[Histonet] ASCP - lots of questions!!!

[Ford Royer]

I have been out of the laboratory for some time (well actually... a very 
LONG time), so please be patient and understanding.  Am I to understand 
from Pearl's missive that the ASCP is requiring CEUs in order to "renew" 
your Registry??  For the sake of clarity here, when you say "Registry" 
are you talking about the Big Test that the ASCP proctors and, if you 
pass it, then you are "Registered" as an ASCP -- HT/HLT/CT/MLA/MT/etc.?  
If this what is being discussed, then why is the ASCP requiring that you 
to maintain CEUs in order to "renew" your Registry?  This was a big 
issue with Med Techs in the late 60's and 70's.  In order to keep your 
"Registry" with ASCP, we had to send in our annual membership dues and 
receive a (not to attractive) "postage stamp" that we affixed to our 
Registry Certificate.  (Anyone out there remember those little 
stamps??).  If we did not send in our annual dues, we would be dropped 
from "The Registry".  Then some one got wise and said "Wait a minute!".  
By taking and passing the ASCP Registry Exam, we had proven that we had 
reached a certain level of competence that is represented by the 
Certificate that was awarded to us by the certifying body (i.e. ASCP).  
It is no different than meeting all the requirements that are necessary 
to receive a college degree.  To prove that you had met all of the 
requirements you, were awarded a Diploma that stated this fact from the 
College or University that set up this accreditation. But no one was 
required to send in annual dues to that College or University in order 
to keep that Diploma alive.  Once you had it, ...you had it!  It could 
not be taken away.  The Med Tech Society took the ASCP to task over this 
and they dropped the annual "renewal dues" requirement. 

Now, however, depending on where we worked and how our lab was 
accredited, we WERE required to maintain CEUs in order to keep a license 
or an accreditation.  But CEUs were not required to maintain our 
"Registry", for reasons already mentioned. 

Am I reading this thread correctly, or am I way out in space again?

~ Ford

Ford M. Royer, MT(ASCP)
Midwest Science & Biocenter
Minneapolis, MN
(800) 745-4869
Gervaip <@t> aol.com wrote:

>>From what I read, those newly registered will be required to have CEUs in  
>order to renew their registry with the ASCP.   I have not ready  anything that 
>is going to require those that have been registered to acquire  CEUs.  I have 
>thought that eventually we will all be required to have the  CEUs  in order to 
>renew membership.  Why did the ASCP not do  that?  
> 
>    I think it is a good idea.   But what  will happen if one does not renew 
>their registry?  What kind of regulations  are going to require that the 
>histologists renew their membership?    How are they going to enforce this?  And if 
>it turns out that this will be  required of all of us ...  what is to keep 
>labs from hiring  unregistered (unrenewed membership).  Is this really going to 
>amount to  anymore then a pile of beans?  It would be nice if it did.  
>    As it is, there are some pathologists that feel a  monkey can crank that 
>microtome.   No respect for our  professions.  This is really a true 
>statement.  Here in the state of  Louisiana when Licensure came up for medical 
>professionals, we were not  included.   Intentionally not included.  Not just an  
>oversight.  Manicurist and hair dressers here are licensed, but not the  
>histotechnologist!  
>And some of this disrespect has been earned! It has taken so long for  us to 
>accept the fact that we need college.  How many of us out there can  say that 
>we have kept up with new technology in our field?  If you are a  member of 
>this histonet server and an NSH member you most likely have taken  those giant 
>steps forward.  Think of all the folks you know in histology  that think they 
>know it all and yet you would not want them in your lab!   Maybe if we do this 
>and bit that bullet,  get our  education (four years of college) and CEUs CLIA 
>might recognize us!   CLIA might just realize that we are a professional group 
>that can do  "complicated" tests, such as flow, fish and probes.  If they 
>knew how  complicated immunohistochemistry is, they just might take that away 
>from us  too!  If they knew that we are the professionals that make that final  
>diagnosis they might not let us work in the lab!   They can do all the  blood 
>work and do all kinds of tests....   but they still need  us!   
>    My apologies,if I have offended anyone.    My cage just got rattled and I 
>just can't be quiet anymore.
> 
>Pearl,  from Louisiana
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