ASCP Membership vs. Certification: Which Should be the Priority?
The ASCP membership is completely separate from certification.
But both have a profound impact on laboratory professional life.
Here is ASCP membership vs. certification key difference
By getting ASCP certification, you will get the license to perform job in the with great experience and confidence.
ASCP membership is a voluntary; not as important for career growth as ASCP certification but streamline your success.
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) presents certification and membership programs for laboratory medicine and pathology professional development.
Both programs play a critical role in ASCP-certified professional life.
Getting ASCP certification work licensure is an exemplary triumph but if you also get the ASCP membership, it doubles your benefits.
ASCP certification is a positive and necessary path to sit at the top of your career, but membership support you during this journey.
In this article, we are going to sketch a complete overview of ASCP membership vs. certification and which one is best for you, along with an explanation of their advantages.
What is ASCP?
American Society for Clinical Pathology is the world’s first and largest credential agency and was founded in 1922.
From its establishment to the existing one, it has made many modifications to present the best services to laboratory professionals.
Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) became part of its certification examination in 1994.
CMP (Certification Maintenance Programs) became vital for all ASCP-certified in January 2004.
The aim of this great struggle of ASCP is to become the gold standard for all lab professionals worldwide and provide the best results to patients possible.
ASCP Certification
The ASCP Board of Certification provides its certificates to entire teams of lab medicine and pathology.
This team includes technologists, specialists, technicians, scientists, and pathologists.
Scientist Credentials
- Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS ASCP)
Are you a medical doctor specializing in pathology?
Discover the ASCP certification path designed for pathologists with details on eligibility and application.
Technologist Certification
- Technologist in Blood Banking (BB ASCP)
- Technologist in Chemistry (C ASCP)
- Technologist in Cytogenetics (CG ASCP)
- Cytologist (CT ASCP)
- International Gynecologic Cytologist (Ctgyn ASCP)
- Technologist in Hematology (H ASCP)
- Histotechnologist (HTL ASCP)
- Technologist in Microbiology (M ASCP)
- Technologist in Molecular Biology (MB ASCP)
- Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS ASCP)
Technician Certification
- Histotechnician (HT ASCP)
- Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA ASCP)
- Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT ASCP)
- Phlebotomy Technician (PBT ASCP)
Specialist Credentials
- Blood Bank Specialist (SB ASCP)
- Chemistry Specialist (SC ASCP)
- Cytology Specialist (SCT ASCP)
- Cytometry Specialist (SCYM ASCP)
- Hematology Specialist (SH ASCP)
- Microbiology Specialist (SM ASCP)
- Molecular Biology Specialist (SMB ASCP)
- Pathologist Assistant (PA ASCP)
Eligibility Prerequisites for ASCP Certification
The ASCP BOC determines different eligibility routes for all certifications, but some common ASCP certification requirements (conditions) are:
- Bachelor, master, doctorate (Ph.D.) degree in area of specialty
- Clinical experience of required years in relevant subjects (must be obtained from ASCP-recommended lab)
- A few years of training experience must be acquired from an approved agency like NAACLS
- Letter of authenticity must be attached with experience and training documentation
- You also need ASCP certification to meet the requirements of other certification routes
- Official transcript for education verification inside the U.S. or Canada
- Foreign transcript evaluation for education verification outside of the United States
Process of Obtaining ASCP Certification
- First of all, you need to select your certification category and eligibility route (check from BOC Eligibility Assistant or routes).
- Create an account on the ASCP BOC website (never create a duplicate account)
- Enter your personal information including name or ID number
- Choose your certification types and route
- Fill out the application form and make sure to add all the information carefully.
- Submit the application with a fee because the board never proceeded with your application without getting the application fee
- Your official transcript must be submitted directly from your institution to ASCP BOC.
- After approval of an application, you will receive an email notification to schedule the exam.
- Schedule carefully and get ready to take the exam.
Benefits of ASCP Membership
The ASCP membership comes with huge packages of benefits that help minimize your worries related to education expenses and career development.
Want exclusive benefits like CE discounts and networking?
Explore ASCP professional membership benefits.
Networking Opportunity
- Access to 100,000 lab professionals & pathologists.
- The ASCP annual meeting is a big gathering of experts where you can present yourself.
- ASCP sessions, live webinars, and roundtables are all the best sources to increase your network circle.
Career Development Programs
- ASCP continuing education programs help you a lot to shine your professional life
- Besides this, ASCP live events are also excellent opportunities to gain the experience of experts.
Stay Updated
- ASCP members have direct access to ASCP publications that provide them with the field’s latest news.
- Member access to Laboratory Medicine, The Pathologists, Critical Value, American Journal of Clinical Pathology, ePolicy News, and ASCP News.
ASCP Membership Reward
- Insurance: You will get liability insurance (Lockton Affinity) and long-term insurance (Long-term Care Associate).
- Travels: Meet your travel expenses, including hotel, car rental, etc.
- Office Supplies: Office Depot presents you with an 80% discount on office products due to membership of ASCP
- Identity Protection: LifeLock, Identity Guard, and Total Protection secure you from being attacked.
Education Resources
- ASCP membership reduces your education expenses by minimizing the cost of all the products that you purchase from ASCP.
- BOC Interactive Practice Exam
- MLS Online Review Course:
- ASCP Patient Safety
ASCP Membership vs. Certification: Understanding the Difference
- The ASCP membership and ASCP certification are two different things.
- ASCP membership is not necessary for you to become ASCP-certified or maintain certification.
- After getting the ASCP certification, you can qualify for membership automatically.
- However, getting ASCP certification is vital to obtaining the blessings of ASCP membership programs.
- Main goal for ASCP certification is always to get your work license
- Like ASCP certification eligibility requirements, the board also determines the ASCP membership condition to choose the favorite one.
- ASCP membership goes to pathologists, laboratory professionals, affiliate professionals, residents, and students.
- To participate in all these membership programs, you have to get the ASCP certification in one or more categories, except for affiliate professionals.
- Affiliate professional membership permits you to become an ASCP member without getting its certification.
Want access to exclusive CE tracking, discounts, and networking opportunities?
Explore the benefits of ASCP professional membership and decide if it’s right for you.
How ASCP Membership and Certification Advance Your Career
- Increased Knowledge: ASCP certification and membership advance your skills by introducing you to the latest technologies.
- Increased Reputation: Both demonstrate your profession and increase your credibility.
- Opportunity to Get a Better Job: Make you visible around the country or outside the country that help you to get the best jobs.
- Career Advancement Chances: CMP (Credential Maintenance Program) is the best that add advancement to your ASCP certification; ASCP membership programs help you to meet its credits.
- Double Your Earning: ASCP certification offers you a double salary while the ASCP membership program reduces your education cost.
How to Choose Between ASCP Membership and Certification?
No doubt the ASCP membership and ASCP certification are completely different from each other, but both are necessary for your laboratory medicine and pathology field.
ASCP certification offers you tremendous perks while ASCP membership makes these benefits more valuable for you.
Getting ASCP certification can be expensive without membership (membership eliminates the expenses).
To get the ASCP certification, you have to pay application fees, CMP fees, annual meeting registration fees, preparation product costs, and much more.
While ASCP membership programs offer you rewards, scholarships, and special discounts on ASCP live events and preparation products, that helps you a lot to minimize the outlays of ASCP certification.
Success Stories of ASCP Membership vs. Certification
ASCP Certification Success Stories
“The ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) affirms that an individual demonstrates the knowledge and skills to perform the essential task in the medical laboratory. My certification and involvement with the BOC have enhanced not only my professional career but also enriches my life in many other ways.”
Karen A. Brown, MLS, MS (ASCP) (University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT) says
“The ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) is the gold standard of credentialing for laboratory professionals world-wide. With more than 610,000 credentialed individuals since our inception in 1928, the BOC continues to set a high standard for quality and continuing competency.”
Vicki Freeman, PhD, MLS, M (ASCP)
ASCP Membership Success Stories
“ASCP offers a variety of excellent online continuing education courses and activities to help me earn my continuing medical education credits (CME) and meet my Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) and Continuing Certification (formerly MOC) requirements while staying on the forefront of the profession.”
Alexandra Harrington, F, MLS, and MD ASCP
Final Thought for ASCP Membership vs. Certification
If you want to compare ASCP membership vs. certification advantages; both are splendid, and you must enjoy the benefits of both.
Passing the ASCP certification examination will bless you with a license that can be utilized to perform a job in any hospital, research center, or lab worldwide.
While, ASCP membership introduces you to many career-changing programs and resources that not only make you an expert in your field but also prevalent around the globe.
If you are currently or previously ASCP certified, you must jump into ASCP membership to get involved in many ASCP career-boosting programs.
You should take Ascp certification and membership side by side and get the perks of both, like a successful lab professional.
FAQs for ASCP Membership vs. Certification?
What is the difference between ASCP membership vs. certification?
ASCP certification programs present you with a license to perform jobs, while ASCP membership programs offer you resources that help boost your skills.
Is earning ASCP certification vital to getting an ASCP membership?
No, ASCP certification is not vital for ASCP membership, you can participate in the affiliate membership program that allows you to become an ASCP member without its certification.
Is ASCP membership critical to achieving the ASCP certification?
No, membership is not vital to getting certifications, but it helps you reduce education expenses.
Abdelhalim Elshawadfy is an ASCP certified Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS ASCP), Specialist in Microbiology (SM ASCP), and Molecular Biology Technologist (MB ASCP) with a distinguished career marked by expertise, continuous learning, and a commitment to elevating the standards of clinical laboratory science. As an ASCP Certification Expert and American Board Certification Expert, Abdelhalim Elshawadfy continues to make invaluable contributions to the field, leaving a lasting impact on the medical community.