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International Certification and Qualification

ASCPⁱ Certification & Qualification: Our Global Response to a Changing World

International Credentials through ASCPⁱ help you stay focused on work and education priorities no matter where you’re located.

ASCP offers its gold standard credentials in the form of international certification to eligible individuals worldwide. The ASCPⁱ credential certifies professional competency among new and practicing laboratory personnel in an effort to contribute globally to the highest standards of patient safety. Graduates of medical laboratory science programs outside the United States are challenged with content that mirrors the standards of excellence established by ASCP exams. The ASCPⁱ credential carries the weight of eighty years of expertise in clinical laboratory professional certification.

To read more about the BOC, click here

International Certification

Introduction
Eligibility
Documentation
Applying
Scheduling
Studying
Exam Day
Results & Certificate

International Certification by the ASCP Board of Certification

You’re serious about your career. That’s why international certification by the ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) is important to you. It serves as a symbol of your commitment to the highest standards of your profession and to quality patient care.

Since 1928, ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) (formerly the ASCP Board of Registry) has been widely recognized as the preeminent leader in the certification of medical laboratory professionals. Today, BOC offers a formal certification process that requires education, clinical training and/or experience, and successful completion of the certification examination for Technicians and Technologists.

The International BOC Certification Process

Congratulations on your decision to apply for international certification by the ASCP Board of Certification! Let's get started, but first there's some work that you need to do before you can take the examination. Please read and follow the instructions in each tabbed section in order to properly complete the entire certification process.

Please also review the booklet International Procedures for Examination & Certification for details about exam eligibility requirements and the process for examination.

Identify the examination you’re applying for and determine your eligibility.

For each certification category, you’ll find a choice of routes that you can take to verify your eligibility for the examination, depending on the education and training you’ve completed. All eligible education, clinical laboratory training and clinical laboratory work experience must be completed outside the United States, outlying U.S. territories, and Canada. Find out the eligibility requirements for your category:

International Medical Technologist, MT(ASCPⁱ)

Application Fee: $200

To be eligible for this examination category, an applicant must satisfy the requirements of at least one of the following routes:

Route 1: A baccalaureate degree in Medical Technology*, biological science, or chemistry from an accredited/approved** educational institution AND complete a Medical Laboratory training program**. The training program must include Blood Banking (Immunohematology), Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology, OR

Route 2: A baccalaureate degree in Medical Technology* from an accredited/approved** educational institution AND complete three years experience including all aspects of the clinical laboratory in an accredited/approved*** laboratory facility. Experience must include Blood Banking (Immunohematology), Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology, OR

Route 3: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited/approved** educational institution AND successful completion of a minimum two-year Medical Laboratory program. The training program must include Blood Banking (Immunohematology), Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology, OR

Route 4: A baccalaureate degree in any biological science or chemistry from an accredited/approved** educational institution AND complete five years experience including all aspects of the clinical laboratory in an accredited/approved*** laboratory facility. Experience must include Blood Banking (Immunohematology), Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology, OR

Route 5: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited/approved** educational institution AND minimum two-year diploma or equivalent in any biological science or chemistry from an accredited/approved** educational institution AND five years experience including all aspects of the clinical laboratory in an accredited/approved*** laboratory facility. Experience must include Blood Banking (Immunohematology), Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology.

*Degrees/Diplomas in Medical Technology include Medical Technology, Medical Laboratory Science, Clinical Laboratory Science, and Biomedical Laboratory Science.

**Accredited/approved by a governing regulatory association or Ministry. Countries without a prevalent system of accreditation/approval must have programs/educational institutions approved by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP Board of Certification, or eligibility will be determined by transcript evaluation. The baccalaureate degree must be equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree.

***Laboratory accredited by JCI, CAP, under ISO 15189 or authorized by a governing regulatory association or Ministry. Countries without a prevalent system of accreditation must have laboratories approved by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP Board of Certification.
International Medical Laboratory Technician, MLT(ASCPⁱ)

Application Fee: $175

To be eligible for this examination category, an applicant must satisfy the requirements of at least one of the following routes:

Route 1: Minimum of a two-year diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology* which includes Blood Banking (Immunohematology), Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology from an accredited/approved educational institution**, OR

Route 2: Minimum of a two-year diploma or equivalent in any biological science or chemistry from an accredited/approved** educational institution AND successful completion of a Medical Laboratory training program**. The training program must include Blood Banking (Immunohematology), Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology, OR

Route 3: Minimum of a two-year diploma or equivalent in any biological science or chemistry from an accredited/approved** educational institution AND three years experience including all aspects of the clinical laboratory in an accredited/approved*** laboratory facility. Experience must include Blood Banking (Immunohematology), Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology.

*Degrees/Diplomas in Medical Laboratory Technology include Medical Technology, Medical Laboratory Science, Clinical Laboratory Science, and Biomedical Laboratory Science.

**Accredited/approved by a governing regulatory association or Ministry. Countries without a prevalent system of accreditation/approval must have programs/educational institutions approved by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP Board of Certification, or eligibility will be determined by transcript evaluation.

***Laboratory accredited by JCI, CAP, under ISO 15189 or authorized by a governing regulatory association or Ministry. Countries without a prevalent system of accreditation must have laboratories approved by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP Board of Certification.
International Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCPⁱ)

Application Fee: $125

To be eligible for this examination category, an applicant must satisfy the requirements of at least one of the following routes:

Route 1: High school graduation (or equivalent) AND completion of a formal phlebotomy program. This program must consist of: classroom training, including anatomy and physiology of the circulatory system, specimen collection, specimen processing and handling and laboratory operations (e.g. safety, quality control, etc.) AND clinical training in an approved/accredited laboratory with a minimum performance of 50 successful, unaided blood collections, including venipunctures and skin punctures, OR

Route 2: High school graduation (or equivalent) AND completion of one year acceptable work experience as a phlebotomy technician in an approved/accredited laboratory. This experience must include venipunctures, skin punctures and orientation in a clinical laboratory, OR

Route 3: High school graduation (or equivalent) AND successful completion of a nursing or other acceptable/accredited biomedical science education which includes phlebotomy training with a minimum performance of 50 successful, unaided blood collections, including venipunctures and skin punctures.

Route 4: MT(ASCPⁱ) or MLT(ASCPⁱ) certification.

Applicants with training in the United States must apply through United States PBT(ASCP) eligibility routes.
International Technologist in Molecular Biology, MB(ASCPⁱ)
Application Fee: $200

To be eligible for this examination category, an applicant must satisfy the requirements of at least one of the following routes:

Route 1: ASCPⁱ certified as a technologist (MT, CTgyn) AND a baccalaureate degree from an accredited/approved** educational institution, OR

Route 2: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited/approved** educational institution AND successful completion of an accredited/approved** diagnostic molecular science program. Academic education or molecular science program must include courses in biological science and chemistry, OR

Route 3: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited/approved** educational institution AND successful completion of a minimum two-year Medical Laboratory program**. The training program must include Blood Banking (Immunohematology), Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology, OR

Route 4: Baccalaureate degree in any biological science or chemistry from an accredited/approved** educational institution AND one year acceptable experience (clinical, veterinary, industry or research) in a molecular biology laboratory* in an accredited/approved*** laboratory facility, OR

Route 5: Graduate level degree (Master’s, Doctorate) in any biological science or chemistry from an accredited/approved** educational institution AND six months acceptable clinical laboratory experience in molecular diagnostics in an accredited/approved*** laboratory facility.

*A molecular biology laboratory is defined as one capable of providing individuals with knowledge and practical experience in all aspects of molecular analysis including, but not limited to, recombinant DNA technologies, polymerase chain reaction, and hybridization techniques.

**Accredited/approved by a governing regulatory association or Ministry. Countries without a prevalent system of accreditation/approval must have programs/educational institutions approved by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP Board of Certification, or eligibility will be determined by transcript evaluation. The baccalaureate degree must be equivalent to a U.S. Baccalaureate degree.

***Laboratory accredited by JCI, CAP, under ISO 15189 or authorized by a governing regulatory association or Ministry. Countries without a prevalent system of accreditation must have laboratories approved by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP Board of Certification.

To fulfill the experience requirement for the International Technologist in Molecular Biology examination, you must have clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years in one of the following areas:
- Genetics/Genomics (i.e., mutations, inherited gene disorders, pharmocogenomics)
- Hematology/Oncology (i.e., hematologic lymphoid neoplasms/neoplasia)
- Histocompatibility (i.e., DNA-based tissue typing)
- Infectious Disease (i.e., molecular microbiology, molecular organism typing)
- Molecular Identity Testing (i.e., bone marrow engraftment, paternity, forensic)
- Solid Tumors (i.e., tumor gene markers)
International Technologist in Gynecologic Cytology, CTgyn(ASCPⁱ)

Application Fee: $125

To be eligible for this examination category, an applicant must satisfy the requirements of at least one of the following routes:

Route 1: Minimum of a 2 year diploma or equivalent from an accredited/approved* educational institution AND successful completion of a Cytotechnology program in which the program of study incorporates theory and practice in gynecologic cytology OR

Route 2: Current employment in the field of cytology AND one (1) year of experience in gynecologic cytotechnology immediately prior to application AND successful completion of the national examination in countries where a national registry for Cytotechnology exists OR

Route 3: CT(IAC) certification AND six (6) months experience in gynecologic cytotechnology.

*Accredited/approved by a governing regulatory association or Ministry. Countries without a prevalent system of accreditation/approval must have programs/educational institutions approved by an International Advisory Board appointed by the ASCP Board of Certification, or eligibility will be determined by transcript evaluation.

International Pricing Policy

Applicants who both (a) obtained medical laboratory education in, AND (b) currently reside in select nations will receive discounted pricing of $95 for all international certification examination categories: International Pricing Policy.

If you are applying for California state licensure as well as MT(ASCPⁱ) certification, download the release form.

Complete the release form and send via one of the following:
Email: ascpinternational@ascp.org
Fax: +1 312.541.4845
Mail: ASCP International, 33 W. Monroe St. Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60603-5617

Note: Requirements and fees stated are subject to change without notice

Gather your education and experience documentation.

You’ll need to provide documentation of your education and training and specified experience requirements that you’ve fulfilled in your area of specialization. Before you apply for the examination, you should assemble all the documentation needed to:

Apply for the examination.

Please review the booklet International Procedures for Examination & Certification for details about exam eligibility requirements and the process for examination. Complete and submit the application form with the non-refundable application fee, along with all the documentation you gathered in the Documentation step. Apply online and pay by credit card, or pay by mail with a check or money order.

Mailing Address for Application Fees:
Board of Certification
3462 Eagle Way
Chicago, IL 60678-1033

For Multiple Application Fees:
If multiple applications are being sent with one check, DO NOT use the above address. Contact ascpinternational@ascp.org for mailing instructions

Change of Name and/or Address

If you change your address, notify the ASCP Board of Certification Office using the online feedback form: www.ascp.org/bocfeedback; fax 312.541.4845 or mail to the general correspondence address. Name and address changes should NOT be made online through the ASCP web site or ASCP Call Center. All changes must be made directly with the Board of Certification. Name changes must be accompanied by a photo copy of your marriage license or court order and faxed to 312.541.4845 or mailed to:
ASCP Board of Certification
33 W. Monroe St.
Suite 1600,
Chicago, IL 60603-5617

Name and/or address changes may not be made at the test center. Name changes or name corrections received in the ASCP Board of Certification office after the day you take the examination will not be reflected on your certificate. A fee will be charged if you request a new certificate.

Certification, if granted, may be revoked at any time and the applicant may be barred from admission to take future certification examinations if it is established that the information contained in, or supplied in support of, an application for examination is inaccurate in any material respect, if the applicant engages in any inappropriate conduct during the examination (such as giving or obtaining unauthorized information or aid) or if the applicant misrepresents or misuses the applicant’s certification status at any time.

International Pricing Policy:

Applicants who both (a) obtained medical laboratory education in, AND (b) currently reside in select nations will receive discounted pricing of $95 for all international certification examination categories: International Pricing Policy.

Online Application Assistance Spanish: Procedimiento básico para llenar la aplicación en línea en inglés por Internet

Chinese Application Process: 国际认证的过程

Schedule your examination.

Once your application and eligibility documentation has been approved by BOC, you’ll receive an admission e-mail with instructions for making an appointment. Then, it’s time to schedule your examination at a Pearson Professional Center. Visit the Pearson website for ASCP examinations to identify a location that’s convenient for you.

Note: Add ascpinternational@ascp.org to your safe senders/contacts list to ensure prompt delivery of your e-mail.

Study for Exam.

To help you prepare for the certification examination, the following study materials are available. Please click on the appropriate links below for further information on these study materials.

Prepare for your examination day.

Review Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) method that is used by BOC. To find out what to bring to examination center, please review What to Bring to the Examination Center.

Watch for your results.

You’ll receive your examination scores via email two(2) business days after your examination date. Review Examination Results Procedures.

Watch for your certificate.

You’ll receive your certificate approximately six to eight weeks after your examination date. Anyone certified prior to 2012 will maintain their certification credentials for life. Beginning January 1, 2012, however, international certification must be maintained by completing the Certification Maintenance Program (CMP). Review Certification Benefits & Expiration.

Change of Name and/or Address

If you change your address, notify the ASCP Board of Certification Office using the online feedback form: www.ascp.org/bocfeedback; fax 312.541.4845 or mail to the general correspondence address. Name and address changes should NOT be made online through the ASCP web site or ASCP Call Center. All changes must be made directly with the Board of Certification. Name changes must be accompanied by a photo copy of your marriage license or court order and faxed to 312.541.4845 or mailed to:

ASCP Board of Certification
33 W. Monroe St.
Suite 1600,
Chicago, IL 60603-5617

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