The mission of the American Society for Clinical Pathology is to provide excellence in education, certification, and advocacy on behalf of patients, pathologists, and laboratory professionals.

Since its founding in 1922, ASCP has been the leader in pathology and laboratory medicine. The society’s influence has guided the evolution and maturation of this medical specialty. ASCP is unique among pathology organizations in that its inclusive membership unites pathologists and laboratory professionals to advance the profession.

Over the years, ASCP’s education programs and the ASCP Board of Certification certification programs have provided the foundation for excellence in the profession. In addition, the society’s foresight and influence in creating the American Board of Pathology, the College of American Pathologists, and the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences established the structure to ensure the long-term strength and viability of pathology and laboratory medicine.

ASCP's membership comprises 130,000 pathologists, doctoral-level laboratory scientists, and a host of laboratory professionals, including pathologists’ assistants, medical technologists, cytotechnologists, histotechnologists, histologic technicians, phlebotomists, medical laboratory technicians, and numerous laboratory specialists.

Long recognized for its excellence in providing continuing education for pathologists and laboratory professionals, ASCP sponsors hundreds of workshops, symposia, teleconferences, e-courses, and self-study programs annually. In addition, ASCP is a full-scale medical publisher of medical textbooks, reference manuals, slide atlases, audiovisual materials, and computer software, as well as Critical Values, a quarterly newsmagazine, and two prestigious journals, the American Journal of Clinical Pathology (AJCP) and Laboratory Medicine (LABMEDICINE).