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

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    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
    Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel

    RULE NO: RULE TITLE
    64B3-5.003: Technologist
    PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes amendments for the academic qualifications of clinical laboratory personnel technologists.
    SUMMARY: The proposed rule amendments will clarify licensure requirements for clinical lab technologists.
    SUMMARY OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
    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.
    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 FAW.
    THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE 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 REWORDING OF RULE 64B3-5.003 - SEE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE FOR PRESENT TEXT)

    64B3-5.003 Technologist.

    (1) Technologist Qualifications. Degrees or semester hours of academic credit required in this section shall be obtained at a regionally accredited college or university or, if foreign education, equated pursuant to subsection 64B3-6.002(6), F.A.C.  All associate degrees used to qualify shall have, at a minimum, at least 60 semester hours that include 24 semester hours of science courses that include (i) six semester hours of chemistry; (ii) six semester hours of biology; and (iii) twelve semester hours of chemistry, biology, or medical laboratory technology in any combination.  Applicants for technologist licensure in the categories of microbiology, serology/immunology, chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, radioassay, histocompatibility, blood banking and blood gas analysis, cytology, cytogenetics, histology, molecular pathology, andrology and embryology 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. and at a minimum have one of the following:

    (a) A baccalaureate degree in clinical laboratory, chemical or biological science, or medical technology and have successfully completed a technologist level, accredited medical technology program which may be part of the degree.

    (b) A baccalaureate degree in clinical laboratory, chemical or biological science, or medical technology and have successfully completed a Board approved training program at the technologist level.


    (c) A baccalaureate degree in clinical laboratory, chemical or biological science, or medical technology and three years if pertinent clinical laboratory experience of which one year shall be in the category for which licensure is sought.

    (d) A baccalaureate degree in a chemical or biological science, Florida licensure as a technician, and proof of completion of an accredited and/or Board approved clinical laboratory training program at the technician level.

    (e) Ninety (90) semester hours of academic credit and have successfully completed an accredited medical technology program at the technologist level.

    (f) An associate degree, and have successfully completed a technician level, accredited medical laboratory technology program which may be part of the degree.

    (g) An associate degree, and have successfully completed a military clinical laboratory training program of at least 1500 clock hours.

    (h) An associate degree and have five years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience with one year of experience in each category for which licensure is sought.

    (i) If applying for the category of radioassay, an associate degree and have successfully completed a nuclear medicine program which may be part of the degree.

    (j) If applying for the category of blood gas analysis, an associate degree and have successfully completed a cardiopulmonary function or a cardiovascular technologist program which may be part of the degree.

    (k) If applying for the category of blood banking, must qualify under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above.


    (l) Qualifications for Cytology Technologist. For the specialty of cytology, applicants for technologist shall be nationally certified in cytology by the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

    (m) Qualifications for Histology Technologist. For the category of histology, applicants for technologist licensure shall have a high school diploma or its equivalent and one of the following:

    1. Board certification gained by examination in histology through the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) at the Histotechnologist (HTL) level.

    2. Board certification gained by examination in histology through the Board of Registry of the ASCP at the Histotechnician (HT) level, 48 contact hours of continuing education in immunohistochemistry/advanced histologic techniques and five years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience.

    3. Graduation from a NAACLS approved associate degree histotechnology program and Board certification gained by examination in histology through the Board of Registry of the ASCP at the Histotechnician (HT) level.

    4. Board certification gained by examination in histology through the Board of Registry of the ASCP at the Histotechnician (HT) level and Qualification in Immunohistochemistry (QIHC).

    5. Florida licensure as a histology technician, 48 contact hours of continuing education in immunohistochemistry/advanced histologic techniques and five years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience.


    (n) Qualifications for Cytogenetics Technologists. In the category of cytogenetics, applicants for technologist licensure shall have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in clinical laboratory, chemical or biological science, successfully passed the Cytogenetics examination given by the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA) and have one of the following:

    1. Successfully completed a technologist level, accredited or Board approved program in cytogenetics.

    2. One year of pertinent clinical laboratory experience in cytogenetics.

    (o) Qualifications for Blood Banking Technologists. In the category of blood banking, applicants for technologist licensure shall have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in a clinical laboratory, chemical or biological science, certification by the ASCPBoard of Registry in blood banking and have one of the following:

    1. Documentation of graduation from a Board approved program in immunohematology/blood banking.

    2. Documentation of graduation from an accredited Specialist in Blood Banking Program.

    (p) Qualifications for Molecular Pathology Technologist. For the specialty of molecular pathology, applicants for technologist licensure shall have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree, which shall include 16 semester hours of academic science, successfully passed the molecular biology examination given by NCA or the ASCP molecular pathology examination.

    (q) Qualifications for Histocompatibility. Individuals working toward the eligibility requirement for application to take the Board approved certification exam in histocompatibility must be currently licensed as technologists or technicians in either serology/immunology or immunohematology. They must meet the requirements for eligibility to take the Board approved examinations in histocompatibility by receiving at least one year’s notarized, documented relevant full-time work experience in an American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ABHI) approved laboratory performing histocompatibility testing. They are eligible to apply for licensure in histocompatibility by endorsement.

    (r) Qualifications for Andrology or Embryology Technologist. For the specialties of andrology and embryology, applicants for technologist licensure shall have a minimum of an associate of arts degree, which shall include 24 hours of academic science and documentation of successful completion of one of the following:

    1. A technologist level accredited or board approved program in andrology or embryology.

    2. A baccalaureate degree and one year of pertinent clinical laboratory experience in the area of andrology or embyrology.

    3. An associate of arts degree and three years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience in the area of andrology or embyrology.

    (2) All applicants for a Technologist license must satisfy the requirements for High Complexity Testing under CLIA Amendments, 42 CFR 493.1489.  Approved examinations for licensure as a technologist:

    (a) An examination in one or more of the following specialties: microbiology, serology/immunology, clinical chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, blood banking/immunohematology, histology or molecular pathology prepared by the ASCP, the American Medical Technologists (AMT), the NCA, or the American Association of Bioanalysis (AAB); or

    (b) In the specialty of cytology, the Cytotechnologist Examination prepared by the Board of Registry of the ASCP; or

    (c) In the specialty of cytogenetics, the Clinical Laboratory Specialist in Cytogenetics Examination prepared by the NCA; or

    (d) In the specialty of histocompatibility, the Certification Examination for Histocompatibility Technologists, prepared by ABHI; or

    (e) In the specialty of radioassay, the Certification Examination in Radioassay, prepared by the Clinical Ligand Assay Society Certification Board; or

    (f) In the specialty of blood gas analysis, either the Cardiovascular Science Examination, prepared by Cardiovascular Credentialing International, or the Advanced Pulmonary Function Technologist Examination, prepared by the National Board of

    Respiratory Care; or

    (g) In the specialty of blood banking/immunohematology, the Technologist Certification Examination in Blood Banking, or the Specialist in Blood Banking Certification Examination, prepared by the Board of Registry of ASCP are also acceptable in addition to the options stated in paragraph (2)(a) above; or

    (h) In the specialty of andrology or embryology, the Examination in andrology or embryology prepared by AAB.

    (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, Immunohematology, and Molecular Pathology

     

    1

     

    Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Laboratory, Chemical, or Biological Science

     

    Clinical laboratory training program or 3 years experience (1 year in each specialty for which licensure is sought)

     

    MT(ASCP), CLS(NCA), MT(AMT), MT(AAB), examinations, or specialist examinations in single disciplines for licensure in that specialty area

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2

     

    90 semester hours college credit

     

    Clinical laboratory training program

     

    MT(ASCP), CLS(NCA), MT(AMT), MT(AAB) examinations, or specialist examinations in single disciplines for licensure in that specialty area

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    3

     

    Associate Degree in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technology

     

     

     

    MT(AAB) examinations, including specialist examinations, in single disciplines for licensure in that specialty area

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    4

     

    Associate Degree

     

    Successfully completed a military clinical laboratory training program of at least 1500 clock hours

     

    MT(AAB) examinations, including specialist examinations, in single disciplines for licensure in that specialty area

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    5

     

    Associate Degree

     

    5 years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience with one year of experience in each category for which licensure is sought

     

    MT(AAB) examinations, including specialist examinations, in single disciplines for licensure in that specialty area

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Specialty

     

    Option

     

    Education

     

    Training/Experience

     

    Examination

     

    (b) Blood Banking (Donor Processing)

     

    1

     

    Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Technology

     

     

     

    MT(ASCP), BB(ASCP), SBB (ASCP), CLS(NCA), MT(AAB), MT(AMT)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2

     

    Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Laboratory, Chemical, or Biological Science

     

    Medical Technology Training program or board approve training program in Blood Banking

     

    MT(ASCP), BB(ASCP), SBB(ASCP), CLS(NCA), MT(AAB), MT(AMT)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    3

     

    Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Laboratory, Chemical, or Biological Science

     

    Three years experience in medical technology, with a minimum of one year in the areas of Chemistry, Serology/Immunology, Hematology, and Immunohematology

     

    MT(ASCP), BB(ASCP), SBB(ASCP), CLS(NCA), MT(AAB), MT(AMT)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Specialty

     

    Option

     

    Education

     

    Training/Experience

     

    Examination

     

    (c) Cytology

     

    1

     

     

     

     

     

    CT(ASCP)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Specialty

     

    Option

     

    Education

     

    Training/Experience

     

    Examination

     

    (d) Cytogenetics

     

    1

     

    Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Laboratory, Chemical, or Biological Science

     

    Board approved training program in cytogenetics at the technologist level

     

    CLS(NCA) Cytogenetics examination

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2

     

    Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Laboratory, Chemical, or Biological Science

     

    One year of pertinent clinical laboratory experience in cytogenetics

     

    CLS(NCA) Cytogenetics examination

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Specialty

     

    Option

     

    Education

     

    Training/Experience

     

    Examination

     

    (e) Molecular Pathology

     

    1

     

    Bachelor’s Degree with 16 semester hours of academic science

     

     

     

    CLS(NCA) Molecular Pathology examination, MP(ASCP) or MT(AAB) Molecular Diagnostics examination

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Specialty

     

    Option

     

    Education

     

    Training/Experience

     

    Examination

     

    (f) Andrology

     

    1

     

    Bachelor’s Degree with 24 semester hours of academic science

     

    Board approved training program in andrology/embryology

     

    MT(AAB) Andrology examination

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2

     

    Bachelor’s Degree with 24 semester hours of academic science

     

    One year of pertinent clinical laboratory experience

     

    MT(AAB) Andrology examination

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    3

     

    Associate Degree

     

    Three years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience

     

    MT(AAB) Andrology examination

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Specialty

     

    Option

     

    Education

     

    Training/Experience

     

    Examination

     

    (g) Embryology

     

    1

     

    Bachelor’s Degree with 24 semester hours of academic science

     

    Board approved training program in andrology/embryology

     

    MT(AAB) Embryology examination

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2

     

    Bachelor’s Degree with 24 semester hours of academic science

     

    One year of pertinent clinical laboratory experience

     

    MT(AAB) Embryology examination

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    3

     

    Associate Degree

     

    Three years of pertinent clinical laboratory experience

     

    MT(AAB) Embryology examination

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Specialty

     

    Option

     

    Education

     

    Training/Experience

     

    Examination

     

    (h) Histology

     

    1

     

     

     

     

     

    HTL(ASCP), or HT(ASCP)QIHC

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2

     

    Associate Degree

     

    NAACLS-approved Histotechnology Program

     

    HT(ASCP)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    3

     

     

     

    Five years of pertinent experience and 48 contact hours of continuing education in immunohistochemistry/advanced histologic techniques

     

    HT(ASCP)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Specialty

     

    Option

     

    Education

     

    Training/Experience

     

    Examination

     

    (i) Histocompatibility

     

    1

     

     

     

     

     

    CHT(ABHI)

     

    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, 9-10-95, 12-4-95, Formerly 59O-5.003, Amended 5-26-98, 1-11-99, 7-5-01, 3-34-02, 10-29-02, 8-16-04, 5-15-05, 12-19-05, _____.


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

     

Document Information

Comments Open:
3/31/2006
Summary:
The proposed rule amendments will clarify licensure requirements for clinical lab technologists.
Purpose:
The Board proposes amendments for the academic qualifications of clinical laboratory personnel technologists.
Rulemaking Authority:
483.805(4) FS., 483.811(2) FS., 483.823 FS.
Law:
381.0034 FS., 483.800 FS., 483.809 FS., 483.811(2) FS., 483.815 FS., 483.823 FS.
Contact:
Joe Baker, Jr., Executive Director, Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # C07, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3257.
Related Rules: (1)
64B3-5.003. Technologist