The Board proposes the rule amendment to update the requirements for technologist qualifications.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

64B3-5.003Technologist

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes the rule amendment to update the requirements for technologist qualifications.

SUMMARY: The requirements for technologist qualifications will be updated.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: During discussion of the economic impact of this rule at its Board meeting, the Board, based upon the expertise and experience of its members, determined that a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs (SERC) was not necessary and that the rule will not require ratification by the Legislature. No person or interested party submitted additional information regarding the economic impact at that time.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 483.805(4), 483.811(2), 483.823 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 381.0034(3), 483.809, 483.811(2), 483.823 FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Christina McGinnis, Executive Director, Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # C07, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3257. [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

64B3-5.003 Technologist.

(1) Technologist Qualifications. Degrees or semester hours of academic credit required in this section shall be obtained at an accredited college or university recognized by the United States Department of Education or, if foreign education, equated pursuant to subsection 64B3-6.002(6), F.A.C. Degrees not in a chemical or biological science must be reviewed by the board pursuant to subsection 64B3-6.002(8), F.A.C. Applicants for technologist licensure in the categories of microbiology, serology/immunology, chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, histocompatibility, blood banking, cytology, cytogenetics, histology, molecular pathology, andrology and embryology shall complete a one-hour educational course acceptable to the Board on human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome or provide an affidavit that the course will be completed within six (6) months of licensure.

(2) No Change.

(3) In addition, at least one of the following requirements must be met for specific areas of licensure. In some cases there are multiple options for meeting the requirement.

(a) Microbiology, Serology/Immunology, Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Immunohematology. A Generalist Technologist license includes the specialties of microbiology, serology/immunology, clinical chemistry, hematology, and immunohematology.

Education	Option	Training/Experience	Certification
Bachelors Degree (or higher) in Clinical Laboratory, Chemical, or Biological Science	1	NAACLS approved Clinical laboratory training program	MLS (ASCP), MT (ASCPi), MT (AMT), MT (AAB) NRCC examinations in single discipline for licensure in that specialty area National certifying body categorial examinations in single discipline for licensure in that specialty area
Bachelors Degree (or higher) in Clinical Laboratory, Chemical, Biological Science, or Bachelors Degree with 24 semester hours of academic science including 6 semester hours of biological sciences and 6 semester hours of chemical sciences	2	Clinical laboratory training program, or 3 years pertinent clinical laboratory experience with a minimum of 6 months in each specialty for which licensure is sought
90 semester hours college credit with 24 semester hours of academic science including 6 semester hours of biological sciences and 6 semester hours of chemical sciences	3	Clinical laboratory training program	MLS (ASCP), MT (ASCPi), MT (AMT), MT (AAB), or specialist examinations in single discipline for licensure in that specialty area
Associate Degree in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technology	4	Clinical laboratory training program	MLS (ASCP), MT (ASCPi), MT (AMT), MT (AAB) examinations, including specialist examinations, in single disciplines for licensure in that specialty area
Associate Degree including 6 semester hours of academic biological sciences and 6 semester hours of academic chemical sciences	5a	Successfully completed a Department of Defense clinical laboratory training program	MT (AAB) examinations, including specialist examinations, in single disciplines for licensure in that specialty area
	5b	5 years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience with one year of experience in each specialty area for which licensure is sought	MT (AAB) examinations, including specialist examinations, in single disciplines for licensure in that specialty area

(b) Blood Banking

(Donor Processing)

Education	Option	Training/Experience	Certification
Bachelors Degree (or higher) in Clinical Laboratory, Chemical, or Biological Science	1	NAACLS approved Clinical laboratory training program	         MLS (ASCP),          MT (ASCPi),          BB (ASCP),          SBB (ASCP),          MT (AAB),          MT (AMT)
Bachelors Degree (or higher) in Medical Technology with 24 semester hours of academic science including 6 semester hours of biological sciences and 6 semester hours of chemical sciences	2	As required by certifying body
Bachelors Degree (or higher) in Clinical Laboratory, Chemical, Biological Science, or Bachelors Degree with 24 semester hours of academic science including 6 semester hours of biological sciences and 6 semester hours of chemical sciences	3a	3 years pertinent clinical laboratory experience
	3b	Clinical laboratory training program

(c) Through (h) No Change.

Rulemaking Authority 483.805(4), 483.811(2), 483.823 FS. Law Implemented 381.0034(3), 483.809, 483.811(2), 483.823 FS. History–New 12-6-94, Amended 7-12-95, 9-10-95, 12-4-95, Formerly 59O-5.003, Amended 5-26-98, 1-11-99, 7-5-01, 3-24-02, 10-29-02, 8-16-04, 5-15-05, 12-19-05, 5-25-06, 7-9-07, 2-7-08, 6-17-09, 1-30-12, 2-7-13, 10-3-13, 4-5-15, 6-16-15, 10-17-17, 4-18-18, 7-9-18, 4-3-19, 5-25-20, 2-16-21, 5-26-21,___________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: July 23, 2021

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: October 1, 2021