Ruben, You do have valid questions and I guess the response depends on
how you see the future. Histotechs are a hot commodity and some labs
search for over a year to find one. In my experience, I have found
certification in no way guarantees a competent technician but is a
great, and necessary, starting point.
I see the future as getting brighter and brighter for histotechs,
both in pay and available schools. Many of these labs are starting to
raise the bar on salary to attract the small supply of qualified techs.
As pay goes up more schools will now find it profitable to supply the
demand. Also as pay goes up you will see more and more employers require
ASCP certification to validate their expense. I see us following the
med tech profession and see certification as a future requirement both
in state licensing and employer mandated. New York and Florida are good
examples of what licensing does to the field.
Maybe seeing someone that surrenders their certification as not
serious about the field is a false assumption but I have to admit it
would raise my eyebrows. I would scrutinize that applicant carefully and
probably choose a certified applicant over them.
The "pay to play" game is alive and well throughout medicine. I
can't think of another profession in medicine that doesn't hit you with
recurring licensing fees or continuing education requirements. I know
it doesn't seem fair that we older techs came in before the maintenance
part came along but ASCP had to start somewhere. Besides, we will all
die off before you know it and then everyone will be paying the fee.
Is it worth the money to maintain your certification? If you see the
future as I do then it is essential if you want to stay in this field.
If it lapses, how much would it cost both in money and effort to
re-certify?
The maintenance fee is a pittance compared to that.
Charles Embrey, PA(ASCP), HT(ASCP)
-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of R C
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 5:29 PM
To: Podawiltz, Thomas
Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] ASCP HT maintenance fees
Thanks for the many replies however my objective hasn't been addressed.
For the supervisors; My point is not to mislead and claim ASCP
certification
without having it. My question is to assist in rationalizing cost.
Disregarding a credible applicant who doesn't see the financial
investment
towards ASCP shouldn't be interpreted as not being serious about a
field.
That ideology promotes "pay to play." It's a direct question towards
ASCP
membership feedback and prejudice (pre-2004 certification).
As far as seriousness of the field, revert to my original objective
of understanding what my dues fund, what do I as a tech directly receive
in
return, and why are older tech's exempt?
The truth is many techs employed in clinical labs who do not have
certification receive comparable salaries to those histotechs who study
hard, pass the HT exam, and pay ASCP dues. Where is the justification in
that? How does JACHO feel about that?
I pose a credible question of fairness and return investment. Cash is
king
now and where I spend it is ever important.
On Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 12:06 PM, Podawiltz, Thomas
wrote:
> If you were certified in 2004 or after you need to turn in 36 credit
hours
> of continuing education in order to maintain your certification. You
do not
> need to be a member of ASCP to be certified, however you do get some
free CE
> hours with your membership. My certification was in 85, so yes, I am
one of
> the old farts that is exempt. However, I have stayed current with my
> education. even in the years that I did not practice Histology.
>
> As a supervisor, I would not look at a resume that had an expired
> certification. Right or wrong I would assume that, the applicant did
not
> take this field seriously enough by letting their certification lapse.
>
> Tom Podawiltz, HT (ASCP)
> Histology Section Head/Laboratory Safety Officer
> LRGHealthcare
> 603-524-3211 ext: 3220
> ________________________________________
> From: histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [
> histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Kimberly
Tuttle [
> ktuttle@umm.edu]
> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 2:08 PM
> To: R C; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] ASCP HT maintenance fees
>
> Really? I never pay to maintain HT certification. As far as I know
theres a
> ASCP membership fee, but you dont have to be a member to be certified.
Am I
> wrong here?
>
> Kimberly C. Tuttle HT (ASCP)
> Pathology Biorepository and Research Core
> University of Maryland
> Room NBW58, UMMC
> 22 S. Greene St
> Baltimore, MD 21201
> (410) 328-5524
> (410) 328-5508 fax
>
>
> >>> "R C" 11/3/2008 12:49 pm >>>
> Can someone assist me in rationalize the annual cost of maintining HT
> certification (roughly $100 annually) and its benefit? Point
accumulation
> is
> generally low for classes you must pay for, and those who obtained
> certification prior to 2004 are exempt. Should one not pay the annual
fee,
> certification is dropped Is this correct?). In that case, can one
advertise
> "HT" certification for future employment opportunities then, offer
full
> explanation (and expired certification) during interview and that be
> sufficient?
>
> What I generally receive from ASCP is an annual bill and a random
> newsletter
> from time to time. Furthermore, when a bill isn't paid on time,
> the termingology in the subsequent bills become similar to that of a
> collection agency. Frankly, I find this mailing submission as well as
state
> and national meetings more informative.
>
> Someone please clarify something I might be missing and any benefits
of the
> "pay out."
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