ASCP BOC Credential Maintenance Program
Determine whether CMP is required for your credential, find the credential-specific point distribution, understand what activities can count, and learn how to enter, allocate and document them correctly.
Immediate CMP Answer
Many ASCP BOC credentials use a three-year CMP cycle, but totals and required categories vary materially. Current requirements range from 8 or 9 points for some qualifications and entry-level credentials to 60 for PA and 150 for DMLI. Use the credential-specific requirement rather than a generic 36-point assumption.
ASCP BOC publishes criteria for acceptable continuing education and other qualifying activities rather than individually approving the large universe of outside CE courses.
Do I Have to Participate?
Current ASCP guidance requires CMP for newly certified technicians, technologists and scientists beginning January 1, 2004; newly certified specialists and diplomates beginning January 1, 2006; newly ASCPi certified beginning January 1, 2012; ASCP qualifications; PA(ASCP); and applicable former NCA certificants.
Many pre-mandatory, non-time-limited ASCP credentials may participate voluntarily. Do not equate every “legacy” credential with voluntary status; check the credential type, date and current ASCP status.
An expired time-limited credential follows a different pathway. Within 10 years of expiration, ASCP provides a CMP-based reinstatement route; after more than 10 years, current ASCP guidance requires re-examination. See the expiration section below.
Find Your Credential
The matrix includes all 28 current non-legacy credential/qualification categories on ASCP's maintain-credential roster. Totals and allocation patterns were rechecked against current credential-specific ASCP guidance on September 14, 2026. Always use your current ASCP credential page and account status for the final requirement.
| Credential | CMP status / timing | Total | Credential-specific requirement | Safety | Ethics | Related / flexible | Special constraints | Primary ASCP source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB — Scientist in Blood Banking | 3-year CMP when subject to mandatory CMP | 36 | 8 in blood banking | 1 | 1 | 26 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP BB |
| C — Scientist in Chemistry | 3-year CMP when subject to mandatory CMP | 36 | 8 in chemistry | 1 | 1 | 26 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP C |
| CG — Scientist in Cytogenetics | 3-year CMP when subject to mandatory CMP | 36 | 8 in cytogenetics | 1 | 1 | 26 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP CG |
| CT — Cytologist | 3-year CMP when subject to mandatory CMP | 36 | 8 in cytology | 1 | 1 | 26 | Current ASCP nomenclature: Cytologist | ASCP CT |
| CTgyn — Gynecologic Cytologist | 3-year CMP when subject to mandatory CMP | 36 | 8 in gynecologic cytology | 1 | 1 | 26 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP CTgyn |
| DLM — Diplomate in Laboratory Management | 3-year CMP; diplomate mandatory-CMP threshold applies | 36 | 10 in credential/specialty area | 1 | 1 | 24 | Use current DLM page for allocation details | ASCP DLM |
| DMLI — Diplomate in Medical Laboratory Immunology | 3-year CMP; diplomate mandatory-CMP threshold applies | 150 | 73 formal CE + 75 related-interest points | 1 | 1 | Included in 75 related-interest points | Only 30 of the related-interest points may be non-supervised CE | ASCP DMLI |
| H — Scientist in Hematology | 3-year CMP when subject to mandatory CMP | 36 | 8 in hematology | 1 | 1 | 26 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP H |
| HT — Histotechnician | 3-year CMP when subject to mandatory CMP | 36 | 8 in histotechnology | 1 | 1 | 26 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP HT |
| HTL — Scientist in Histotechnology | 3-year CMP when subject to mandatory CMP | 36 | 8 in histotechnology | 1 | 1 | 26 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP HTL |
| M — Scientist in Microbiology | 3-year CMP when subject to mandatory CMP | 36 | 8 in microbiology | 1 | 1 | 26 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP M |
| MB — Scientist in Molecular Biology | 3-year CMP when subject to mandatory CMP | 36 | 8 in molecular biology | 1 | 1 | 26 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP MB |
| MLA — Medical Laboratory Assistant | 3-year CMP when subject to mandatory CMP | 9 | 2 in medical laboratory assisting | 1 | 1 | 5 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP MLA |
| MLS — Medical Laboratory Scientist | 3-year CMP when subject to mandatory CMP | 36 | 8 total: 2 each blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology | 1 | 1 | 26 | Dedicated four-subject split is required | ASCP MLS |
| MLT — Medical Laboratory Technician | 3-year CMP when subject to mandatory CMP | 36 | 8 total: 2 each blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology | 1 | 1 | 26 | Dedicated four-subject split is required | ASCP MLT |
| PA — Pathologists’ Assistant | CMP required for PA(ASCP); 3-year cycle | 60 | 15 advanced anatomic pathology + 20 anatomic pathology | 1 | 1 | 23 | Two separate anatomic-pathology buckets | ASCP PA |
| PBT — Phlebotomy Technician | 3-year CMP when subject to mandatory CMP | 9 | 2 in phlebotomy | 1 | 1 | 5 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP PBT |
| SBB — Specialist in Blood Banking | 3-year CMP; specialist mandatory-CMP threshold applies | 36 | 10 in blood banking | 1 | 1 | 24 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP SBB |
| SC — Specialist in Chemistry | 3-year CMP; specialist mandatory-CMP threshold applies | 36 | 10 in chemistry | 1 | 1 | 24 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP SC |
| SCT — Specialist in Cytology | 3-year CMP; specialist mandatory-CMP threshold applies | 36 | 10 in cytology | 1 | 1 | 24 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP SCT |
| SCYM — Specialist in Cytometry | 3-year CMP; specialist mandatory-CMP threshold applies | 36 | 10 in cytometry | 1 | 1 | 24 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP SCYM |
| SH — Specialist in Hematology | 3-year CMP; specialist mandatory-CMP threshold applies | 36 | 10 in hematology | 1 | 1 | 24 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP SH |
| SM — Specialist in Microbiology | 3-year CMP; specialist mandatory-CMP threshold applies | 36 | 10 in microbiology | 1 | 1 | 24 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP SM |
| SMB — Specialist in Molecular Biology | 3-year CMP; specialist mandatory-CMP threshold applies | 36 | 10 in molecular biology | 1 | 1 | 24 | Use current credential-specific page | ASCP SMB |
| QBRS — Qualification in Biorepository Science | CMP required; 3-year cycle | 8 | 3 in biorepository science | 1 | 1 | 3 | Qualification-specific fee/process; use current page | ASCP QBRS |
| QIA — Qualification in Apheresis | CMP required; 3-year cycle | 8 | 3 in apheresis | 1 | 1 | 3 | Use current qualification-specific page | ASCP QIA |
| QIHC — Qualification in Immunohistochemistry | CMP required; 3-year cycle | 8 | 3 in immunohistochemistry | 1 | 1 | 3 | Use current qualification-specific page | ASCP QIHC |
| QLS — Qualification in Laboratory Safety | CMP required; 3-year cycle | 8 | 4 in laboratory safety | Included in dedicated 4 | 1 | 3 | Do not add a separate extra safety point | ASCP QLS |
Have a legacy credential? Do not assume “legacy” automatically means voluntary CMP. Use ASCP's current participation and legacy guidance with your credential type, original certification date and current status.
What Actually Counts for ASCP CMP?
| Activity type | CMP treatment |
|---|---|
| Qualifying formal CE | May count when current ASCP criteria are met. For qualifying formal CE entered hour-for-hour, 1 CMP point = 1 contact hour = 1 CMLE credit. |
| ASCLS P.A.C.E. CE | Recognized formal-CE pathway; P.A.C.E. is not the only pathway. |
| State-licensing-board-approved education | Recognized ASCP pathway when the current ASCP criteria are satisfied. |
| Employer/vendor education | Structured programs, in-services, instrument training and vendor education may count when the applicable criteria are met and points/contact hours are assigned. Routine meetings and ordinary orientation do not qualify by default. |
| College/university coursework | Laboratory-related coursework may count. Current ASCP guidance assigns 10 CMP points per quarter hour and 15 per semester hour, with college/university coursework capped at 50% of the credential's required total. |
| Online/self-study/webinars | Delivery method alone does not determine acceptance; the activity must fit an ASCP-recognized pathway. |
| Non-course professional activities | Selected credentials, teaching, presentations, posters, publications, committee service, inspections and other professional activities use ASCP's activity-specific point formulas. |
Accepted ≠ Approved
ASCP BOC publishes criteria for acceptable continuing education and other qualifying activities. A course that meets those criteria may be accepted for CMP points without being an “ASCP-approved course.” MyHealthCE does not describe itself as an ASCP-approved provider.
Does ASCP Require P.A.C.E.?
ASCP BOC also recognizes other qualifying CE and professional activities when they meet current published criteria. P.A.C.E. acceptance for ASCP does not mean P.A.C.E. credit automatically satisfies a state laboratory license.
Enter External CE
When an activity is not already available in your ASCP transcript, current ASCP workflow requires the relevant activity information, such as activity type/title, sponsor, completion date and assigned points/contact hours.
Allocate CMP Points
Multiple ASCP Credentials
ASCP requires a separate CMP declaration for each credential being maintained. The same qualifying activity may be used for more than one credential when it independently meets each credential's category and time-window requirements. Do not assume automatic allocation across credentials.
Audit Documentation
ASCP BOC audits a percentage of CMP declarations. Retain documentation that identifies the participant, program date, activity title, provider/sponsor and assigned hours or credit. Current ASCP audit guidance also calls for English-language documentation, following the audit notification instructions and not submitting originals.
State-License CE + ASCP CMP
ASCP's current formal-CE criteria recognize courses offered by organizations approved by state licensing boards among acceptable pathways. The activity still must independently satisfy the relevant ASCP credential category, time window, documentation and allocation requirements.
Do not assume the reverse. P.A.C.E. credit or ASCP acceptance alone does not establish eligibility for a state laboratory license. For Florida specifically, P.A.C.E. alone does not establish Florida CLP renewal eligibility; verify each course’s current Florida eligibility separately.
If you maintain Montana licensure, review the Montana clinical laboratory CE requirements separately. For Florida licensure, review the Florida clinical laboratory CE requirements and the Florida specialty CE map. For broader navigation, return to the clinical laboratory continuing education requirements hub.
Expired Credential / Reinstatement
Current ASCP guidance permits a CMP-based reinstatement route using the credential-specific requirements, qualifying CE from the applicable recent window, a declaration and the current fees/process.
Current ASCP guidance requires re-examination rather than ordinary CMP reinstatement alone.
Find CE After You Know Your Requirement
Check each activity against ASCP's current acceptance criteria, your credential's required categories, and your CMP time window. Do not assume every MyHealthCE laboratory course qualifies for your credential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Primary ASCP Sources / Last Reviewed
Last regulatory review: September 14, 2026. MyHealthCE is not affiliated with or endorsed by the ASCP Board of Certification.
