Certification Maintenance Program (CMP)

How does it work?

Upon successful completion of certification, a time-limited certificate will be issued along with a packet of information for completion of the Certification Maintenance Program. This program requires that newly certified Histotechnicians and Histotechnologists obtain 36 points of documented continued competency every three years. Upon successful completion of the Certification Maintenance Program, the certificant will be permitted to use the initials “CM” for “Certification Maintained” in superscript as part of their certification designation.
For example, a Histotechnician who successfully finished the program will have the designation HT(ASCP)CM after their name.

Step One: Review the CMP information booklet (PDF).

Step Two: Complete the continuing competence activities that are required for your certification category and accumulate and save documentation for these activities during the three-year period following certification/recertification. This documentation will only be required if your Declaration Form is selected for audit. You may receive up to 2 points per year (max of 2yrs/4pts) by submitting an Employer Assessment Form (PDF).

Step Three: One month before the ending validation date on your certificate, complete and sign the CMP Declaration Form (PDF) and mail it to ASCP Board of Certification, 3335 Eagle Way, Chicago, IL 60678-1033 with the $75 CMP fee or complete the online CMP declaration process and pay by credit card. DO NOT INCLUDE any documentation of your continuing competence activities with your CMP Declaration Form. This documentation will only be required if your Declaration Form is selected for auditing purposes.

Expired Certification: If your certification has expired, please submit your completed and signed declaration form with the current CMP application fee.

Step Four: If you receive notification that your Declaration Form is being audited, submit copies of your certificates of completion and any other documentation at that time.

Step Five: Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a new wall certificate valid for three years.  The designation “CM”, as a superscript, is required after your certification initials to indicate that you have successfully maintained your certification [e.g., MLS(ASCP)CM]

The above information is from the ASCP website  please visit their site for complete information. You can find Frequently Asked Questions on ascp.org at: http://www.ascp.org/Board-of-Certification/FAQs/FAQs-about-CMP.html

CMP Frequently Asked Questions

From the Winter 2005 Issue of NSH InAction

By Marilyn Gamble, HTL(ASCP), NSH Representative to the ASCP Board of Certification

Q: I recently became ASCP certified and am beginning to obtain points toward the CMP. Although my certification expires in 2007, shall I send in exams, certificates as I accumulate them or do I wait until I have all of my points and send them in at that time?
A: Please do not send any documentation to the ASCP Board of Certification for the CMP program until it is requested from you. To apply, you only need to submit the completed and signed declaration and fee. Documentation of the required points will be requested only if you are chosen to be audited.

Q: I'm not required to participate in the CMP program because I received my ASCP certification prior to January 2004; however, I plan to participate. For the past ten years, I have actively been involved in continuing education courses and teleconferences. What years of my activities will be accepted and what date shall I begin to apply for the CMP?
A: You may apply for the CMP program by submitting your declaration form. If you apply in March 2005, points would be awarded for any activities completed March 2002 through March 2005.

Q: Are courses in Canada and other countries outside of the U.S. accepted for the CMP program?
A: We will accept courses approved by the Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS). Coursework taken outside of the U.S. or Canada that does not meet the criteria as defined is not acceptable.

Q: I've been certified for years with the ASCP; will I be required to participate in the Certification Maintenance Program? The newsletter I received indicated this will be required starting in January 2004.
A: The Certification Maintenance Program will only be required for individuals who are newly certified in 2004 and beyond. The Certification Maintenace Program is also available to individuals certified prior to 2004 on a voluntary basis.

Q: Please provide some clarification regarding the Certification Maintenance Program, ASCP membership, certification, and registration. Please explain the difference between certification,
registration and ASCP membership? There seems to be some confusion and perhaps a misperception that the CMP will be used to ensure ASCP membership.
A: Certification by the ASCP Board of Certification requires completion of the eligibility requirements and successful completion of the appropriate certification examination. Previously, certification did not have an expiration date. Individuals who become certified in 2004 and beyond will be required to maintain their certification through the Certification Maintenance Program (CMP) every three years. ASCP membership is voluntary. ASCP offers two categories of membership (Registrant and Associate) for non-physician Board of Certification certified individuals. Certification and maintenance of certification are not contingent upon membership
in ASCP.

Q: If one becomes certified in 2004 but fails to complete or participate in the Certification Maintenance Program, what happens? Will ASCP certification be revoked?
A: Certifications issued effective 2004 will be valid for a three year period. If someone who is newly certified in 2004 or beyond fails to participate, their certification will no longer be valid after the certification validation date indicated on their certificate.

Q: Has the fee structure for the CMP been established?
A: The fee for the CMP program is 50 dollars. This fee is subject to change without notice.

Q: Will individuals be allowed to start the program before the assigned date?
A: Points accumulated toward meeting the CMP must be obtained
between the years of certification validation; i.e. if the certification validation period is January 2004 through January 2007, all points must be completed within this validation
period of January 2004 to January 2007. Thus, any points obtained before or after your certification validation period will not be acceptable and cannot be carried over to a later period.

Q: As a Laboratory Supervisor, I verify over the telephone the certification of my staff. Currently, I am provided with their certification category and year of certification. What can I expect in terms of certification verification status for those who do not comply with the CMP who were certified after 2004?
A: Our staff will verify certification category and the certification validation period.

Q: Will ASCP provide a list of professional education agencies where individuals may acquire continuing education?
A: The Board of Registry currently has a partial list of agencies and will continue to update this list. Each individual will be responsible for locating the agencies that will meet the activity requirements. Due to the large volume of continuing education programs, we will not be able to accommodate any requests for individual program approval.

CMP Guidelines explain how points are awarded. These guidelines can be found on ASCP's website at www.ascp.org.