Guidelines for Earning Continuing Education (CE) Activities & Point Assignment

CMP CE Activities

This chart is to be used by all American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) credential holders (ASCP, ASCPi, and Qualifications)

**ACCME, ASCP CMLE, AACC, professional societies (including state, regional and ACCENT, ASCLS PACE, CE programs sponsored by other local societies and chapters, universities and colleges or continuing education courses sponsored by national or international professional societies). 

These courses may be completed through the programs/organizations listed above as well as through other professional societies. In addition, courses offered by organizations approved by state licensing boards are also acceptable. 

1 contact hour (50-60 minutes) = 1 CMP point* assigned

Audit^ Documentation: Certificate of Participation (including date of program, title of program, name of provider, name of participant, number of contact hours/CMLE assigned.

Structured programs, workshops, and in-services offered through your employer or sponsored by a vendor will all qualify for CMP credit. This does not include routine staff meetings or job orientation. Points or contact hours must be assigned by employer/vendor. 

1 contact hour (50-60 minutes) = 1 CMP point* Assigned

Audit^ Documentation: Letter on original letterhead signed and dated by employer or certificate of completion or signed attendance from vendor or employer (including date of program, title of program, name of provider, name of participant, number of contact hours/CMLE assigned.

Courses must be laboratory related. This includes science courses in the biological/chemical/medical sciences, computer management, or education relevant to your laboratory career.

CEs may not exceed 50% of the total number of CMP points required for your category. 

1 quarter hour = 10 CMP points* assigned
1 semester hour = 15 CMP points* assigned

Audit^Documentation: Official Academic Transcript/Mark Sheet. 

These activities are acceptable based on any of the following criteria:  

  1. ACCME, CMLE, ACCENT, PACE credits are awarded, OR  
  2. They are offered by a professional society (including state, regional or local chapter), OR  
  3. They are accepted by a state licensing board, OR 
  4. They are offered through a university or college

1 contact hour 50-60 minutes = 1 CMP point* assigned

Audit^ Documentation: Certificate of Participation (including date of program, title of program, name of provider, name of participant, number of contact hours/CMLE assigned.

Specialist/Diplomate = 20 CMP points* assigned

Scientist or Categorical = 15 CMP points* assigned

Qualification = 10 CMP points* assigned

View credential categories here

Audit^Documentation: Verified by CMP Evaluator in the ASCP Customer Record. 

These points may not be used to meet the CMP requirements in the category for which they were received. e.g., If 20 CMP points are earned for obtaining a Specialist in Microbiology - SM(ASCP) credential, these points may not be used to meet the CMP requirements for the SM(ASCP) credential.

Must complete the ASCP BOC Employer Assessment Form (pdf)

2 CMP points* assigned (max 4 points per CMP cycle)

Audit^ Documentation: Completed Employer Assessment Form (pdf) by your employer documenting continued competency in specified lab areas, signed and dated.

Points may be earned for teaching students during their clinical training rotation within the scope of an accredited laboratory educational program. 

50 contact hours of teaching = 1 CMP point* assigned (max 3 points per CMP cycle)

Audit^ Documentation: Completed  Clinical Teaching Documentation Form (pdf) completed by your employer documenting the name of the Academic Institution, dates of instruction and instructional areas covered, signed and dated.

You may receive 3 CMP points for each contact hour of a presentation or workshop you prepare and deliver, for the first time only, that is beyond the scope of your job. Subsequent presentations of the same workshop are not awarded points.  

Each contact hour of presentation (50-60 minutes) = 3 CMP points* assigned (not to exceed 50% of total CMP points required)

Audit^ Documentation: Copy of syllabus, program or letter from organization that indicates content, length of teaching time and name of the organization. 

Points are awarded for posters or exhibits presented at national, state, regional, or local laboratory professional association meetings. 

2 CMP points* assigned per poster (max 4 points per year)

Audit^ Documentation: Abstract identifying poster session, meeting program, or brochure identifying presentation. 

5 CMP points* assigned

Audit^ Documentation: Copy of publication with author’s name. 

Authoring a book = 20 CMP points* assigned
Authoring a chapter or equivalent (e.g., monograph, study guide) = 7 CMP points* assigned

Audit^ Documentation: Title page of publication and table of contents containing author’s name. 

Editing a book = 10 CMP points* assigned
Editing a chapter of a book = 4 CMP points* assigned

Audit^ Documentation: Copy of cover or inside page containing editor’s name. 

Reviewing a book = 5 CMP points* assigned
Reviewing a chapter = 2 CMP points* assigned
Reviewing an article = 1 CMP point* assigned

Audit^ Documentation: Letter on original letterhead signed and dated by editor verifying the request for review.

Dissertation must be focused on science, education, or management, or relevant to the laboratory field.

10 CMP points assigned*

Audit^ Documentation: Copy of publication with author’s name. 

Thesis must be focused on science, education, or management or relevant to the laboratory field.

4 CMP points assigned*

Audit^ Documentation: Copy of publication with author’s name. 

3 CMP points* assigned (per year)

Audit^ Documentation: Letter from ASCP BOC verifying participation, in what capacity and dates of service. 

Points are awarded for serving on committees or Boards of organizations related to the laboratory profession, or committee appointments at your place of employment. 

3 CMP points* assigned (per year)

Audit^ Documentation: Letter from organization verifying participation, in what capacity, and dates of service. 

ASCP – CAP, The Joint Commission, AABB, COLA state/government agency, or training program accreditation (NACCLS, ABHES, CAAHEP) 

ASCPi – CAP, The Joint Commission, AABB, COLA state/government agency, WHO, ISO, SANAS, UKAS, and other national / international accrediting bodies who are full members of ILAC 

3 CMP points* assigned (per year)

Audit^ Documentation: Letter from organization verifying your role as an inspector and the dates of inspection. 

*Activities must be related to the area of credential, laboratory safety, and medical ethics as outlined in the CMP category requirements.

**ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education), ASCP CMLE (American Society for Clinical Pathology–Continuing Medical Laboratory Education), AACC ACCENT (American Association for Clinical Chemistry–ACCENT programs), ASCLS PACE (American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science–PACE programs).

^To ensure the integrity of the Credential Maintenance Program (CMP), the ASCP BOC audits a percentage of CMP declarations. You will be notified if your submission is selected for audit. You will be requested to submit supporting documentation for all continuing education (CE) submitted on your CMP declaration. Review the CMP Audit Procedure for complete details.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the large volume of continuing education programs available, the ASCP BOC does not respond to requests for review or approval of individual programs or courses. If the program or course meets the criteria described above it will be accepted for CMP points. The program provider must assign points or contact hours.