Hello all, I have a different perspective on this as I was trained in another country, one where histology is recognized as part of medical technology and every bit equal to those certified to practice hematology, chemistry, microbiology and blood bank. I do believe that certification is necessary in all states, but in saying that the training courses available would need to be not only increased, but improved as well to include not only didactic, but clinical training as well. Many uncertified techs take on-line programs to get the theory and can than practice it where they are working.
And yes, just having a certification does make you good at your work, but that is true in every profession out there. With the training programs out there, the problem is not with the people so much but in my estimation with the training programs themselves. Theory is useless if you don't know how to apply it, and how can you if you have no practical experience. My frustrations with untrained, uncertified people since working in the US, is that it takes a huge amount of time and energy (that no one has time for anymore) and even after a few months training the new trainee may decide that this is not the career for them and move on. Sometimes, you discover that they just don't have what it takes and than you have to start all over again. It can take years before you have a really good uncertified HT that can work with minimal supervision. Not everyone is lucky enough to find someone with an appropriate background that makes them ideal for histology work. My dream is to have a training program that will include clinical site training, not just theory that is standardized so that the public can be certain that everyone practicing on their tissue has met the requirements necessary by the certifying board, in this case ASCP to be able to perform their job competently. With this type of program, a person will know before they ever get out in the workforce whether histology is for them or not and OJT will only need to be enough to familiarize them with your labs procedures and protocols. Multitasking, troubleshooting and critical thinking are skills that some are never able to master and take others years of work experience to master, but it can be done. In today's economy those of us who do have certification and skills are going to be overwhelmed with the aspect of training as our workforce in histology continues to retire with no trained HT's to replace them, and with labs and hospitals not wanting to or unable to spend the money on agency's to fill the positions. We will bear the brunt of responsibility for the work that they produce. Joanne Clark, HT(ASCP), MLT(CSMLS) Histology Supervisor Pathology Consultants of New Mexico Roswell, NM _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet