ASCP BOC History

First report from the Committee on Registration of Technicians was presented by Dr. Kano Ikeda at the New Willard Hotel, Washington, DC, on May 23. 

The first chair is Phillip Hillkowitz, MD (1928-1940).

1930 First ASCP BOR certificate is issued to Paul H. Adams of Fort Wayne, IN.   

1931 ASCP BOR institutes the use of initials “MT” (Medical Technologist) and “LT” (Laboratory Technician) after the registrant’s name.   

Medical Technologist (MT) certification was established. 

1933 All registry applicants are required to take a written and practical examination.  Exams are 50% oral/practical, 25% written, and 25% personal/psychological. The examination fee is $10.  Of the 66 applicants who take the first nation-wide examination, 56 pass. 

1934 First separate meeting of Registry of Technicians is held in Cleveland, OH. 

1935 Becomes apparent that uniformity of grading cannot be accomplished by several scattered examiners.  First official examiner, Dr. A. W. Freshman, is appointed.   

The ASCP BOR decides to give the title Medical Technologist (MT) automatically to those certified Laboratory Technicians with college degrees. 

1936  Laboratory Technician (LT) title is discontinued, and all subsequent registrants are designated Medical Technologists.   

American Medical Association publishes the first AMA list of “Accredited Schools for Clinical Laboratory Technicians.” 

1940 Use of MT(ASCP) with brackets is begun. Lall G. Montgomery, MD (1940-1964) becomes the second chair of the Boar of Registry. 

1946 Another medical technologist is added to the ASCP Advisory Committee of Medical Technologist, thus increasing MT representatives to six. 

1948 Becomes apparent to the ASCP BOR that essay-type examinations are too slow and cumbersome.  A switch is made to only true/false and multiple-choice questions.  

Technologist in Chemistry, C(ASCP), Technologist in Microbiology, M(ASCP), Laboratory Aide, LA(ASCP) and Histotechnician, HT(ASCP) certifications are established. 

1949 ASCP BOR moves to machine analysis for its grading system and begins to provide schools of medical technology with detailed statistical information about their teaching programs. 

1953 Specialist in Microbiology, SM(ASCP) certification established. 

1954 Specialist in Blood Banking, SBB(ASCP) and Specialist in Chemistry, SC(ASCP) certifications established. 

1956 Second meeting the ASCP BOR is added due to increased work volume. 

1957 Cytotechnologist, CT(ASCP) certification established. 

1959 Specialist in Cytotechnology, SCT(ASCP) certification established. 

1962 ASCP BOR moves into new quarters in Muncie, IN and increases staff to 34.   

A SCP BOR standards rise so that all medical technologists must have at least three years of college training, with suitable science courses for entrance into an acceptable school. 

1963 The ASCP BOR discontinues the Laboratory Aide, LA(ASCP) certification for its new Certified Laboratory Assistant, CLA(ASCP), the second generalist level certification. 

1965 Willington B. Stewart, MD becomes the third chair of the Board of Registry (1965-1967). 

1968 George P. Vennart, MD serves as chair of the ASCP BOR (1968-1972).  Specialist in Hematology, SH(ASCP) certification is established. 

1969 ASCP BOR office moves to 710 S. Walcott St, Chicago, IL.  Medical Laboratory Technician, MLT(ASCP) certification established. 

1970 The ASCP Commission on Laboratory Personnel Newsletter is published to improve communications with program directors and educators of the nearly 1200 accredited programs. 

1971 ASCP BOR moves to ASCP national headquarters, 2100 W. Harrison St, Chicago, IL.  Technologist in Hematology, H(ASCP) certification established. 

1972 Donald E. Brown, MD becomes ASCP BOR chair (1972-1975). 

1974 ASCP BOR develops the first “Examination Content Guidelines” and defines five categories of certification: MT(ASCP), MLT(ASCP), SH(ASCP), HT(ASCP), and CLA(ASCP) 

1975 Certificate number 100,000 granted to Harry Watkins, MT(ASCP), Berkeley, CA. Betty R. Murphy, MEd, MT(ASCP) is unanimously elected ASCP BOR chair, the first time a medical technologist holds this post (1975-1976). 

1976 John Green, MD serves as chair of the ASCP BOR (1976-1979). 

1977 ASCP Board of Directors determines that the ASCP BOR should be administratively independent in matters related to certification. 

1978 Golden (50th) anniversary of the ASCP BOR is celebrated in St. Louis, MO. 

1979 Barbara M. Castleberry, MA, MT(ASCP) becomes the ASCP BOR chair (1979-1981). 

1980 Katina S. F. Cable, MT(ASCP) from Charlotte, NC becomes the 200,000^th certificant.  Conversion from norm-referenced to absolute standard pass-fail determination begins.  Histotechnologist, HTL(ASCP) and Technologist in Immunology, I(ASCP) certifications are developed.  

1981 ASCP hires first full-time Vice President of the BOR – Barbara M. Castleberry, PhD, MT(ASCP) 

1982  Specialist in Immunology, SI(ASCP) certification established. Certified Laboratory Assistant, CLA(ASCP) certification discontinued. 

1983 Technologist in Blood Banking, BB(ASCP) certification established. 

1988 ASCP BOR conducts first Wage and Vacancy Survey. 

1989 Diplomate in Laboratory Management, DLM(ASCP) certification established. 

1990 Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCP) certification established 

1991 Certificate number 300,000 granted to Kim Wainwright, MT(ASCP) from Knoxville, IL. 

1993 Concept of “Qualifications” established.  This is a process to recognize an individual’s knowledge and skill in specific technical areas.  Qualification in Cytometry (QCYM) established. Hemapheresis Practitioner, HP(ASCP) certification established. 

1994 Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) used for all ASCP BOR examinations.  All certification examinations are administered on computer using CAT. Qualification in Immunohistochemistry (QIHC) is established. 

1996 ASCP Board of Certification is on the Internet 

1997 Qualification in Point of Care Testing Evaluator (QPOCTE) qualification is established. The Continuing Competence Recognition (CCR) program was established to demonstrate continued competence in the field.  

1998 Specialist in Virology, SV(ASCP) certification is established.  CT(ASCP) experience route is discontinued. 

1999 New BOR Vice President, Kory Ward-Cook, PhD, MT(ASCP) hired.  AACC becomes a participating society on the Board of Registry. 

2000 Specialist in Laboratory Safety, SLS(ASCP) certification established. 

2001 Slogan adopted: “ASCP Certification – The Standard of Excellence.”  A major practice analysis is launched for MT(ASCP), MLT(ASCP) and PBT(ASCP). 

2002 Mission statement adopted: “The Board of Registry promotes the health and safety of the public by certifying competent laboratory professionals and maintaining a registry of certificants.”  The ASCP changes its name to the American Society for Clinical Pathology. 

2003 Diamond (75^th) anniversary of the ASCP BOR was celebrated in New Orleans, LA.  Technologist in Molecular Pathology, MP(ASCP), Donor Phlebotomy Technician, DPT(ASCP) and Apheresis Technician, AT(ASCP) certifications were established.  Qualification in Laboratory Compliance (QLC) and Qualification in Laboratory Informatics (QLI) were established.  PBT(ASCP) certification was approved by the state of California for state licensure. 

2004 Starting January 2004 the Board of Registry implements the Certification Maintenance Program (CMP), which requires participation in continued education and other activities every three years for those newly certified to maintain ASCP certification.  Started monthly eLinks for program directors. Eliminated application deadline dates for examinations. 

2005 A new Executive Director, E. Blair Holladay, PhD, SCT(ASCP)^CM was hired.  ASCP BOR approved the credential (ASCPⁱ⁾ for international certifications and MT(ASCPⁱ) and MLT(ASCPⁱ) are the first international certifications established.  Pathologists’ Assistant, PA(ASCP) certification is established.  400,000^th certificant is honored – Lisa McWilliams, MT(ASCP).  Conjoint certification for M(ASCP) and SM(ASCP) with the American College of Microbiology is approved. The high school route is discontinued for experience under the Histotechnician eligibility requirements. 

2006 ASCP BOR office moves to 33 W. Monroe St, Suite 1600 in downtown Chicago.  South Korea becomes the first country approved for international certification.  The Philippines becomes the second country approved.  International version of the Molecular Pathology, MP(ASCPⁱ) is established.  The MT(ASCP) certification examination is approved for California state licensure. 

2007 ASCP BOR achieves accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for MT, MLT, and PBT certifications. MLT(ASCP), MT(ASCPⁱ) and CMLT examinations are approved for CA state licensure. ASCP BOR is accepted as the sole provider of MT(ASCP), MLT(ASCP), and CT(ASCP) certification examinations for NY state licensure. PBT(ASCPⁱ) is established. 

2008 M(ASCP), SM(ASCP), C(ASCP), and SC(ASCP) certification examination approved for California state licensure. Program Director’s Guide to Certification, an online handbook was published.  A new mission statement was adopted: “Provide excellence in certification of laboratory professionals on behalf of patients worldwide.” 

2009 ASCP BOR and NCA form a single certification agency – the Board of Certification. The certification, Medical Technologist (MT), is changed to Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS(ASCP)/MLS(ASCPⁱ). A vision statement was adopted.  BB(ASCP), SBB(ASCP), H(ASCP), and SH(ASCP) certification examinations are approved for CA state licensure.  Certification examinations are made available at military test centers in the U.S. and military bases worldwide.  International certification options are extended to all qualified applicants worldwide.  International MT exam is translated into Spanish. 

2010 The first Technologist in Cytogenetics, CG(ASCP) certification examination is given. The ASCP is awarded the exclusive NY licensure contract for HT(ASCP) and CA licensure for CG(ASCP) and MB(ASCP). 

2011 A new Executive Director, Patricia A. Tanabe, MPA, MLS(ASCP)^CM  is hired. 

2012 ANSI accreditation is awarded for all ASCP BOC U.S. certification programs.  The Certification Maintenance Program (CMP) for international certification is started, requiring completion of CMP every three years for those certified beginning Jan. 1, 2012.  Guidelines for Ethical Behavior are adopted for all ASCP BOC certificants. 

2013 Converted to an online system for processing applications, with all notifications sent by email. 

2014 The 500,000^th certificant, Simeltsa Stamoulas, MLS(ASCP)CM , Baltimore, MD, was recognized in Tampa, FL. The following new certifications were offered in October 2014: International Technologist in Hematology, H(ASCPⁱ) and International Histotechnologist, HTL(ASCPⁱ).  

2015 The following new certifications were offered in 2015: International Specialist in Hematology, SH(ASCPⁱ) International Technologist in Chemistry , C(ASCPⁱ), International Specialist in Chemistry, SC(ASCPⁱ), International Technologist in Microbiology, M(ASCPⁱ), International Specialist in Microbiology, SM(ASCPⁱ), International Histotechnician HT(ASCPⁱ), International Cytotechnologist, CT(ASCPⁱ), International Specialist in Cytotechnology, SC(ASCPⁱ), International Technologist in Blood Banking, BB(ASCPⁱ), International Specialist in Blood Banking, SBB(ASCPⁱ), and the International Technologist in Cytogenetics, CG(ASCPⁱ).   

2016   The following new credentials are offered in 2016: The Apheresis, QIA, was first offered in conjunction with the American Society for Apheresis (ASFA); and the Medical Laboratory Assistants, MLA(ASCP) is first offered in July.  

2017 Two new certifications, Specialist in Cytometry, SCYM(ASCP), and International Specialist in Cytometry, SCYM(ASCPⁱ), were developed with the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry (ISAC) and the International Clinical Cytometry Society (ICCS).  The Qualification in Cytometry (QCYM) was sunsetted in June 2017, and the Qualification in Informatics was sunsetted as well. 

2018 The following new certifications were offered in January 2018: Specialist in Molecular Biology, SMB(ASCP), and International Specialist in Molecular Biology, MB(ASCPⁱ). ASCP BOC celebrates 90 years at the ASCP Annual Meeting in Baltimore, MD.  

2020 The qualification in Biorepository Science, QBRS, is first offered in April 2020. In October 2021, the BOG voted to approve “Cytologist” as new terminology. The existing credential title of Cytotechnologist [CT(ASCP)/CT(ASCPⁱ)] is changed to Cytologist [CT(ASCP)/CT(ASCPⁱ)], Specialist in Cytotechnology [SCT(ASCP)/SCT(ASCPⁱ)] is changed to Specialist in Cytology [SCT(ASCP)/SCT(ASCPⁱ)], and Technologist in Gynecologic Cytology [CTgyn(ASCPⁱ)] is changed to Gynecologic Cytologist [CTgyn(ASCPⁱ)]. 

2021 In January, 2022, the Donor Phlebotomy Technician, DPT, is sunsetted and a Qualification in Donor Phlebotomy, QDP, is offered. 

2022 All existing MT(ASCP)/MT(ASCPⁱ) credentials are transitioned to MLS(ASCP)/MLS(ASCPⁱ). 

A new executive director, Amy Spiczka, DHSc, MS, HTL(ASCP)CMSCT,MBCM, CPHQ is hired.   

2023 A new doctoral-level immunologists certification is offered, Diplomate in Medical Laboratory Immunology, DMLI(ASCP).