Why NCA?

ASCLS (then ASMT) founded the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA) in 1978 because of deeply held beliefs about how a true profession should be governed:

• Entry into the profession (by certification) should be under the control of members of that profession (clinical laboratory scientists and other laboratory professionals), rather than controlled by another professional group, such as physicians. Other health care groups such as nurses made this move many years ago.
• In order to earn respect from the public and other professionals, laboratory professionals should conduct themselves like other respected professionals. This means taking responsibility not only for competence in the body of knowledge needed for entry into the profession, but also periodic demonstration of continued competence in a rapidly changing practice field. The mechanisms for recertification are documentation of continuing education, or re-examination.

ASCLS was soon joined by the Association of Genetic Technologists (AGT) as another sponsoring organization of NCA. The initial examinations were for clinical laboratory scientist (CLS) at the baccalaureate degree level and clinical laboratory technician (CLT) at the associate degree level. Other examinations have been developed until NCA now offers 11 certifications, including the only national exams for Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology at the baccalaureate level.

The content of NCA’s exams is validated by periodic job analyses to ensure that the questions reflect actual practice in today’s laboratories. Candidates state that they find NCA’s exams to be practical and job-related.

Ten states that have personnel licensure recognize NCA’s exams as qualification for licensure. (The 11th licensure state, California, still requires a state-developed exam, but is moving towards recognition of national certifications. The state of New York has also passed regulations for licensure of clinical laboratory personnel, but final regulations on examinations are not yet finalized.) There are no legal requirements in any other state specifying which national exams are recognized or required. Enlightened employers recognize the personal and professional commitment made by NCA certificants and consider this to be an identifying characteristic of a successful employee.

Professional respect must be earned. It is the strong belief of the ASCLS leadership and many others in the profession that NCA credentials make an important statement about your professional commitment. It’s your choice!

Kathy Hansen

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Reviewed and updated 1-07.