How to Get Ascp Certified

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: August 17, 2019 References

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification is a professional credential that can take your career working in a lab to the next level. ASCP offers over 20 certifications for different lab professions. First, check if you are eligible for certification. Then, apply on the ASCP website for admission to take the exam. If you’re approved, you’ll have to pass the ASCP exam to receive certification. Once you’re certified, it will show potential employers that you can safely work in a lab, so it’s a great way to further your career!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Determining Eligibility

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Find ASCP’s online Examination Eligibility Assistant for US applicants. The Examination Eligibility Assistant is a tool the ASCP designed to clarify the process of checking your eligibility for a specific exam. To use this tool, you will have to have a specific certification in mind.^{[1]
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- Here’s a link to the Examination Eligibility Assistant: https://apps.ascp.org/BOCRouteFinder
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Select the certification for your profession. ASCP offers over 20 certifications. The highest volume certifications include MLS - Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLT - Medical Laboratory Technician, PBT - Phlebotomy Technician, and HT - Histotechnician, but they offer many more. For most professional certifications, you will already have to have gone through a training program and have work experience in that area.^{[2]
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- For example, to become a certified Donor Phlebotomy Technician (DPT), along with other requirements you must have at least 50 successful donor collections in the U.S. or Canada.
- Be careful that you are selecting the right exam, because many acronyms look similar.
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Complete the questionnaire. The questionnaire will ask you about accredited training programs, military lab courses, clinical lab experience, and certifications. There are several different routes to be eligible for each program, so even if you answer no to some of the questions, you may still qualify.^{[3]
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- The questionnaire will tell you whether or not you meet the requirements for the exam.
- To view more eligibility information, you can also check out: https://www.ascp.org/content/docs/default-source/boc-pdfs/exam-content-outlines/ascp-boc-us-procedures-book-web.pdf
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Check the ASCP website to learn about international applications. Even if you live outside of the U.S., you may still qualify to take an ASCP certification exam. You can find information on international exams you can find a full list of the international certifications they offer, which are different from US certifications, and the different eligibility routes for each exam.
- Here’s a link to a booklet with information for international applicants: https://www.ascp.org/content/docs/default-source/boc-pdfs/exam-content-outlines/ascp-international-procedures-book.pdf?sfvrsn=12

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Applying to Take the Exam

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Request modifications before applying if you have a disability. Notify the ASCP Board of Certification office in writing. You’ll have to provide a letter of diagnosis from a specialist. The ASCP will consider your claim and work with you and the testing centers to provide modifications to the testing environment.^{[4]
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- The ASCP will review claims on a case-by-case basis, so if you’re not sure if your disability qualifies for modification, it’s worth it to ask.
2
Create an ASCP account online. Go to the ASCP homepage, and create an account. You will need to provide your first and last name, birth date, and email address, and address. They will also ask you about your current place of employment, job title, and demographic information.^{[5]
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- Your name on the account must match the name on the valid government ID that you will bring to the test center later to take your exam.
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Complete the online application once you have an account. Verify your contact information and be sure to select the correct exam. The ASCP offers many different certifications, so double-check that you are signing up for the exam you intend to take.^{[6]
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- You can save and return to your application if need be.
4
Pay the application fee by credit card or check. The fee for the exam differs based on which exam you are taking, ranging from $135- $530, but the application will tell you how much it is. Your application won’t be considered complete until the ASCP has received and processed your payment. Pay immediately through the online application with your credit card if you can.^{[7]
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- If you can’t pay by credit card, the ASCP will give you instructions on where to mail your check once you finish the online application process.
- Send your check payment with an invoice within 30 days of starting the application.^{[8]
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Submit the required documents and transcripts by mail within 45 business days. The application will tell you exactly what documents you need to submit, as it varies by type of exam and national, international, or military status. Common required documents include official transcripts and notarized certificates of training. You will be notified within 6 weeks of application if any documentation is missing.^{[9]
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- Mail required documents to Board of Certification, 33 W. Monroe St., Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60603.
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Receive your admission notification by email. If reviewers determine that you are eligible to take the exam, you will receive instructions for how to schedule an exam appointment. After you receive this notification, you have 3 months to take the exam.^{[10]
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- You can track your application status online by logging into your account, clicking on BOC activities, Completed BOC Exam Applications, and then Show Details.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Taking the Exam

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Schedule a test date with a Pearson Testing Center within 3 months. Go online to the Pearson testing center website, at https://home.pearsonvue.com/ascp, and sign in to your ASCP account to schedule your test. You make take the exam at any Pearson Testing Center, as long as you are taking it within the 3-month window provided in your email notification. If you don’t schedule an exam within this time period, you will have to apply and pay the application fee again.^{[11]
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- Military personnel and their families can also take the exam at a military base.
- If you need to reschedule, contact Pearson at least one full business day before your originally scheduled date.
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Study for the exam using ASCP prep materials. Visit the ASCP website for information on each exam. Select the exam you intend to take from the menu, and then you can view the free content guideline and reading list. The content guideline includes all the content areas that will be on the text as well as what percentage of your grade each area is. The reading list is not an inclusive list of every article and textbook you should study, but it’s a good place to start.
- Visit the ASCP website here: https://www.ascp.org/content/board-of-certification/get-credentialed#us-certifications
- You can also purchase a pack of online practice tests from the ASCP for between $25-$50 depending on the exam.^{[12]
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Arrive at least 30 minutes early for your test with valid ID to check-in. Depending on the exam, you might also need to bring a calculator, so check the content guideline before you go. The testing center will collect your signature, take your photograph, and take a palm vein image. You’ll have to read rules and show ID. Valid IDs include:
- Driver’s License
- Passport
- Permanent Resident Card
- Identification Card (national/state/province)^{[13]
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Take the multiple choice exam. Most exams last 2 hours and 30 minutes and have 100 questions. The Phlebotomy Technician (PBT) exam lasts 2 hours and has 80 questions, and the Donor Phlebotomy Technician (DPT) exam lasts 2:30 hrs and has 90 questions. You will take the text on a computer. The test moves sequentially, so you can’t skip a question.^{[14]
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- Once you finish the exam, if you still have time, you can review your answers.
5
Find out your score by email within 4 business days. Check the email that you used on your application regularly after you take the exam to receive your score. You may have to wait up to 4 business days, so if you took your exam on a Friday, your score may take longer to arrive because it won’t be processed over the weekend. The ASCP won’t release your score by phone or fax.
- If you haven’t received your emailed score, log on to your ASCP account to make sure your email address is entered correctly.
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Receive your certification by mail if you passed. Since the exam questions are calibrated based on difficulty, there is no set number of questions or percentage you have to get right to pass, you just have to make it past the ASCP’s “pass point.” Your wall certification will arrive within 3-5 weeks for US mail, or 6-9 weeks for international mail.^{[15]
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- Your certificate is now valid for 3 years.
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Reapply for the exam if you didn’t pass. You can take the exam 5 times under one eligibility route. If you don’t pass after 5 times, you’ll have to meet the requirements for a different eligibility route. ^{[16]
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- Each time you reapply, you’ll have to pay the full application fee again.