Specialist in Cytometry Exam
As of October 1, 2017, the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) began offering a Specialist Certification in Cytometry. Prior to that the only other professional Cytometry certifications available were the “Qualification in Cytometry” (QCYM) offered by the ASCP and the Certification in Cytometry (CCy) created as a joint effort between ICCS and ISAC that was overseen and administered by a committee referred to as the Cytometry Administration Committee (CAC) . Both certifications shared common goals of demonstrating expertise in the field of flow cytometry and both required a certain amount of education and experience to be eligible to sit for an exam. Upon successful completion of the exam a credential was then awarded to the individual. In 2016 the CAC and ASCP held meetings to discuss the possibility of creating a new credential that would be overseen by the ASCP and it eventually became the Specialist in Cytometry, SCYM. The requirements for eligibility and the exam itself would include more education and experience and the content of the exam would include questions about both clinical and research applications. Ongoing requirements for maintaining the credential would be completing 36 or more hours of approved continuing education (CE) over 3 years.
Specific information about the Specialist program and the Certification Exam Process as well as requirements for taking the SCYM exam can be found by following this link and then choosing either US Certifications or International Certifications and then SCYM:
https://www.ascp.org/content/board-of-certification/get-credentialed
Fast Facts ASCP Specialist in Flow Cytometry (SYCM):
Exam-Fast-Facts.pdf
If you have questions regarding exam eligibility, application or credential maintenance please call the BOC. Contact details in the following link:
ASCP-Exam-Contact-Details.pdf
So now you have the Specialty. What is required to maintain and renew it? The ASCP has a credential maintenance program (CMP) that for a small fee allows individuals to manage and upload their CE’s directly via website. Information about how to enroll in the CMP can be found here:
https://www.ascp.org/content/learning/cmp-resources
There are several different ways to get CE hours from attending workshops, teleconferences, subscription, or on-line courses, writing journal articles or authoring a text book, being a CAP inspector, serving on a professional committee, taking college semester classes, presenting a poster or a presentation at a professional meeting, documented safety training, employer competency assessments, attending instrument training classes, and completing advanced certification or qualification. The entire list can be found using this link:
https://www.ascp.org/content/docs/default-source/boc-pdfs/boc-stay-credentialed-general-cmp-pdfs/boc_cmp_us.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Once you’ve logged in, you can then upload transcripts or enter activities and credit hours. The CMP keeps up with all entries so that a running total along with a list of each activity is tracked and documented. When you renew your certification the CE’s will now be automatically applied to the requirement.