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The ASCP BOC examination portfolio includes 29 certification and qualification examinations spanning the entire spectrum of specialties across laboratory medicine, pathology, and related domains, exemplifying the value of ASCP BOC credentials for laboratory professionals and other experts.
The ASCP BOC has 19 examination committees and work groups comprising a diverse group of leaders, including laboratory professionals, supervisors, educators, and pathologists from across the United States who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure effective examination development. These subject matter experts (SMEs) define the purpose and objectives of the examination, including the intended audience and skills and knowledge to be assessed.
To learn more and to volunteer for an examination committee or work group, visit Examination Committees & Work Groups.
ASCP BOC certification examinations are developed based on practice analysis survey findings. Surveys are conducted every 5 – 7 years and developed by examination committees with the guidance of the ASCP BOC team. They are sent to in-practice laboratory professionals to determine what tasks they complete as part of their professional roles and responsibilities. Practice analysis results provide the blueprints for examinations and ensure the examinations are relevant to current practice. To learn more and view the most recent practice analysis results, visit Practice Analysis Reports.
ASCP BOC examination committees use practice analysis survey results to inform each certification examination content guideline, which provides an overview of the main examination content areas along with a more detailed breakdown of what information is included in each content area. The content area percentages indicate the volume of questions from each main content area on the examination. Examination questions are administered to examinees according to content guideline percentages. Visit View all Credentials to see the current examination content guidelines.
ASCP BOC examination questions are written and assessed by the examination committee and work group SMEs. The SMEs review examination questions for accuracy and relevancy and provide a reference for each question. All SMEs are oriented to effective question writing and review in accordance with psychometric principles and best practices.
The ASCP BOC SMEs review examination questions both independently and through a collaborative review process guided by the ASCP BOC team. They discuss questions and identify optimal questions for each examination. The SMEs and the ASCP BOC team ensure that each question selected for an examination is accurate, relevant to current practice, demonstrates adequate statistical performance (as applicable), and exhibits accepted psychometric standards and question writing best practices.
The ASCP BOC uses a criterion-referenced methodology for standard setting across all examinations. In this methodology, all examinees are compared to the minimum passing standard (also referred to as a cut score) which is established through a process called standard setting. Examinees who score at or above the minimum passing standard pass the examination, and those who score below the minimum passing standard fail the examination. This approach ensures that a scientific method is employed so that a realistic passing standard is set for examinees to achieve success on the examination. Examinees are scored based on their performance on the examination questions. An examinee’s score does not depend on how other examinees perform on the examination.
The ASCP BOC employs the Objective Standard Setting (OSS) model and the Angoff method for standard settings. In both models, the SMEs discuss and conceptualize a candidate who possesses the basic skills, judgement, and knowledge to practice safely and effectively in the field. This process is overseen by a psychometrician, who orients the SMEs on rating examination questions and calculates their ratings to determine the pass point for the examination.
ASCP BOC certification examinations are administered at Pearson VUE testing centers. Qualification examinations are self-administered on the examinee's computer. For further details about examination administration, visit Schedule or Reschedule Your Examination
The ASCP BOC performs a Rasch analysis for all examination questions to ensure they are statistically effective and contribute to overall examination quality. Questions are monitored for their level of difficulty, differentiation, and displacement. The number and percentage of examinees choosing each answer option or distractor are reviewed to ensure each distractor is working effectively. During question review, SMEs use the question’s statistics to inform their decisions about whether questions should be added to an examination or may require revision.
The ASCP BOC team and SMEs perform ongoing review and maintenance of examinations, including reviewing the examination content guidelines and topic outlines, writing and assessing examination questions, reviewing the statistical performance of questions, and performing practice analyses and standard setting as needed.