The Benefits of Stacking Credentials 

Stacking credentials showcases your commitment to excellence and deepens your expertise in medical laboratory science. It sets you apart from your peers while unlocking expanded career opportunities and advancement potential. 

“The ASCP BOC does a great job of ensuring that different BOC credentials are available for people to continue advancing their expertise. You’re not just taking one exam—you can continue to grow, just as the field grows.”

Brittany J. Bell, MS, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CMMBCM

Why Stack Credentials? 

  • Demonstrate Expertise: Showcase your advanced knowledge and skills in multiple areas of laboratory medicine, reinforcing your value as a professional. 
  • Enhance Career Opportunities: Stacking credentials allows you to qualify for higher-level roles, leadership positions, and specialized job opportunities in various healthcare settings. 
  • Increase Earning Potential: Professionals with multiple certifications are often more competitive in the job market and can command higher salaries due to their expanded expertise. 
  • Foster Career Longevity: With multiple certifications, you can diversify your skills and adapt to changes in the industry, ensuring long-term career sustainability. 

Real Impact: Stacked Credentials Drive Better Outcomes 

Research-backed Benefits 

A recent ASCP BOC study confirms that stacking credentials helps facilitate career advancement, increased compensation, and expanded responsibilities. For example, MLT(ASCP) credential holders who earn additional credentials, such as MLS(ASCP), experience higher wages and mobility into supervisory and specialized roles. Studies also show that each additional credential increases the odds of career advancement by an average of 70% (Chiou & Jia, 2022). 

Credential stacking not only benefits individual professionals but also addresses workforce shortages, improves retention, and ensures the laboratory workforce remains highly skilled and patient-centered. 

Learn More from a Stacked Credential Holder 

Want to hear firsthand how stacking credentials impacts real careers?  Read Brittany J. Bell’s, MS, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CMMBCM, full interview about stacking credentials and career growth in the November 2024 BOC Newsletter (pdf). 

Brittany Bell

“Stacked credentials show your commitment and passion for this field. They highlight that you’re an expert in multiple areas, which is critical in today’s complex laboratory environment. The ASCP BOC does a great job of ensuring that different BOC credentials are available for people to continue advancing their expertise. You’re not just taking one exam—you can continue to grow, just as the field grows.”

Brittany J. Bell, MS, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CMMBCM

Vice President, NeoGenomics Laboratories 

Examples of Stacked Credentials 

MLS(ASCP)CM + MB(ASCP)CM

Combine general laboratory science with molecular biology. 

HTL(ASCP)CM + QIHC(ASCP)CM

Pair histotechnology with immunohistochemistry for specialized diagnostic roles. 

PBT(ASCP)CM + DPT(ASCP)CM

Advance from phlebotomy to specialist roles in point-of-care testing. 

Get Started 

Start your journey toward professional excellence today! 

Explore ASCP BOC credentials to begin stacking credentials that will transform your career in laboratory medicine.