Career Development |
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What is the benefit of professional certification? |
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CAREER DEVELOPMENT
What is the benefit of professional certification?
In the medical laboratory sciences, professional certification facilitiates employment and advancement. Here's how:
In many health related occupations, professional credentials (also known as certifications) are required for employment, usually by state government licensing. In the medical laboratory sciences, licensing is not required in most states (including Michigan), so professional credentials are optional. However, those individuals who gain the professional credential have demonstrated that they are competent to function within their field and so, employers prefer to hire credentialed individuals. In fact, with the laboratory professions, some hospitals and related facilities choose to hire only certified individuals. further, being certified can facilitate advancement opportunities. Students who want to work in hospital laboratories after graduation should seriously consider becoming certified.
How to become certified as a generalist in laboratory science:
Baccalaureate graduates typically pursue certification as a generalist. Generalist certification encompasses all the major areas of the laboratory (i.e. hematology, microbiology, chemistry, etc) and qualifies individuals for entry jobs in most laboratories.
Categorical, Specialized, and Advanced Professional Credentials
The clinical laboratory profession recognizes specialized knowledge with categorical and advanced professional credentials. Thesee are analogous to the generalist certification at the baccalaureate level [e.g. CLS(NCA) or MT(ASCP)], but focus on one discipline in the clinical laboratory such as hematology or clinical chemistry.
Most certifying bodies provide categorical credentials for baccalaureate graduates. This categorical certification is equivalent in level to the protion of the generalist certification in that discipline. For example, the categorical certification examination in microbiology is equivalent to the mcirboilogy protion of the MT/CLS generalist examination. Individuals with categorical certificates would compete for jobs with baccalaureate individuals certied as generalists, but would be expected to work only in the discipline in which they are certified.
In addition, certifying agencies may recognize advanced expertise with specialist and advanced professional credentials. These typically require additional educaion (master's or doctoral degree) and/or extended work experience. Therefore, advanced credentials are earned after the baccalaureate program. Earning an advanced credential may facilitate job advancement.
The certification organizations that offer specialized credentials are listed here with the credentials they offer. Contact the organizations directly for more information on qualifications and examination details.
National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA)
Categorical credentials are offered in:
Advanced Credentials include:
For further information, please visit National Credentialing Agency (NCA). CLICK HERE to go to NCA website.
Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP)
Technician Certification include:
Technologist Certification include:
For further information, please visit American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) CLICK HERE to go to ASCP website.
National Registry of Certified Chemists (NRCC)
Categorical credentials include:
For further information, please visit National Registry of Certified Chemists (NRCC). CLICK HERE to go to NRCC website.
American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC)
Advanced Credentials include:
For further information please visit the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC) at their website. CLICK HERE
American College of Microbiology/American Society for Microbiology
Categorical credentials include:
Advanced credentials include:
For further information, please visit the American Society for Microbiology's website. CLICK HERE
American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB)
Categorical credentials include:
For further information, please visit the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB) website. CLICK HERE
Clinical Laboratory and Analytical Sciences (CLAS)
Categorical credentials include:
To visit the Clinical Laboratory and Analytical Sciences' website CLICK HERE!
In the medical laboratory sciences, achieving certification includes 3 steps: basic education, (e.g. bachelor's degree), professional practicum (either as part of the bachelor's degree or afterwards or work experience), and successful completion of a national certification examination. In order to be eligible for the examinatino at the Medical Technologist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist level, you must possess a bachelor's degree and either have work experience or have completed a professional practicum accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clincial Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). MSU's Clincal Laboratory Science major is NAACLS accredited and graduates are eligible for national certification. Graduates of the Medical Technology major can complete NAACLS-accredited programs at hospitals in Michigan or out-of-state and are then eligible for certification.
Certifying Agencies for Generalist Laboratory Professionals
There are a variety of agencies that offer generalist certification for baccalaureate laboratory professionals.
Most MSU graduates choose to be certified by NCA or ASCP. MSU CLS graduates or MT graduates who complete a post-graduation NAACLS-accredited program are eligible for either the Clinical Laboratory Scienctist (CLS) certification from NCA or the Medical Technologist (MT) certification from ASCP. These are equivalent credentials and graduates of both majors are eligible for both credentials. Once individuals earn certification they may use the letters CLS or MT(ASCP) after their name, as the BLD program faculty.
Professional Practicum Experiences
Completion of an accredited clinical practicum is one of the requirements to sit for national certifying exams. As mentioned above under the benefits of earning provessional certification, accredited programs meet standards set by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and are offered by hospitals and other clinical laboratories throught the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the Canal Zone. The process for securing a clinical practicum experience will vary depending on whether the experience is completed in Michigan or out-of-state. In the following section you will find a table which will include information about clinical education programs and how to apply, including those for toher laboratory-related professions such as nuclear medicine technologist (NM), cytotechnologist (CT), histotechnologist (HTL), and categoricals such as clinical chemist and clinical microbiologist.
Quick Facts about Clinical Education Programs:
| Questions/Comments | Answers | ||
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| What is clinical education program like? | The clinical education program provides a comprehensive course of study designed to prepare individuals for a career in the clinical laboratory sciences and national certification. The programs include both didactic and practical components. These programs are designed to accept individuals who may have only three years of college background an for whom the clinical experience is the fourth year of their baccalaureate program. Therefore, the educational program includes lectures comparable to MSU courses in hematology, clinical chemistry, clincial microbiology, etc. This repetition of content helps to cement learning for MSU graduates. (Students wishing to avoid this repetition should consider the MSU Clinical Laboratory Science Major. The majority of time during the clinical experience is spent in structured laboratory experiences in the various departments of the laboratories. Students may participate in enrichment opportunities in cytology, histology, nuclear medicine, toxicology, forensic pathology and others depending on the availability of these services and units in a particular hospital. Students are expected to do homework assignments, take tests, write papers, and do research projects, in addition to learning the skills in the laboratory. Students typically spend 40 hours a week in the laboratory with additional time needed for study and homework.
Please see an advisor if you have any further questions regarding clinical education programs. |
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| How does one assess education quality of clinical education programs? | Programs accredited by the National Certification Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science are, by definition, high quality programs. They each will have strengths in dfferent areas. The following is a list of features that contribute to program quality. You can inquire about the following when requesting applciations or druing interviews. |
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| Choosing a program - What to consider? | In addition to the indicators of quality listed above, students will want to consider factors that address their individual needs. These include:
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| Financing Clinical Education | Financing clinical education is a significant consideration. Few clinical programs offer stipends. As college graduates, MSU students in hospital-based clinical programs are typically not eligible for financial aid, although loan payments may be deferred during clinical training.
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| Requests for Program Information and Applications | Refer to the sections below on In-state Application, Out-of-state Application and Other Professional Certifications to find programs to which to apply. The recommendations here on requesting program information and applications are pertinent for all three types of applications.
F. If geographically possible, ask if you may visit the laboratory and whom to contact to make arrangements to do so. |
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| Letters of Recommendation | Most programs will expect you to provide letters for reference or recommendations.
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| Completing Applications and Sending Transcripts | Once you review the materials and select the programs of interest to you, you will complete the application form. All programs in Michigan use basically the same form. It is courteous to notify program directors if you will not be applying to their program after requesting information.
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| In-State (Michigan Application Process | The application process in Michigan is unique. Many years ago, program directors developed a computerized matching program to maximize the likelihood that students will be placed at their preferred institution, assuming the student is acceptable there. This program is called the Medical Technology Internship Matching Program of Michigan (MTIMPM). Students seeking a clinical program in Michigan MUST participate in the match if the hospital specifies. Details of the process are available at the MTIMPM website or in the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program office, 322 N. Kedzie Hall.
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| Out-of-State Medical Technology Clincal Practicum Opportunities | Educational programs that lead to eligibility to take the certifying examination for Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology are variable in their structure. All programs have a didactic component in which instruction focuses on the theory and practice. Also included is a clinical education component that emphasizes application of basic principles in a working setting. However, there are two general formats: College/University-based programs and Hospital-based programs.
Thus, an individual who seeks only a clinical practicum may still be required to take preprofessional courses prior to the actual clinical experience. Most of these programs charge tuition based on in-state and out-of-state rates. Many start in September only. Some may allow for a January start(see below).
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| Are there any recommended sites? |
Alabama
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| Applying to programs in other laboratory specialties | A variety of post-baccalaureate educational programs/internships are available to individuals with B.S. degrees in a life science including Medical Technology or Clinical Laboratory Science.
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Career Resources Related to the Medical Laboratory Sciences
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The following is a listing of related professions that offer career opportunities to MT/CLS students and practitioners
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If you are invited for an interview, you should follow standard recommendations regarding attire and behavior. Check out the following web sites:
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