Fw: [Histonet] ASCP testing

[Jennifer MacDonald]

The ASCP has not made the exam more difficult.  In the last two years 
there has been a record number of people attempting to take the exam to 
get in before the high school education/2 years experience was eliminated. 
 Many of the people that took the exam and were not successful were not 
prepared.  The ASCP is establishing standards of knowledge for 
histotechnicians.  Feedback and decisions are made by a large number of 
people, many of whom are not employees of the ASCP, but 
Histotechnicians/Histotechnologists working in the field.  We want to be 
taken seriously as professionals so we need standards to prove this.  I 
personally don't feel that by requiring a degree or certificate to become 
a Histotechnician will cause a much greater shortage of HTs.  There are 
many people that are now considering this a career, not just a job. 
The ASCP has a study guide available for the HT exam.  The NSH has 
self-examination booklets.  The ASCP also provides a list of study 
materials that would benefit an applicant, yet when I have spoken to 
people that were not successful on the exam many barely studied and others 
attempted the exam with the thought that since they have been working in a 
histology lab they know all there is to know.  The ASCP is not the reason 
for the high failure rate.
Also  to the person who felt that they know all there is to know about 
fixation - unless you scored 999 on the fixation portion of the ASCP exam 
you still have more to learn.
 
Jennifer MacDonald
-----histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu wrote: -----

To: histonet <@t> pathology.swmed.edu
From: "Deltour, Douglas D. (HM2)" <DDDeltour <@t> mar.med.navy.mil>
Sent by: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Date: 03/02/2005 05:44AM
Subject: [Histonet] ASCP testing

What is alarming to me is that the last exam had a 75% failure 
percentage(so
I was told). Why was there a sudden need for ASCP to make the exam harder
then what it used to be (pre-2001-2002)? Is it the almighty dollar? With 
the
new standard in play needing an Associate Degree to be eligible, how will 
it
effect the shortage of "ASCP  eligible" techs? I see many going back to
school or techs being hired just for ASCP title, not experience. Will this
force employers to change there hiring standards or will it be harder to
find a ASCP eligible tech to fill a position? For the record I sent my
blocks in in 2000 so I have until the end of the year to pass the test. It
is kind of discouraging when everyone around you is failing this test 2-3
times. Do I make sense here are am I way off?? As usual :)

DOUGLAS D. DELTOUR
HISTOLOGY TECHNICIAN
NMC PORTSMOUTH VA


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