Or you could do what I did and take both of those exams at THE SAME
time.  Sure you double the workload by doing 2 practicals, but you save
yourself the misery of running around twice BEGGING for tissue.


By the way, I passed both exams and went on to get the QIHC the
following exam period.  Guess I was on a roll to add the alphabet after
my name.


Margaret Gondo, BS, HT(ASCP)/HTL, QIHC



Lee & Peggy Wenk wrote:
>
> This is Peggy Wenk. I teach both HT and HTL students.
>
> The differences between the HT and the HTL exam are:
>
> 1. HTL have more troubleshooting and problem solving
> questions - what went wrong, what would you do differently
> next time, how could you save this slide when you goofed?
>
> 2. HTL have questions on management and education
> methodology, while HT does not.
>
> 3. HTL have questions on immuno staining, while HT
> does not.
>
> 4. HTL have questions on glycol methacrylate and
> EM sectioning and staining, while HT does not.
>
> 5. HTL have more questions on chemistry of the
> stains. HT does have some questions, just not
> as many.
>
> 6. HTL have more questions about diseases. HT
> does too, but not as many (what stain would you
> use to stain for XXXX disease or YYY microorganism).
>
> 7. HTL have more questions on tissue identification.
> HT does too, just not as many.
>
> 8. HTL will have questions on not as commonly used
> procedures.
>
> 9. HTL practical asks for larger pieces of tissue,
> often at thinner sections, both of which is
> harder to do than the small, thicker HT practical.
>
> 10. HTL practical asks for "trickier" stains -
> more judgment involved, more checking with the
> microscope, more areas for error.
>
> I did a survey about 5 years ago. The top scorer
> on the HT exams for the previous 10 cycles (5 years)
> averaged 130-140 points higher than the highest
> scorer on the HTL exam. And remember, at that time,
> the majority of HT candidates were high school
> diploma route with no biology or chemistry requirements,
> while the HTL all had BA/BS degrees, with 20 credits
> in biology and chemistry. I just repeated this again
> for the last 5 years, and the results are nearly
> the same.
>
> This seemed to indicate to me that the HTL exam was
> that much harder than the HT exam, since the top
> HTL people scored on average 130 points lower than
> the top HT candidate who didn't have the biology/
> chemistry background.
>
> No, you do NOT have to take the technician exam
> before you take the technologist exam. So, there
> are a couple of options, as I see it:
>
> A. Study really hard in all areas, and take just
> the HTL exam only. (Realize that only 50% of the
> candidates will pass the HTL exam.)
>
> B. Study hard in all areas, and take the HT exam,
> to get the practice, get experience, and get some
> sort of certification, and then study some more
> and take the HTL exam.
>
> (For the HT exam, 40% of candidates with the
> high school diploma will pass, 60-65% of candidates
> with the associate degree (or higher) will pass,
> while 70-75% of the graduates from NAACLS-accredited
> HT programs will pass.)
>
> C. Study hard in all areas, and take the HT exam,
> and then be satisfied with the HT certification and
> never go for the HTL, since you never want to
> take a certification exam again.
>
> I've known people who have done all three. What
> should you do? It depends upon:
>
> - the number and types of procedures you have been
> exposed to in the past and the future, to prepare
> you for the exam.
>
> - how much you are willing to study, how many books
> you can get your hands on
>
> - how much people at work are willing to help you.
>
> - realizing that the exam is about techniques on
> human tissue, how much help can you get looking at
> human tissue and human stains
>
> Hope this is of help.
>
> Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)
> William Beaumont Hospital
> Royal Oak, MI 48073
>
> Tracy Bergeron, TBergeron@criver.com wrote:
> >
> > Hi folks,
> >
> >      I am currently looking into getting certified in histology.  From what
> > I have read on the NSH and ASCP websites I fall into the HTL category (have
> > a B.S. and have been doing histo off and on for the past 6 yrs in vet diag.
> > labs and now in industry).   But..  I was wondering from those of you who
> > have taken these exams what are the major differences between the two.
> > Would it be better to do the HT and then  go for the HTL?   According to
> > the information I have it is not necessarily a stepwise process, what have
> > peoples experiences been??
> >      Also and suggested reading material, or input on the material the ASCP
> > recommends  would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Tracy E. Bergeron
> > Histologist
> > Charles River Laboratories
> > Wilmington, MA
> > 978-658-6000
> > x-1229