ASCP CMP Program: A Comprehensive Guide

The ASCP CMP program triggers the professionals’ certification, making it valuable for them.

• It updates the certificate every three-year cycle.
• Insert the advancement into professional skills.
• Make the professionals confident about their experiences.
• Offer career satisfaction.
• Demand for CMP points that you earn from CE activities; all these are cutting-edge.

In 2004, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) developed CMP.

• The CMP stands for “Credential Maintenance Program.”
• Before 2004, there was no concept of ASCP credential expiration.
• There was no concept of renewal after getting it.
• Over time, the board realized the need for ASCP-certified professional training because old training was not effective.
• To introduce the experts to the latest and most advanced technologies, the board made it compulsory for all credential types.

Understanding the ASCP CMP Program

The ASCP Board of Certification established the ASCP CMP program to provide patients with the best treatment possible with trained professionals.

The old trainers are not meeting ASCP expectations.

Due to this situation, the ASCP Board of Certification considered a program that supports the certified professional in learning future technologies.

Therefore, the board launched the Credential Maintenance Program to update the certificates and continuing education programs to meet the CMP requirements.

Comprehending the ASCP CMP Program:

• The program that works to update the ASCP-certified professional certificate/maintain certification is called the ASCP CMP program.
• It is a three-year continuous cycle that sticks with professionals for lifelong.
• To ace the CMP ASCP, you need CMP points to meet its eligibility requirements.
• The CMP points are specific for each credential.
• $95 is the application fee for all certifications ($100 starting July 1, 2024)
• $125 is the reinstatement fee that you have to pay in case of a late CMP application ($135 beginning July 1, 2024).
• To apply for the ASCP CMP program, you have to submit a declaration after meeting eligibility requirements.
• To manage your CMP, the ASCP BOC offers the tool “My Account Dashboard.”

CMP Program Requirements

To ace the CMP program prerequisites, you need to earn CMP points.

The board determines two numbers for all of its certificates: 9 (few certificates require 9 points to update) and 36 (many demand 36 points).

These points can be obtained from ASCP continuing education resources.

Understanding the 36 Points with Distribution

• You need to get 8 points in your area of specialization
• 26 points are required to get in lab operation, including in education, immunology, management, molecular diagnostics, etc.
• 1 point in medical ethics (sexual harassment, confidentiality, DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), compliances, IBR, and HIPAA)
• 1 point in lab safety.

Distribution Explanation of 9 Points

• Areas of specialization require 2 points, if you are an ASCP phlebotomist, you need to get 2 points in phlebotomy.
• Medical ethics (sexual harassment, confidentiality, HIPAA, etc.): 1 point
• Lab specialties, including education, management, etc., require 5 points.
• Lab safety: 1 point

Managing Your CMP Progress Efficiently

You can hold your entire ASCP CMP program with “My Account Dashboard.”

Here are the complete details for managing your CMP from My Account Dashboard.

Monitor the Credential Current Status

• Access your ASCP account with login
• Explore the part “Check Progress” under “My Education.”
• Here you will see the option “Track progress for” Click on it and choose your credential from the drop-down menu.
• Here, you will see your current credential status with an expiration date.

ASCP CMP Point Tracking Techniques

• Go to your ASCP account after logging in
• To trace the ASCP continuing education (CE) credit, explore the part “Check Progress” under “My Education.”
• You do not need to worry about the entry of your ASCP CE credits, it is done automatically.

Non-ASCP CMP Points Tracing Method

• Jump into your ASCP account to track the non-ASCP credits
• Under “My Education,” click on the section of “Check Progess.”
• You have to insert the non-ASCP continuing education units manually.
• To enter your non-ASCP credits, open the section “CMP Credits & Progress.”
• After exploring “CMP Credits and Progress,” press “Add Non-ASCP Credits.”
• Add all required information related to your credits, including the title, credits awarded, activity, etc.,)
• You can allocate specific CMP points using the drop-down menu.

Completing the CMP-A Detailed Walkthrough

• Login to open your ASCP account
• To track, enter, or check the credential’s current status, you need to open “Check Progress” under “My Education.”
• To complete the ASCP CMP program, you need to allocate and complete your ASCP and non-ASCP credits.
• When you complete your CMP requirements management process, you will be prompted to submit a CMP declaration.
• It is a better technique if you send your declaration a minimum of three months before credential expiration.
• You must have all supportive documentation that must be original at the time of the audit to fill out the Employer Assessment Form and Clinical Teaching Documentation Form.
• Your certificate will be updated for the upcoming three years upon successful completion of the ASCP CMP program and you will get an email notification from the ASCP Board of Certification.

Time Limitation to Handle the CMP Points

• You have to meet your continuing education credits toward the CMP (Credential Maintenance Program) within three years in all circumstances.
• For instance, if your certification expiration date is June 2024, you must earn your CE credits from June 2021 to June 2024.

Navigate the CMP Process

• First of all, you need to open your ASCP account
• Under all the ASCP activities, “Learning,” “Get Credential,” “About the BOC,” and others, you need to click on “Stay Credential.”
• After clicking on this option, you will get complete information about the ASCP CMP program, including the tracking of ASCP and non-ASCP credits, the CMP declaration process, etc.

Preparing for CMP Declaration Submission

• After satisfying all the CMP requirements, you are ready for your CMP declaration submission and fee.
• All the work on your CMP declaration submission must be completed one month before your expiration date.
• If your certificate is expired, you have to pay double fee as the reinstatement fee (application fee + Expire certificate fee)

Tips for Successful ASCP CMP Program

• ASCP CMP is a mandatory process so always keep it a priority.
• Make an effective plan to keep the practice and CMP side by side.
• The ASCP BOC reminds you about your CMP many times within three through email notifications, you must take action after receiving notification.
• You also must set reminders according to your schedule to earn the continuing education units (CEUs).
• Make sure to utilize all the ASCP and non-ASCP activities to earn the credits.
• Consider the affordable resources for CE credits.
• Make sure to complete and send your declaration on time to protect yourself from the restatement fee.
• Join the ASCP group like “ASCP Certification Prep” to get the tips of experts on how to do CMP effectively.

ASCP CMP Program Challenges and Reasonable Solutions

• Never ignore the CMP program, your ignorance can lead to losing the authority of your certification if it expires.
• You cannot use the expired certificate with your name; it is not valuable to you.
• Send declaration on time to avoid reinstatement fee.
• Make sure to follow all the instructions of the CMP process during the declaration submission, your little mistake can lead you a failure of CMP.
• ASCP CMP application and reinstatement fees are non-refundable so double-check your steps before pressing the done option.
• Despite purchasing expensive products, always focus on free or affordable sources.

ASCP Future Modification for CMP Process

• The ASCP Board of Certification has increased the CMP points from 2 to 8 for some specific certification types, including, MB, M, I, HTL, HT, H, CT, CG, C, BB, and AT.
• It will also increase its CMP application fee by $5 for all certifications starting July 1, 2o24.
• The reinstatement fee will also increase by $10 beginning July 1, 2024.
• The fee for additional certificates will also rise by $5.

Final Verdict for ASCP CMP Program

The ASCP CMP program demands that you be focused toward it from the start of your ASCP certification journey.

You can concentrate on CMP and your practice in this way:

• Never forget to check your ASCP credential’s current status
• By checking your status, you will know the time limit for your certification expiration and the topics that you need to get credits for.
• Never spoil your energy on foolish activities only hit the target one, for instance, ASCP patient safety offers you credits for medical ethics, so if you need to cover the point of ethics, jump on this recourse.
• Value your money so also prefer affordable.
• Get directions from experts and try to implement them into the Ascp CMP schedule.

FAQs for ASCP CMP Program