[Histonet] FYI Regarding HT and HTL

[Walter Benton]

http://naaclsnews.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/proposed-change-to-htl-standards/

Proposed Change to 2012 HTL Standards: Request for Public Comment
In September 2012, the NAACLS Board of Directors approved new Standards for Accredited and Approved Programs.  It is projected that programs will begin to be reviewed under these Standards starting with those programs that will be submitting their self-studies on or after September 1st, 2014.
The 2012 Standards for Accredited Histotechnologist (HTL) programs necessitate that the program director (or education coordinator, when required) hold “ASCP-BOC certification as a Histotechnologist”.  This is a change from the previous HTL Standard for program directors (approved in 2004), which stated that the program director (or education coordinator, when required) must be “certified in Histotechnology”.   NAACLS’ interpretation and practice of the old standard allowed for those with HTL(ASCP) or HT(ASCP) certification to be the program director or education coordinator of an HTL program.
The NAACLS Board of Directors is requesting public comment for a proposed 2012 Standards change to 2012 HTL Standard 7A1B and 2012 HTL Standard 7B1B .  This change will allow both HTL(ASCP) and HT(ASCP) certifications to be acceptable for program directors and education coordinators of NAACLS Accredited HTL programs, as recommended by the Review Committee for Accredited Programs.  This period of public comment has been made available for thirty (30) days.

The current 2012 HTL Standard 7A1B reads as follows:
“…holds ASCP-BOC U.S. certification as a Histotechnologist. Program Directors who have been approved as a program director of a NAACLS accredited HTL program prior to October 1, 2013 remain eligible as a program director. If the program director does not hold ASCP-BOC U.S. certification as a Histotechnologist, a qualified professional who does hold ASCP-BOC U.S. certification as a Histotechnologist must hold appointment as education coordinator.”
The proposed change to 2012 HTL Standard 7A1B reads as follows:
“…holds ASCP-BOC U.S. certification as a Histotechnologist or Histotechnician. Program Directors who have been approved as a program director of a NAACLS accredited HTL program prior to October 1, 2013 remain eligible as a program director. If the program director does not hold ASCP-BOC U.S. certification as a Histotechnologist or Histotechnician, a qualified professional who does hold ASCP-BOC U.S. certification as a Histotechnologist or Histotechnician must hold appointment as education coordinator.”
The current 2012 HTL Standard 7B1B reads as follows:
“…holds ASCP-BOC U.S. certification as a Histotechnologist.”
The proposed change to 2012 HTL Standard 7B1B reads as follows:
“…holds ASCP-BOC U.S. certification as a Histotechnologist or Histotechnician.”

This request for public comment has been placed on the NAACLS website, and comments may be sent via letter to the NAACLS office, or by email to erotchford <@t> naacls.org<mailto:erotchford <@t> naacls.org>.  Due to the informal nature of LISTSERV communications, comments or discussion posted on the CLS Educators LISTSERV will not be presented to or considered by the NAACLS Board of Directors.  All comments must be received by June 3, 2013.  The comments will then be reviewed and brought before the Board of Directors at the September 2013 Board Meeting.
Edward Rotchford, Accreditation Specialist
Walter Benton HT(ASCP)QIHC
Histology Supervisor
Chesapeake Urology Associates
806 Landmark Drive, Suite 127
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
443-471-5850 (Direct)
410-768-5961 (Lab)
410-768-5965 (Fax)
wbenton <@t> cua.md<mailto:wbenton <@t> cua.md>


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