[Histonet] Unregistered techs

Wed May 30 05:51:07 CDT 2012

You've misunderstood. No one has said anything about test at a school. At least I haven't
 My response at least was referring to those who sat for state exams and then a comparison to the now ASCP exam route. There's a huge difference in what older techs got than what newer ones are getting and anyone who says different. Well I just don't buy it
This whole conversation was about why are we not raising the bar. My point was the way it is now has not raised the bar. There is no way to address this topic here without offending some. Which was never my intentions. I tried my best to explain the routes techs take these days compared to the routes way back. And if everyone here thinks that having a bunch of Internet programs where you don't have the other courses and no face time and the focus is to pass a exam then don't get upset. When respect isn't given. I think I've said more than my fairshare on this. I'll just spend the rest of my day pulling the knives from my back. Good luck to all. 

Sent from my iPhone

On May 29, 2012, at 8:08 PM, "Fimbres, Amber" <afimbres <@t> uci.edu> wrote:

> I hope I've misunderstood but I want to clarify that the ASCP computer exam for technicians and technologists is NOT inferior to those that "sat" for an exam at their local medical school.
> 
> "Chances for cheating were eliminated at every turn."  This still holds true for the ASCP computer exam as well.  I'm not sure if you're familiar with the process, but one has to bring a state issued picture ID (or equivalent) which has to match the name exactly to the exam application (no ifs, ands, or buts).  Then, they ask you to turn out all your pockets and if you have anything on you (including keys) it goes into a locker.  Then they fingerprint you and tell you that as you are taking the exam, you will be videotaped AND recorded while you sit there.  If you leave to use the restroom, that whole procedure is repeated.
> 
> Please do not assume that sitting for the exam back in the day is somehow superior to those that take the computer exams nowadays.  We ALL worked hard studying for those exams and we should be united in our stance that HT/HTL certification is important to all of us.
> 
> Stepping off the soap box now,
> 
> Amber M. Fimbres, MHA CT(ASCP)HTL
> Proudly took her HT, HTL, and CT using the ASCP BOR computer exam
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dorothy Ragland-Glass [mailto:techmana12 <@t> yahoo.com]
> Sent: Monday, May 28, 2012 10:15 PM
> To: David Kemler; Fellow HistoNetters
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Unregistered techs
> 
> Dorothy R. Glass, BS,HTL(ASCP),IHC
>   You are so right about  the good old days when you would prove who you were and sit for a paper not computer exam at a medical school close to you. I sat for the HTL in 1988. I was so proud to call myself a Histologist after being trained at a School of Histotechnology and being ASCP certified. NOW you have people on the job trained just referring to themselves casually as histotects. Not histo trainees. Unfortunate for us older techs, it is very offensive considering what we went through in establishing a career not just a job. Some reference labs is focusing on hiring aids to later, after a few months train them and refer to them as histotechs. I hate it when the term is used so freely.
> Sinserely, frustrated HTL
> 
> 
> David Kemler <histotalk <@t> yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
>> Good stuff. In the "old" days, 36 years ago for me, taking the HT(ASCP) exam it was said that you were "registered" by the ASCP, because the designation HT is given by the Board of Registry of the ASCP. Many of the NEW folks use the word "certified". After a total of 39 years (3 years was training before you were eligible) I still only use registered by the ASCP / Licensed by the State of Florida and call myself a "histologist".
>> 
>> In those days ( long before the Internet), you took your ASCP exam
>> (HT's, MT's, CT's, BT's, MLT's) at specially selected medical schools across the US. You chose the one giving the exam which was closest to where you lived. If you needed to drive 100 miles or further to get to the examining college on March 15 OR August 15th, (the only dates it was given) that's what you did. Getting into the exam auditorium before you were allowed to "sit" (that's what it was called) for the exam, was a challenge. You had to prove that you were who you said you were or you were not getting in. Once those guarded doors were closed - they were CLOSED! I saw several folks crying outside the auditorium that day n 1975. Chances for cheating were eliminated at every turn. Unfortunately, not so today. So you can see why for us older techs, if you were HT(ASCP) it really meant something. Unfortunately, not so today.
>> 
>> Yours,
>> Dave
>> Histonetters,
>> 
>> I see this subject tends to illicit strong sentiments from
>> professionals who are impacted or have an impact on HT/HTL's (sort of
>> everyone on the net)?.
>> 
>> I am still in school, but I want to fully understand how training,
>> certification, and registration work for HT/HTL's.  I realize that ASCP
>> certification is voluntary, and that some States require some sort of
>> license or certification, but I've never heard of a "Registry"
>> for HT/HTL's.
>> 
>> -The way I understand through what I've been taught at school is that
>> Histology is the study of tissue, And that...
>> 
>> -To study tissue there is another science that prepares specimens so
>> they can be studied. And that...
>> 
>> -There is a final sequence "Quality Control" that verifies the science
>> that prpares specimens is properly done so the tissue can be studied.
>> And that...
>> 
>> In order for this all to happen successfully and consistently, the
>> HT/HTL's make sure that during the whole preparation process, safety is
>> observed, proper adherence to federal and state regulations maintained,
>> plus train other technicians to do the same, and much more.
>> 
>> If I understood it all correctly I can't help but wonder:
>> 
>> If HT/HTL's do all of this crucial preparation work to make sure
>> specimens are acceptable for precise microscopic identification of
>> cells, tissue type, diagnosis of disease, and other needs:
>> 
>> "Why wouldn't we want to have some method that can gage a set of basic
>> skills to indicate a level of competency that HT/HTL's should initially
>> have, in order to enter the field of work that can effect so many
>> people either directly or indirectly?"
>> 
>> And also... "Wouldn't having NAACLS accredited training and ASCP
>> Certifications serve to gage those basic skills?"
>> 
>> And also... "Would gaging basic skills have a positive impact on the
>> quality of patient care and the efficiency of the HT/HTL's impact on
>> labs?"
>> 
>> I'm not sure but...this fall... when I complete my NAACLS accredited
>> degree program, and voluntarily take the ASCP HTL certification exam,
>> my future employer will be able to expect a certain level of competency
>> that I hope to have established through training and certification.
>> 
>> Rick T.
>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ________________________________
>> 
>> From: Rick Tiefenauer <gonavy2003 <@t> gmail.com>
>> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>> Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2012 12:52 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Unregistered techs
>> 
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