US ASCP BOC certification - Wild Apricotmsfh.wildapricot.org/resources/Pictures/2017 cmpbooklet.pdf · CMP U.S. Credential MaintenanCe PrograM ® US ASCP BOC certification categories*

CMPU.S . Credent ial

MaintenanCe PrograM®

US ASCP BOC certification

categories* under the Credential

Maintenance Program (CMP) are

accredited by the American National

Standards Institute (ANSI).

*with the exception of MLA#0688

in keeping with our ongoing commitment to assure the continued

competence of medical laboratory personnel, the aSCP Board of

Certification (BoC) developed the Credential Maintenance Program

(CMP). this booklet will acquaint you with the requirements of the

CMP and will provide you with everything you need to know in order

to complete the program.

the CMP provides an opportunity to obtain a wide variety of learning

experiences that demonstrate your professional competency and ded-

ication to excellence in the workplace. Some of the qualifying activities

include: employer offered course work, writing journal articles, serving

on committees or boards, competence assessment by your employer,

and participating in formal continuing education courses.

in addition to helping you maintain your professional certification,

the CMP can help you stay current on developments in your field

and provide opportunities for both professional and personal enrich-

ment. [For additional information, please refer to the BoC CMP

website (www.ascp.org/cmp).]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

U.S. CMP: What You need to do 1

required Participation 1

Voluntary Participation 2

individuals with Multiple 2Certifications

Synchronizing Multiple Certifications 2

Point allocation 2

Steps for Completing CMP 2

Failure to Participate 2

documentation for audit 3

U.S. CMP requirements 3

U.S. CMP Point allocation 4

guidelines for earning CMP Points 5

Suggested list of Ce Providers 7

declaration and Completion of CMP 8

online declaration Form Process 8

deadline dates 8

Change of name and address 8

Successful Completion of CMP 8

audit Procedure 9

required documentation 9

Submission Procedures 9

Successful Completion of 9CMP after audit

Unsuccessful audit 9

audit appeals Process 10

inactive Status for required 10CMP Participation

reinstatement for expired BoC 11Certificants and nCa Certificants

Frequently asked Questions 12

Self-assessment 15

Completing U.S. CMP 16Step By Step

all program requirements, processes and fees as stated in this booklet are subject to change without priornotice. revised 6/2016.

U . S . C R E D E N T I A L M A I N T E N A N C E P R O G R AM 1

The goal of the Credential Maintenance Pro-

gram (CMP) is to demonstrate to the public

that laboratory professionals with this des-

ignation are performing activities to stay

current in their practice.

The U.S. Credential Maintenance Pro-

gram is required for all individuals who

became ASCP certified on or after Janu-

ary 1, 2004 and for all active NCA

certificants who are not ASCP certified

prior to January 1, 2004 in the following

categories:

• Apheresis Technician (AT)

• Cytotechnologist (CT)

• Donor Phlebotomy Technician (DPT)

• Histotechnician (HT)

• Histotechnologist (HTL)

• Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA)

• Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)

• Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)

• Pathologists’ Assistant (PA)*

• Phlebotomy Technician (PBT)

• Technologist in Blood Banking (BB)

• Technologist in Chemistry (C)

• Technologist in Cytogenetics (CG)

• Technologist in Hematology (H)

• Technologist in Immunology( I )

• Technologist in Microbiology (M)

• Technologist in Molecular Biology (MB)

* The Credential Maintenance Program is required forall Pathologists’ Assistants who are ASCP certified.

The Credential Maintenance Program is

required for all individuals who become

ASCP certified on or after January 1,

2006 in the following categories:

• Diplomate in Laboratory Management

(DLM)

• Hemapheresis Practitioner (HP)

• Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB)

• Specialist in Chemistry (SC)

• Specialist in Cytotechnology (SCT)

• Specialist in Hematology (SH)

• Specialist in Immunology (SI)

• Specialist in Laboratory Safety (SLS)

• Specialist in Microbiology (SM)

• Specialist in Virology (SV)

The Credential Maintenance Program (CMP)

as described in this booklet must be com-

pleted every three years to maintain

certifica tion. To successfully complete the pro-

gram, documented activities demonstrating

continued competence must be completed

prior to the certificate expiration date. A dec-

laration form, along with the required CMP

fee(s) must be submitted at least one month

prior to the expiration date shown on your wall

certificate for certification renewal.

Activities obtained before your certification

revalidation period begins will not be

accepted. For example, if your validation dates

are January 1, 2014 through January 31,

2017, you will need to complete your contin-

uing competence activities between those

dates. Since completed declaration forms

should be submitted at least one month prior

to the expiration date, activities recorded prior

to completion may be subject to audit. (See

FAQ8 on page 13.) Upon successful comple-

tion of the program, you are required to use

the initials “CM” in superscript, after your cer-

tification initials [e.g., MLS(ASCP)CM] for the

period your Credential Maintenance certificate

is valid. If you do not participate in the Pro-

gram, your certification is invalid and you will

not be permitted to use the certification des-

ignation after your name [e.g., MLS(ASCP)CM]

when your certification expires.

REQUIRED CMP PARTICIPATION

U.S. CMP: Whatyou need to do

2 A S C P B O A R D O F C E R T I F I C AT I O N

Voluntary Participation*Individuals ASCP certified prior to January2004 or those who received ASCP certifi-cation prior to the dates indicated on thechart on page 3, are not required to partic-ipate in the program; however, voluntaryparticipation is encouraged since continu-ing education provides many personal andprofessional benefits. If you choose to par-ticipate in this program, activities obtainedthree years prior to the date you submit yourdeclaration form to the Board of Certifica-tion office are considered acceptableactivities. For example, if you submit yourdeclaration form June 15, 2016, activitiesobtained June 15, 2013 through June 15,2016 would be acceptable.

Upon successful completion of the pro-gram, you are required to use the initials“CM” in superscript, after your certificationcredential [e.g., MLS(ASCP)CM] for the threeyear period your certification is valid. If youchoose not to continue your participation inthe program, you are no longer permitted touse the superscript “CM” after your certifi-cation credential. However, you will stillcontinue to use your certification credentialand your original certification remains valid,since this is participation on a voluntarybasis. For example, if you are certified as aMedical Technologist MT(ASCP) and you donot participate in the program, your initialswill revert back from MLS(ASCP)CM toMT(ASCP), with no expiration.

* Retired certification categories are eligible for CMP.

Individuals with MultipleCertificationsA declaration form must be completed foreach category that requires participation inthe CMP to demonstrate maintenance ofcompetence. You may use the same activ-

ities for more than one category of cer ti fica- tion, provided they fit the criteria for thecertification and are completed within therequired time frame. For example, the sameactivity (worth 1 point) in Laboratory orPatient Safety may be used for both MLSand C. A fee of $15 per each additional cer-tification will be required following theapplication fee for the initial certification,when expiration dates are the same orwithin three months of each other andcertifications are renewed at the sametime. (For detailed information, see FAQ4on page 13.)

Synchronizing MultipleCertificationsCertificants with multiple certifications maybe eligible to synchronize the end dates oftheir certification cycles. A completed dec-laration may be submitted at an earlier datewithin the three-year cycle to coincide withanother certification cycle as long as thethree-year cycle for any one certificationcategory is not exceeded. (For detailedinformation, see FAQ3 on page 12.)

Point AllocationContinuing education activities are awardedpoints based on the Guidelines on pages 5and 6. It is the responsibility of the certificantto allocate all CMP points in the requiredareas for recertification.

Steps for Completing the CMP1. Review the online CMP booklet for pro-gram requirements at this link:www.ascp.org/cmp

2. Within the next three years, complete theappropriate continuing education activi-ties as outlined in this booklet to achieve

your goals and attain the required CMPpoints. Save all certificates of completionand any other docu men ta tion of comple-tion, in the event your declaration form isselected for audit.

3. One month prior to your certification expiration date, complete the online dec-laration process at www.ascp.org/cmp.Faxed/emailed declaration forms willnot be accepted. Application fees arenot refundable.

4. Please retain all original certificates ofattendance or any other type of supportdocumentation in the event your decla-ration form is selected for audit.

5. If you receive notification that your decla-ration is being audited, you will berequired to submit copies of the certifi-cates of completion and any othersupport documentation at that time.

6. Upon successful completion of the pro-gram, you will receive a new wall certificatevalid for three years and you will continueto use the initials “CM” in superscript afteryour certification initials to indicate youhave successfully maintained your certifi-cation. [e.g., MLS(ASCP)CM]

Failure to Participate in CMPIf you were ASCP certified on or after Jan-uary 1, 2004, or as indicated in the chart onpage 3, and do not participate in the CMP,your certification will no longer be valid afterthe three year time period printed on thewall certificate and you will no longer be per-mitted to use the (ASCP) certificationcredentials after your name. Information onreinstatement for expired certification islocated on page 11.


U.S. CMP REQUIREMENTS

Documentation for AuditTo ensure the integrity of the CMP program,a percentage of declaration forms will beaudited to verify completion of the program.If your declaration form is selected for audit,you will be notified and required to submitdocumentation verifying all activities thatwere submitted for the program. (See AuditProcedures on pages 9 and 10 for furtherinformation.)

For generalists (MLS/MT & MLT)

Minimum of 36 points to include: 1 point min-imum in safety, 2 points minimum required ineach domain (blood banking, chemistry,hematology, microbiology), and remainingpoints in area(s) of laboratory specialty,

immunology, molecular diagnostics, man-agement, education, and/or other relatedlaboratory areas of interest.

For categorical technicians andtechnologists (AT, BB, C, CG, CT,CTgyn, H, HT, HTL, I, M, MB)

Minimum of 36 points to include: 1 point min-imum in safety, 2 points minimum in the areain which you are certified, and the remainingpoints in your area of specialty, management,education, and/or other related laboratoryareas of interest.

Phlebotomy Technicians/GeneralistTechnician(DPT/PBT & MLA)

Minimum of 9 points, 1 point minimum insafety, 2 points minimum in the area inwhich you are certified, and remaining

points in area of speciality, management,education and/or other related laboratoryareas of interest.

For Pathologists’ Assistants (PA)

Minimum of 45 points to include: 1 point min-imum in safety, 20 points minimum inanatomic pathology, and remaining points inanatomic pathology, management, educa-tion, and/or other clinical specialities.

For diplomates (DLM) and specialists(HP, SBB, SC, SCT, SH, SLS, SM, SV)

Minimum of 36 points to include: 1 point insafety, 10 points minimum in area of spe-cialty, and remaining points in area ofspecialty, management, education, and/orother related laboratory areas of interest.

CMP required forindividuals ASCP certified beginning Total Number of

Certification Category in the year indicated* Points Required Points Distribution**

MLS/MT, MLT 2004 36 • 1 point in laboratory or patient safety (i.e., quality control, quality assurance)

• 2 points in each of the following: blood banking,chemistry, hematology, microbiology

• Remaining points in area(s) of lab specialty, immunol-ogy, molecular diagnostics, management, education,or other related laboratory areas of interest

AT, BB, C, CG, CT, H, 2004 36 • 1 point in laboratory or patient safety (i.e., quality HT, HTL, I, M, MB control, quality assurance)

• 2 points in area in which you are certified• Remaining points in area of specialty, management,education, or other related laboratory areas of interest

DPT, PBT, MLA 2004 9 • 1 point in laboratory or patient safety (i.e., quality control, quality assurance)

• 2 points in area in which you are certified• Remaining points in area of specialty, management,education, or other related laboratory areas of interest

PA All who are 45 • 1 point in laboratory or patient safety (i.e., quality ASCP Certified control, quality assurance)

• 20 points in anatomic pathology• Remaining points in the area(s) of anatomic pathology,management, education, or other clinical specialties

DLM, HP, SBB, SC, 2006 36 • 1 point in laboratory or patient safety (i.e., quality SCT, SH, SI, SLS, SM, SV control, quality assurance)

• 10 points in area of specialty• Remaining points in area of laboratory specialty, management, education, or other related laboratoryareas of interest

* And for all active NCA certificants not ASCP certified prior to January 1, 2004.** It is the responsibility of the certificant to allocate all CMP points in the required areas for recertification.


U.S. CMP POINT ALLOCATION1 CMP POINT = 1 CONTACT HOUR = 1 CMLE CREDIT

Activities* Contact/Credit Hours CMP Points

1. Formal continuing education courses: **ACCME, ASCP CMLE, AACC, 1 contact hour 1professional societies (including state, regional and ACCENT, ASCLS PACE, (50-60 minutes)CE programs sponsored by other local societies and chapters, universities and colleges)

2. Employer-offered courses (in-service, instrument training, 1 contact hour 1vendor-sponsored, etc.) (50-60 minutes)

3. College/university coursework (e.g., biological/chemical/medical sciences, 1 quarter hour 10computer management, or education) Courses must be lab related. 1 semester hour 15CEs should not exceed 50% of the total number of required CMP points. (points not to exceed

50% of total required)

4 Teleconferences, subscription, or online self-instructional courses 1 contact hour 1for which ACCME, CMLE, ACCENT, PACE, or other professional society (50-60 minutes)credits are awarded

5. Completion of advanced BOC certification or qualification: Specialist/Diplomate certification 25Categorical or higher level certification 12Qualification 12(These points cannot be used for recertification points in the category for which they were received. See FAQ 9 on page 13.)

6. Competence Assessment by employer 2(must use ASCP/BOC Employer Assessment Form) (per year/max 4 pts.)

7. Documentation of Clinical Teaching 1Teaching students during their clinical rotation within the scope of an (per year/max 3 pts.)accredited laboratory training program (must use ASCP BOC ClinicalTeaching Documentation Form)

8. Research & preparation for presentation or workshop (first time only) each contact hour 3of presentation (points not to exceed 50% (50-60 minutes) of total required)

9. Authoring journal articles for peer-reviewed publications 5

10. Authoring a book (over 300 pages) 21(under 300 pages) 14(chapter in a book) 7

11. Editing a book 5

12. Doctoral dissertation 10

13. Master’s thesis 4

14. Presenting posters/exhibits 3 (per year)

15. Serving on an active committee or qualification workgroup 3 (per year)

16. Serving on committees/boards related to the profession (national, state, regional, local) 2 (per year)

17. Role of on-site inspector/paper reviewer for laboratory accreditation (CAP, The Joint Commission, 2 (per year) AABB, COLA, state agency) or training program accreditation (NAACLS, CAAHEP)

* Activities must be related to area of specialty and safety as indicated. ** ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education), ASCP CMLE (American Society for Clinical Pathol-ogy–Continuing Medical Laboratory Education), AACC ACCENT (American Association for Clinical Chemistry–ACCENT programs), ASCLS PACE (American Society of Clinical LaboratoryScience–PACE programs).

PLEASE NOTE: Because of the large volume of continuing education programs available, the Board of Certification will not respond to requests for approval of individual programs. If the pro-gram meets the criteria as described above, it will be accepted for CMP points. Program provider must assign points or contact hours.


The CMP Requirements chart on page 3outlines the number of points required tocomplete the Credential Maintenance Pro-gram. The CMP Point Allocation chart onpage 4 lists the activities for which pointsare awarded. The numbers listed belowrelate directly to the numbered activities inthe CMP Point Allocation chart.

1. Formal continuing educationcourses

These courses may be completed throughthe programs/organizations listed on thechart as well as through other professionalsocieties such as those listed under Sug-gested List of Providers on page 7. Coursesoffered by state/regional/local societies andchapters are acceptable as well as coursesoffered through the continuing educationdepartments of colleges and universities.Courses offered by organizations approvedby state licensing boards are also acceptable.

Please note: Because of the large volumeof continuing education courses available,the Board of Certification will not respondto requests for approval of individual pro-grams or courses. if the program/coursemeets the criteria listed, it will beaccepted for CMP points. Programprovider must assign points or contacthours.

2. Employer-offered coursework

Structured programs, workshops, and in-services offered through your employer orsponsored by a vendor will all qualify for theCMP. (This does not include routine staffmeetings or job orientation.) Points or con-tact hours are assigned by employer/vendor.

3. College/university coursework

For example, courses in the biological/chemical/medical sciences, computer man-agement, or education. (Course must be labrelated.) CEs should not exceed 50% of thetotal number of required CMP points foryour category.

4. Teleconference, subscription, oronline self-instructional courses

These courses are acceptable based onany of the following criteria:

a. ACCME, CMLE, ACCENT, PACE cred-its are awarded, or

b. they are offered by a professional soci-ety (including state, regional or localchapter), or

c. the course is accepted by a statelicensing board, or

d. the course is offered through a univer-sity or college.

5. Completion of advanced ASCPcertification or qualification

These points cannot be used for recertifca-tion points in the category for which theywere received. (See FAQ9 on page 13.)

Achievement of a Specialist or Diplomatecertification in the following categories isacceptable for 25 CMP points: Pathologists’Assistant (PA), Specialists in Blood Banking(SBB), Chemistry (SC), Cytotechnology(SCT), Hematology (SH), Microbiology (SM),Virology (SV) and Diplomate in LaboratoryManagement (DLM).

GUIDELINES FOR EARNING CMPPOINTS


Categorical certification or higherlevel certification

Achievement of a categorical or higher levelcertification is acceptable for 12 CMPpoints: Histotechnologist (HTL), Technolo-gists in Blood Banking (BB), Chemistry (C),Cytogenetics (CG), Hematology (H), Micro-biology (M) and Molecular Biology (MB).

Qualifications are also worth 12 CMP points

Achievement of a qualification is acceptablefor 12 CMP points: Qualifications inAphereis (QIA), Cytometry (QCYM), Imm -unohisto chem istry (QIHC), LaboratoryInformatics (QLI), Laboratory Safety (QLS).

6. Competence assessment by employer

You may receive up to 2 CMP points peryear (maximum of 2 years/4 points) by sub-mission of an Employer Assessment Form(ASCP/BOC form required). Your employermust complete the required EmployerAssessment Form to document your con-tinued competency in the area(s) of youremployment. The date of the assessmentmust be included on this form. One formper year submitted. (Form available atwww.ascp.org/cmp)

7. Documentation of Clinical

Teaching

You may receive up to 1 CMP point peryear (maximum of 3 years/3pts) bysubmission of a clinical TeachingDocumentation Form (ASCP BOC formrequired) for teaching students during theirclinical rotation within the scope of anaccredited laboratory training program.Documentation form must be approvedand signed by employer to receive credit.(Form available at www.ascp.org/cmp)

8. Research & Preparation forpresentation or workshop

You may receive 3 CMP points for each con-tact hour of a presentation/workshop youprepare and deliver, for the first time only.(Beyond the scope of your job.) Subsequentpresentations of the same workshop are notawarded any points. Total points for presen-tations/workshops may not exceed 50% ofthe total number of required points for yourcategory.

9. Authoring journal articles for peer-reviewed publications

Points are awarded for writing articles inpeer-reviewed journals in the laboratory fieldor in journals for professional associationsin the areas of education and management.

10/11. Authoring a book/chapter orediting a book

Refer to Point Allocation on page 4 for spe-cific points awarded.

12/13. Doctoral dissertation ormaster’s thesis

Refer to Point Allocation on page 4 for spe-cific points awarded.

14. Presenting a poster or exhibit

Points are awarded for posters or exhibitspresented at national, state, regional, orlocal laboratory professional associationmeetings.

15/16. Serving on active examinationcommittees/qualification workgroups,or other committees/boards relatedto the profession, including national,regional, state, and local professionalorganizations or committee appoint -ments at your place of employment

See page 4 for specific points awarded.

17. Lab inspector for CAP/The JointCommission/AABB/COLA/stateagency or on-site inspector/paperreviewer for NAACLS/CAAHEP

See page 4 for specific points awarded.

“I liked that the CMP challenged me to keep reading acrossmultiple disciplines within the laboratory sciences field.”

WALTER OLIVEIRA, MLS(ASCP)CMSI


Below is a partial list of providers who offercontinuing education activities includingworkshops, teleconferences, subscriptionprograms, online courses, etc.

This list is only a partial list to assist you inplanning your activities. State/regional/localprofessional societies and other organiza-tions recognized by state licensing boardsmay not be represented on this list; how-ever, courses provided by these groups areacceptable for CMP points.

• ASCP CMLE—American Society for

Clinical Pathology (CE Update, Check

Sample, LabQ, Teleconferences, Work-

shops for Laboratory Professionals)

• AABB

• AACC “ACCENT”—American Associa-

tion for Clinical Chemistry

• AGT — Association of Genetic

Technologists

• AMA—American Medical Association

• AMT—American Medical Technologists

• ASCLS PACE—American Society of

Clinical Laboratory Science

• ASC—American Society of

Cytopathology

• ASCT—American Society for

Cytotechnology

• ASFA—American Society for Apheresis

• ASH—American Society of Hematology

• ASM—American Society of

Microbiology

• CACMLE—Colorado Association for

Continuing Medical Laboratory

Education

• CAP—College of American Pathologists

• CLMA—Clinical Laboratory

Management Association

• CMEA—Continuing Medical Education

Association

• CSMLS—Canadian Society for Medical

Laboratory Science

• Excell

• The Joint Commission

• NSH—National Society for

Histotechnology

• The American Red Cross

PLEASE NOTE: Because of the large vol-ume of continuing education programsavailable, the Board of Certification willnot respond to requests for approval ofindividual programs. if the program meetsthe criteria described under guidelines forearning CMP Points, it will be acceptablefor CMP Points. Program provider mustassign points or contact hours.

SUGGESTED LIST OF PROVIDERS


The CMP points, required to complete theprogram, must be obtained within the validthree year period of certification. Copies ofcertificates of participation, program syllabi,copies of publications, or any other type ofdocumentation of your continuing compe-tence activities, should be retained andshould only be submitted if requested aspart of an audit.

Online Declaration FormProcessWithin your current three-year cycle you mayenter your completed non-ASCP credits inyour online ASCP transcript. Any continuingeducation courses completed through theASCP will automatically be recorded in youronline ASCP transcript. Non-ASCP coursesmust be properly categorized (i.e., specialtyarea, title, date, credits awarded). all coursesthat have been previously added to youraSCP transcript (provided they are in yourthree year cycle) will automatically popu-late into your online CMP declaration form.You will then be able to add more credits asnecessary or re-categorize any credits tomeet your recertification requirements. Onlyafter your recertification requirements havebeen met will you be able to submit youronline CMP declaration form and fee(s). Referto the website at www.ascp.org/cmp for cur-rent CMP fee information. Fees are nonrefundable.

Please retain supporting documentation forany non ASCP continuing competence activ-ities completed. This documentation will onlybe required if your declaration form isselected for auditing purposes.

Deadline DatesThe completed declaration form should besubmitted at least one (1) month prior to theending validation date on your certificate. Onemonth prior to your certification expirationdate you may login to the ASCP website tosubmit your online CMP declaration form.(e.g., July 1, 2016 for the ending validationdate of July 31, 2016). Please allow 30 busi-ness days for the processing of yourdeclaration form.

Change of Name/Address

The Board of Certification requires a copy ofofficial documentation to make a namechange (e.g., marriage license or court order.)

To make a name change, please go to this link found on the ASCP website:www.ascp.org/bocfeedback Select thetopic <Change Name/Contact Information>and <Name Change> as the subject. Youwill be prompted to login. The namechange screen allows you to upload yourdocuments if you have them in an electronicformat and send them via email or you can

print the cover sheet provided to mail yourdocuments to :

ASCP Board of Certification33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600Chicago, IL 60603Attn: Name Change

To update your mailing address or demo-graphic information:

• Go to www.ascp.org/login

• Click on "Profile & Settings" Icon

• Update information and save.

Successful Completion of CMPUpon successful completion of the Creden-tial Maintenance Program (CMP) you willreceive a new wall certificate valid for threeyears. The designation “CM”, as a super-script, is required after your certificationcredential to indicate that you have suc-cessfully maintained your certification [e.g.,MLS(ASCP)CM].

DECLARATION AND COMPLETION OF CMP


AUDIT PROCEDURE

Required DocumentationThe following documents are required to verify your continuing competence activities:

To ensure the integrity of the Credential Maintenance Program, the ASCP Board of Certification will review and audit apercentage of declaration forms each year. If your declaration is selected for audit, you will be notified by mail andrequested to submit supporting documentation of all activities submitted for the program.

Submission ProceduresYou will be notified if your declaration formis chosen for audit. You will be requestedto submit copies of the documents listedfor all of the continuing competence activ-ities you completed to acquire thenecessary CMP points. DO NOT SUBMIToriginal documents, except for official col-lege/university transcripts. Auditdocumentation should be mailed to thefollowing address:

ASCP Board of Certification33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600Chicago, IL 60603Attn: CMP Audit

Successful Completion ofCMP after Audit

Upon successful completion of the auditingprocess, you will receive a new certificatevalid for three years. The designation “CM”,as a superscript, is required after your cer-tification credential to indicate that you have

successfully maintained your certification[e.g., MLS(ASCP)CM].

Unsuccessful AuditIf your declaration is audited and you areunable to submit documentation of yourcontinuing maintenance activities or youwere unable to complete the required CMPpoints due to extenuating circumstances,you may submit a letter of appeal to theASCP Board of Certification.

Activity Formal continuing education courses, teleconferences, subscrip-tion or online courses where formal continuing education creditsare awarded

Employer-offered courses, in-service programs, sponsored courses

Formal college/university coursework

Competence assessment by employer

Documentation of Clinical Teaching

Research & preparation for presentation or workshop

Authoring a book or book chapter, doctoral dissertation

Editing a book

Presenting posters/exhibits

Journal articles, master thesis

Serving on examination committees, committees or boards relatedto the profession

Role of on-site inspector for NAACLS/CAAHEP accredited pro-grams or laboratory inspections for CAP/ The JointCommission/AABB/COLA/state agency

Documentation Certificate of Participation including: Name of Participant, Title of Program, Name of Provider, Date of Program, Number of contact hours/CMLE

Letter on original letterhead signed and dated by employer/certifi-cate/signed attendance from vendor-employer containing aboveinformation

Official Transcript (No Copies)

Employer Assessment Form completed by the employer document-ing competence in particular laboratory specialty(ies) and date ofassessment (form available at www.ascp.org/cmp)

Completed Clinical Teaching Documentation Form documenting Aca-demic Institution, dates of instruction and instructional areas covered,signed and dated by employer. (form available at www.ascp.org/cmp)

Copy of syllabus, program or letter from organization that indicatescontent, length of teaching time and name of the organization

Title page of publication and table of contents containing authorname

Copy of cover or inside page containing editor names

Abstract identifying poster session, meeting program or brochureidentifying presentation

Copy of publication

Letter from organization verifying participation, in what capacity anddates of service

Letter from organization (NAACLS, CAAHEP, The Joint Commis-sion, CAP, etc.) verifying your role as an inspector and the dates ofinspection


Audit Appeals ProcedureTo appeal an unsuccessful audit, you mustsubmit a letter to the Board of Certification.This letter must describe in detail the rea-sons for your inability to complete theprogram and include documentation sup-porting your request.

Extenuating circumstances likely to be con-sidered include: serious, incapacitatingillness over one year in duration; or militaryassignment overseas over a one year dura-tion in a location with no access to onlineworkshops. Financial hardship and per-sonal/family-related responsibilities are notconsidered extenuating circumstances.

Your letter of appeal and all supporting doc-umentation will be reviewed and you will benotified of the decision.

“I had a great experience with the CMP program. I think that we,as medical professionals, owe it to the public to maintain andbuild upon our knowledge of laboratory testing.”

JOAN K. KOSIEK, MT(ASCP)SH, MBCM

Inactive Status for RequiredCMP ParticipationIf you wish to request inactive status for aperiod of time, you must submit a $40 fee*,a letter describing in detail the reasons foryour inactive status and documentation ofextenuating circumstances for your request.

Extenuating circumstances likely to be con-sidered include: serious, incapacitatingillness over one year in duration; or militaryassignment overseas over a one year dura-tion in a location with no access to onlineworkshops. Financial hardship and per-sonal/family-related responsibilities are notconsidered extenuating circumstances.

* The inactive status fee will be waived for individualsresiding in countries requiring mandatory military serv-ice when that is the basis for inactive status.Documentation is required.

A U D I T A P P E A L S P R O C E S S


To be reinstated after inactive status hasexpired, you must submit a completed declaration form documenting all pointsearned within the extended period grantedto you as required for your certification cat-egory. You will also be required to pay thecurrent CMP fee(s) (available atwww.ascp.org/cmp).

At the end of the extended period, if you failto participate and do not submit compellingreasons for continuing inactive status asdescribed under the Appeals Procedure,your certification will no longer be valid andyou may no longer use the ASCP certifica-tion designation after your name.

Reinstatement for ExpiredBOC Certificants If you allow your certification to expire andthen seek reinstatement, you must submit acompleted declaration form documenting allpoints earned within the previous threeyears as required by your certification cate-gory. You must also pay a reinstatement feein addition to the application fee. Refer tothe website at www.ascp.org/cmp for cur-rent CMP fee information. Fees are nonrefundable.

The BOC will not grant extensions or waive

the reinstatement fee due to the non-receiptof CMP reminder notifications. The certifi-cant is responsible for keeping email andaddress information up to date in their data-base record.

If your certification has lapsed for ten (10) ormore years, you will be required to retakeand pass the certification examination forreinstatement of your certification.

Reinstatement for NCACertificantsLapsed NCA Certificants at Time of Unification

Certificants whose NCA certification trans-ferred to the Board of Certification (BOC) ina lapsed status at the time of the unifica-tion (10/23/09), may be reinstated bycompleting the BOC Credential Mainte-nance Program (CMP), regardless if thecertification has been lapsed for ten (10) ormore years. To reinstate, you must submita completed declaration form documentingall points earned within the previous threeyears as required by your certification cate-gory and pay the current reinstatement feein addition to the application fee. Refer towww.ascp.org/cmp for current CMP feeinformation. Fees are non refundable.

Active NCA Certificants at Time of Unification

Certificants whose NCA certification trans-ferred to the Board of Certification (BOC) inan active status at the time of the unifica-tion (10/23/09), became re-credentialedwith the BOC certification category followedby (ASCP)CM. If you allow your BOC(ASCP)CM certification to expire and thenseek reinstatement, you must submit acompleted declaration form documenting allpoints earned within the previous threeyears as required by your certification cate-gory and pay the current reinstatement feein addition to the application fee. Refer towww.ascp.org/cmp for current CMP feeinformation. Fees are non refundable.

The BOC will not grant extensions or waivethe reinstatement fee due to the non-receiptof CMP reminder notifications. The certifi-cant is responsible for keeping email andaddress information up to date in their data-base record.

If your BOC (ASCP)CM certification hasexpired for ten (10) or more years, you willbe required to retake and pass the BOCcertification examination for the reinstate-ment of your certification.

“The CMP turned out to be a lot easier to complete than Iexpected it to be. I had more points than I needed just by takingthe continuing education programs offered in my hospital over thethree year period.”

TAMMY BUTLER, PBT(ASCP)CM


Q1: Is the Credential Maintenance Programrequired for all categories of certification?

A: The Credential Maintenance Program isrequired for newly certified individualsand active NCA certificants who are notASCP certified prior to January 1, 2004in the following categories. (Note: IfASCP certified prior to 2004, CMP isvoluntary):

• Apheresis Technician (AT)

• Cytotechnologist (CT)

• Donor Phlebotomy Technician (DPT)

• Histotechnician (HT)

• Histotechnologist (HTL)

• Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA)

• Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)

• Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)

• Pathologists’ Assistant (PA)*

• Phlebotomy Technician (PBT)

• Technologist in Blood Banking (BB)

• Technologist in Chemistry (C)

• Technologist in Cytogenetics (CG)

• Technologist in Hematology (H)

• Technologist in Immunology ( I )

• Technologist in Microbiology (M)

• Technologist in Molecular Biology (MB)

* The Credential Maintenance Program is requiredfor all Pathologists’ Assistants who are ASCP cer-tified.

As of January 1, 2006, the Credential Main-tenance Program has been expanded toinclude all certifications offered by the Boardof Certification.

Q2: If I become certified but fail to completeor participate in the Credential Mainte-nance Program (CMP), what happens?Will my ASCP certification be revoked?

A: Certifications issued on or after January1, 2004 are valid for three years. If some-one fails to participate in CMP, theircertification will no longer be valid afterthe certification validation date indicatedon their wall certificate. They are nolonger permitted to use the certificationinitials [e.g., MLS(ASCP)CM] after theirname since their certification is no longervalid. Individuals ASCP certified prior to2004 may continue to use the certifica-tion initials since this is a voluntaryprogram for those certified prior to 2004;however, these individuals will no longerbe permitted to use the “CM” designa-tion.

Q3: I am participating in the CMP for bothmy MLS(ASCP)CM and SBB(ASCP)CM

certifications. The CM end date for mySBB is October 2015 and the end datefor my MLS is March 2016. Instead ofhaving to remember and keep track ofCMP points for two separate expirationdates, can I have only one date toremember?

A: Yes, in most cases, certificants with mul-tiple certifications may synchronize thecompletion of their CMP renewalprocess if they choose to do so. A com-pleted declaration may be submitted atan earlier date within the three year cycleto coincide with another certificationcycle as long as the three-year cycle forany one certification category is notexceeded.

For Example: Two CMP expirationdates:

SBB-October 2016MLS-March 2017

Step 1Choose the earliest expiration date of the twocertifications. Why the earliest date? Becauseyou must complete all required CMP pointsfor your category within a three year period. Ifyou choose March 2016, your SBB certifica-tion would expire before then.

Step 2Contact the BOC office in writing [email protected] and explain yourintent. Include your full name, customer IDnumber, and certification categories/num-bers.

Step 3After confirmation from the BOC office,complete the required points for both cer-tification categories before the selectedCM end date, in this case October 2016.(Remember you may use some of the sameCE points to meet the CMP requirementsfor more than one certification category.)

Step 4Submit Declaration Forms* for both MLSand SBB recertification before October2016. (Submit the current CMP applicationfee for the the first one and $15 applicationfee for the second form.) *If a paper decla-ration form is required, you will be providedwith a PDF copy at the time your request isconfirmed by our office.

Step 5When your declaration forms have beenreviewed and approved, your certificationsfor both MLS and SBB will now expire inOctober 2019.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


Q4: I have multiple certifications; how do Idetermine which CMP certification cat-egories I should participate in?

A: Individuals with multiple certificationsmay participate in the Credential Mainte-nance Program for more than onecertification category. Points earned fromany activity may be applied to multiplecategories, provided they fit the criteriafor the certification and are completedwithin the required time frame. Participa-tion in more than one certificationcategory will require a $15 fee per cate-gory in addition to the initial CMPapplication fee, when certifications arerenewed at the same time. Expirationdates must be the same or within threemonths of each other. A separate decla-ration form must be submitted for eachcertification.

Q5: Will individuals be allowed to start theprogram before the initial certificationor re-certification date?

A: Points accumulated toward meetingthe CMP requirements must beobtained between the years of certifi-cation validation. (e.g., if the certificationvalidation period is January 2009through January 2012, all points mustbe completed within this validationperiod). Thus, any points obtainedbefore your re-certification validationperiod begins will not be accepted.

Q6: As a Laboratory Supervisor, I verifythe certification of my staff. CurrentlyI am provided with their certificationcategory and year of certification.What can I expect in terms of certifi-cation verification status for those

who do not comply with the CMPwho were certified beginning in 2004?

A: The Board of Certification will verifythe certification category and the cer-tification validation period. An originalwall certificate indicating validationdates is also acceptable as verifica-tion of certification (copies are notacceptable), as well as primary sourceverification of ASCP certificationreceived through our online service.(Please see our website:www.ascp.org/verification for furtherinformation.)

Q7: Cytotechnologists in California mustdocument 24 hours of approved CEevery two years in order to maintaintheir California CT license. Will all Cal-ifornia CTs also be required todocument and submit the samehours to ASCP in order to maintaintheir ASCP CT certification?

A: Cytotechnologists certified in January2004 and beyond are required to complete 36 points of continuedcompe tency activities every threeyears. Activities accepted by the Cal-ifornia State Licensure Board will beconsidered acceptable activities forthe CMP.

Q8: I am attending a conference at the endof the last month of my recertificationcycle. Because I need to submit mycompleted declaration form one monthbefore my certification expires, may Idocument these points on my decla-ration form even though I have not yetcompleted them?

A: Yes. You may document pointsscheduled to be earned in the last

month of your recertification cycle onyour declaration form for the currentcycle ahead of time. In this case, yourdeclaration form may be subject toaudit.

Q9: Can I use the 25 points I received forearning my specialist certification fromthe BOC towards my certificationrequirements?

A: The BOC awards CMP points for thecompletion of an advanced BOC cer-tification or qualification. These pointsmay be used one time only towardsrecertification for any certificationother than the one for which thepoints were awarded.

For example, if an MLS certificantearns a specialty certification such asan SBB certification, 25 points will beawarded and can be used to meet theMLS recertification requirements.Likewise, if an HT certificant earns aspecialty certification such as a PA,the 25 points earned cannot be usedto meet the PA recertification require-ments.

Q10: I am interested in why the CMP wasinitiated when every place I have beenemployed requires us to have yearlycontinuing education and regulatoryagencies require continuing proof ofour competency.

A: Many places do not require employ-ees to participate in obtainingcontinuing education courses and therequirements are inconsistent amongthose that do. Additionally, not allstates require that medical laboratoryprofessionals obtain a state license towork in the laboratory. We feel that


this program will demonstrate on anational level that everyone who isawarded the CMP designation isassuring the public and their peersthat they are maintaining their com-petence throughout their career.Nearly all of the continuing educationcourses required by employers andregulatory agencies are accepted bythe BOC.

Q11: Please provide some clarificationregarding the Credential MaintenanceProgram, membership and certifica-tion. Please explain to me thedifference between certification andmembership? There seems to besome confusion and perhaps a mis-perception that the CMP will be usedto ensure ASCP membership.

A: Certification by the ASCP Board ofCertification requires completion ofthe eligibility requirements and suc-cessful completion of the appropriate

certification examination. Previouslycertification did not have an expirationdate. Individuals who become certi-fied in 2004 and beyond will berequired to maintain their certificationthrough the Credential MaintenanceProgram (CMP) every three years.Membership is voluntary. Certificationand maintenance of certification arenot contingent upon membership inany association.

Q12: If I have further questions regardingthis program, whom do I contact?

A: Contact ASCP Customer Service at:800.267.2727

To assist you in setting your goals anddetermining the appropriate activities tomeet these goals and successfully com-plete the CMP program, please considerthe following areas:

• Your current responsibilities

• Areas of professional interest to you

(e.g., teaching, management, laboratory

compliance, etc.)

• Parts of your job that you enjoy

• Professional strengths

• Areas in which you would like to

improve your knowledge

• External factors or trends (professional,

societal, or environmental) that will

affect your profession

After you have considered all of the above,then establish your goals and determinewhat activities indicated in this booklet willhelp you to achieve your goals and completethe Credential Maintenance Program.

The Credential Maintenance Program is required for newlycertified individuals and active NCA certificants who are not ASCPcertified prior to January 1, 2004. (Note: If ASCP certified prior to2004, CMP is voluntary)


To assist you in setting your goals anddetermining the appropriate activities tomeet these goals and successfully com-plete the CMP program, please considerthe following areas:

• Your current responsibilities

• Areas of professional interest to you

(e.g., teaching, management, laboratory

compliance, etc.)

• Parts of your job that you enjoy

• Professional strengths

• Areas in which you would like to

improve your knowledge

• External factors or trends (professional,

societal, or environmental) that will

affect your profession

After you have considered all of the above,then establish your goals and determinewhat activities indicated in this booklet willhelp you to achieve your goals and completethe Credential Maintenance Program.

Goals

Activities

S E L F - A S S E S S M E N T


“Having the BOC credentials after my name makes me feelproud. I worked hard for that.”

TAMMY BUTLER, PBT(ASCP)CM

Step 4You will receive email notifications regardingthe status of the processing of your decla-ration form. You may login to your accountat any time to follow and view the status ofyour recertification application.

Step 5If you receive notification that your declara-tion form is deficient or under audit, you willhave 30 business days within which toresolve your deficiency/audit. Instructionswill be provided in your notification.

Step 6Upon successful completion of the Credential Maintenance Program, you willreceive a new wall certificate valid for threeyears. The designation “CM”, as a superscript, is required after your certifica-tion initials to indicate that you havesuccessfully maintained your certification[e.g., MLS(ASCP)CM].

Step 1Review the US CMP booklet posted on theASCP website for details and instructionsfor completing the program. Please visitwww.ascp.org/cmp

Step 2Complete the continuing competence activ-ities that are required for your certificationcategory and accumulate and save docu-mentation for these activities during thethree-year period following certification/recertification.

Step 3One month before your certification expira-tion date, complete the online CMP decla-ration process and pay the currentapplication fee by credit card. Please allow30 business days for processing your dec-laration form.

DO NOT SEND any documentation of yourcontinuing competence activities when yousubmit your declaration form. This docu-mentation will only be required if yourdeclaration form is selected for audit.

COMPLETING U.S. CMP—STEP BY STEP


THE ASCP BOARD OFCERTIFICATION MISSIONSTATEMENT

To provide excellence in certification of

laboratory professionals on behalf of patients

worldwide.

revised 6/2016

33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600Chicago, Illinois 60603Phone: 800.267.2727

Web: www.ascp.org/cmp

US ASCP BOC certification - Wild Apricotmsfh.wildapricot.org/resources/Pictures/2017 cmpbooklet.pdf · CMP U.S. Credential MaintenanCe PrograM ® US ASCP BOC certification categories*

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