The Board proposes amendments for the academic qualifications of clinical laboratory personnel technicians.

Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:

64B3-5.004 Technician

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes amendments for the academic qualifications of clinical laboratory personnel technicians.

SUMMARY: The proposed rule amendments will clarify licensure requirements for clinical lab technicians.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COST: No statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared. 

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

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

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 381.0034 FS., 483.800 FS., 483.809 FS., 483.811(2) FS., 483.815 FS., 483.823 FS.

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

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS, Joe Baker, Jr., Executive Director, Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # C07, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3257.

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

(A SUBSTANTIAL RE-WORDING OF RULE 64B3-5.004 - SEE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE FOR PRESENT TEXT)

64B3-5.004 Technician.

(1) General Qualifications. Degrees or semester hours of academic credit required in this section shall be obtained at a regionally accredited college or university, or by foreign education equated pursuant to subsection 64B3-6.002(6), F.A.C.  In order to be licensed as a laboratory technician, which includes the categories of microbiology, serology/immunology, chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, histology, molecular pathology genetics, andrology and embryology, an applicant shall have one hour of Board approved HIV/AIDS continuing education, a Board approved 2-hour course relating to the prevention of medical errors, which shall include root-cause analysis, error reduction and prevention, and patient safety., a minimum of a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma and one of the following:

(a) Successfully completed a Board approved technician level clinical laboratory training program.

(b) Successfully completed an accredited program for medical laboratory technology at the technician level.

(c) Successfully completed a military clinical laboratory personnel training program which shall consist of 1500 clock hours of study within 12 calendar months.

(d) Five (5) years of pertinent general clinical laboratory experience accrued within 10 years immediately preceding application for licensure. If an applicant has an associate degree, four (4) years of pertinent general clinical laboratory experience is

required. If the applicant has a baccalaureate degree, three (3) years of pertinent general clinical laboratory experience is required.

(e) An earned baccalaureate degree in medical technology which includes didactic and practical instruction in the areas of microbiology, serology/immunology, chemistry, hematology and immunohematology.

(f) Qualifications for Histology Technician. For the category of histology, applicants for technician licensure shall have certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) at the histotechnician (HT) level.

(g) Qualifications for Molecular Pathology Technician. To be licensed as a molecular pathologist technician, an applicant shall have a minimum of a high school diploma or high school equivalent, and be licensed as a clinical laboratory technologist or technician in any specialty area.

(h) Qualifications for Andrology or Embryology Technician. For the category of andrology or embryology, applicants for technician licensure shall have documentation of successful completion of one of the following:

1. A technician level accredited or board accredited program in andrology or embryology.

2. A board approved technician level clinical laboratory training program.

3. A military clinical laboratory personnel training program, which shall consist of 1500 clock hours of study within 12 calendar months.

4. A baccalaureate degree and six months of pertinent clinical laboratory experience in andrology or embryology.

5. Five years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience in andrology or embryology.

(2) All applicants for a Technician license must satisfy the requirements for Moderate Complexity Testing under CLIA Amendments, 42 CFR 493.1423.  Technicians performing high complexity testing as defined in 42 CFR 493.5 and 493.17, and who have been licensed after September 1, 1997, shall meet the minimum educational and training qualifications provided in 42 CFR 493.1489 (March 1999), incorporated herein by reference, including a minimum of an associate degree in laboratory science, medical laboratory technology, or equivalent education and training.

(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.

Specialty	Option	Education	Training/Experience	Examination
(a) Microbiology, Serology/Immunology, Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, and Immunohematology	1		Approved clinical/medical laboratory training program	MLT(ASCP), CLT(NCA), MLT(AMT), MLT(AAB)
	2		Five years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience within the 10 years preceding application for licensure	MLT(ASCP), CLT(NCA), MLT(AMT), MLT(AAB)
	3	Associate Degree	Four years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience within the 10 years preceding application for licensure	MLT(ASCP), CLT(NCA), MLT(AMT), MLT(AAB)
	4	Bachelor’s Degree	Three years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience within the 10 years preceding application for licensure	MLT(ASCP), CLT(NCA), MLT(AMT), MLT(AAB)
Specialty	Option	Education	Training/Experience	Examination
(b) Histology	1			HT(ASCP)
Specialty	Option	Education	Training/Experience	Examination
(c) Andrology/ Embryology	1		Approved clinical/medical laboratory training program	MLT(AAB)
	2		Five years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience	MLT(AAB)
	3	Bachelor’s Degree	Six months of pertinent clinical laboratory experience	MLT(AAB)
Specialty	Option	Education	Training/Experience	Examination
(d) Molecular Pathology	1	High school diploma or high school equivalent	Licensed clinical laboratory technologist or technician in any specialty area

Specific Authority 483.805(4) FS., 483.811(2) FS., 483.823 FS. Law Implemented 381.0034 FS., 483.800 FS., 483.809 FS., 483.811(2) FS., 483.815 FS., 483.823 FS. History–New 12-6-94, Amended 7-12-95, 12-4-95, Formerly 59O-5.004, Amended 5-26-98, 1-11-99, 8-31-99, 9-27-00, 12-26-00, 4-29-02, 10-29-02, 2-11-03, 4-20-04, _____.

 

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

NAME OF SUPERVISOR OR PERSON WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: January 26, 2006

DATE NOTICED OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: January 6, 2006