are enough to add excellence and perfection to a candidate's skills and career.

Types of ASCP Certification

Medical lab technologists, specialists, scientists, and technicians can apply to take their careers to an elite level through pathologist certification.

Following are all the certifications that the American Society for Clinical Pathology presents.

ASCP Certification for Scientist (Generalist)

• Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)

ASCP Certification for Technologist/Scientist

• MB (Technologist in Molecular Biology)
• CT (Cytologist)
• HTL (Histotechnologist)
• MLS (Medical lab Scientist)
• C (Technologist in Chemistry)
• HT ( Technologist in Hematology)
• BB (Technologist in Blood Banking)
• CG (Technologist in Cytogenetics)
• M (Technologist in Microbiology)
• CTgyn (International Gynecologic Cytologist)

ASCP Certification for Technician

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

ASCP Certification for Specialist

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

Benefits of ASCP Certification

The American Society for Clinical Pathology certification offers you a lot of benefits that are adequate to change your life.

You can get the following advantages.

• Opportunities to enhance experiences
• A lot of career opportunities. For instance, if you get a medical lab scientist ASCP credential, you can perform your duty as a hematology technologist or blood bank technologist.
• With the power of this certificate, you can do duty at any hospital you want.
• ASCP never stops its candidates' learning process. Through continuing education programs, you always learn new technologies.
• Prospect to work in the best working environment with highly expert physicians
• As a member of ASCP, you'll get a lot of advantages from the ASCP annual meeting, membership program, and much more.
• You will get higher salaries after becoming ASCP-certified
• Great opportunity to stay up-to-date related to the field through ASCP news and publications.

Eligibility Requirements for ASCP Certification

To proceed with the ASCP application process, you have to satisfy ASCP eligibly criteria that the board has determined for each credential.

Your aim of becoming certified by ASCP will not be complete until you have all the requirements needed for applying.

Educational Requirements

Relevant subject’s baccalaureate or master's degree from an approved institution.

ABHES, CAAHEP, or NAACLS education programs are valid for five years after getting them.

You also need ASCP credential to meet some route requirements for different certificates.

For instance, to satisfy the MLS Route 2 prerequisites, you need ASCP MLT certification.

High school graduation or equal

For some certificates, you need a bachelor's degree with a combination of 16 or 30 semester hours in relevant subjects.

For example, H ASCP route 3 requires a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry with a combination of 30 semester hours.

While MLS ASCP Route 2 demands a baccalaureate degree in biology and chemistry with a combination of 16 semester hours.

Clinical Experience Requirements

With education requirements, you have to meet the requirements of clinical experience.

Every certificate route requires clinical experience within a specific time frame.

For instance, MB (ASCP) route 4 demands three years of clinical experience, while MB (ASCP) route 5 requires one year of clinical experience.

These clinical experiences must be obtained from approved laboratories that are acceptable by the American Board of Certification.

Accreditation under ISO 15189, CMS certificate of registration, accreditation, compliance, JCI accreditation, and DoD CLIP certificate of registration, accreditation, compliance, are some BOC-recommended labs.

International Certification Option

The American Society for Clinical Pathology determines almost the same certificate for both U.S. and international candidates.

However, the eligibility requirements are different for both.

CTgyn (ASCPi) is only for international candidates.

To apply for an international gynecologic cytologist certificate, you need a two-year diploma, CT (IAC) certification, current employment in the cytology field, and one year of clinical experience in gynecologic cytology.

An international degree must be equal to a U.S. degree.

A foreign transcript evaluation must be obtained from an approved transcript evaluation agency.

All clinical training must be obtained outside the U.S.

Alternate Routes to Eligibility

You can apply five times by using one route requirement.

If you do not get success after your five attempts and want to apply again.

Then you have to meet the other route requirements in the same category.

ASCP also offers some other alternatives to fulfill the exam eligibility requirements.

For example, if you do not have one year of clinical experience to get an MLS ASCP certificate, you can use the NAACLS MLS, NAACLS MLT, or ABHES MLT program in place of clinical experience.

Step-by-Step Guide to ASCP Application Process

The following are the complete details about the ASCP application steps.

Create an Account

• Creating an ASCP account is your first step to doing any work related to ASCP certification.
• To create an account, enter your first and last name correctly. The name that you are going to enter in the ASCP account information must match your ID card.
• Enter your birth date, current email address, and other required information.

Selecting the Desired Certification

• The American Society for Clinical Pathology provides many certificates.
• Select your desired one.
• Each certificate has many routes. Choose the route that matches your documentation.

Verifying Personal Information

ASCP requires some personal information related to the applicant, such as name, date of birth, phone number, email address, etc.

Candidates have to verify some other information, including bank account details, credit card information, billing and delivery information, etc.

The incorrect information will be the result of your disqualification from the exam.

Providing Education and Employment History

ASCP demands that you showcase all your education and employment history during the ASCP application process.

Therefore, you must add all the requirements related to your skills and experience.

You must verify all documentation before submitting.

Adding Alternative Contact

The ASCP board demands the applicant's phone number and email address.

Other alternative information, like a social security number, etc., is not required by the board.

The board prohibits its candidates from sharing their passwords with anyone.

Reviewing and Agreeing the Terms

• An ASCP application review is most important to do carefully before submitting it.
• Follow all the regulations and conditions of the ASCP board.

Selecting Payment Option

If you are applying online, you can use your credit card (American Express, MasterCard, and Visa).

ASCP never stores the applicants' credit card information via mail to provide a secure environment.

If you are applying to an institution physically, use a purchase order with ASCP application form.

Submitting Required Documents

Some common documents are also required, along with the eligibility route for to complete ASCP application requirements.

• Official transcripts for U.S. education and foreign transcript evaluations for education outside the U.S.
• A letter of authenticity must be attached with experience and training documentation.
• Military training certificate (Official) or Notarized( not for international candidates)

Preparing for the Exam

After completion of ASCP application process, you must focus on your ASCP exam preparation. You must implement all techniques to pass the American Society for Clinical Pathology exam.

• Take care of your health. You will perform better when you are mentally and physically fit.
• Establish an effective plan and adhere to it until its completion
• Implement some study tools, including mock tests, practice tests, etc.
• Purchase the best study guide that covers the entire exam syllabus and summarizes the content with a simple explanation
• Login to ASCP online prep package like MLSiACADEMY.com
• Meet with experts and get experience from the journey. check MLS ASCP Prep!

Scheduling the ASCP Certification Exam

After completion of ASCP application process and approval of it, you will receive an email notification to schedule the exam.

You can schedule your exam at the Pearson VUE Testing Center.

Pearson VUE and Exam Scheduling

• Login to the ASCP official website to check your email notification related to scheduling
• Verified all required information
• You must schedule the exam within the eligibility period.
• Pearson VUE provides some contact information; make sure to use all when scheduling an appointment

Once you set an appointment for your exam, Pearson VUE sends you confirmation that includes your phone number, exam date, time, and center direction.

Rescheduling and Cancellation Policies

To reschedule the appointment, follow the instructions below.

• Within one business day, you must contact Pearson VUE to reschedule the exam time and date
• Rescheduling may happen within the eligibility period
• All rescheduling must be confirmed by Pearson Customer Service
• Only voice mail is not enough for rescheduling an appointment.
• Pearson VUE will send you a confirmation email if you reschedule the exam successfully
• You have failed to reschedule the exam in case if you do not receive mail

The ASCP application fees is non-refundable in all the following situations.

• Fail to set appointments
• Cancel appointment
• Fail to reschedule
• Miss schedule

After the ASCP Application Submission

Once you are successful in your application submission, you can track your application status using the following process.

Monitoring Application Status

• Open your ASCP account
• Press “Completed BOC Exam Application” among the other ASCP activities
• To know the ASCP application status, press the button “Show Details.”

Admission Notification and Exam Date

After receiving an admission notification from Pearson VUE, you can set the time and date for the ASCP examination according to your preferences.

Receiving Exam Results

Although pass or fail results show on your computer screen, you are not considered certified until you get your score report.

Your score report comes with your score percentage and certificate expiration date (three-year cycle).

Unfortunately, if you have failed the ASCP examination, never submit a new application along with the application fee until you receive an email notification to login to check your score report.

Conclusion for ASCP Application Process

ASCP Application process for certification has never been easy.

But if you use the above-mentioned details, you can get it done easily.

If you belong to the medical lab profession, never miss the chance to become ASCP certified.

ASCP BOC certification comes with better job prospects, higher salaries, and an honorable position for its owners.

Become a standout with powerful authority.

Thanks, American Society for Clinical Pathology, for these amazing credentials.

FAQs for ASCP Application Process