Term 5

The first week of your last term, you will apply for graduation. Complete the application using the following site: https://confluence.uwf.edu/display/public/Applying+for+Graduation

The instructions to do this are found at http://uwf.edu/offices/registrar/graduation-guide/apply-to-graduate/.

Your graduation from UWF is separate from the ASCP and Florida license. Keep up with your emails from UWF concerning commencement. You can view commencement information at http://uwf.edu/commencement/

The following tasks entail registration for the ASCP Board of Certification exam, and state licensure. We recommend that students who trained in Alabama apply for a Florida license nevertheless. The hurdles can only be done sequentially, since you need a product from each one to proceed. Keep to the deadlines. Print this page so you have the website URL. You should keep a photocopy of each document.

¨ Hurdle 1 - Apply to ASCP BOC Exam

¨ Hurdle 2 - Apply for a Florida license

¨ Hurdle 3 - Schedule the exam

¨ Hurdle 4 - Order transcripts with degree posted

¨ Hurdle 5 - Take and Pass ASCP exam

¨ Hurdle 6- Send the "Verification of Certification" from ASCP to the Florida Department of Health

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HURDLE 1 - Apply to ASCP to take the exam Cost $240

Below is a video of how to apply for your ASCP exam.

It is important to watch the video so you know what to expect and what information to fill out.

The completion date is the date I will give you during the orientation.

Program director is Katie Cavnar, (850) 474-3060, kcavnar@uwf.edu.

Once ASCP confirms you are eligible to take exam, you will log back in to ASCP to schedule.

Note that you cannot schedule it until you have been processed by ASCP and approved for the exam by UWF. Allow 45 days from the time you apply. Suggested deadlines are

Note: The "Documentation" tab asks for your college transcript. You will send your transcript after degrees have been posted. Do not order it yet. Transcripts must be ordered after your degree is posted.

Return to the main page and browse the http://www.ascp.org/Board-of-Certification/GetCertified link. You will see information about study material and the exam itself.

Once you have taken your exam, you can send your scores for your Florida License.

A PDF of the ASCP booklet is in the attachments below. ASCP exam content guidelines are there, too.

VETERANS ONLY: If you are a veteran who was honorably discharged (or a military spouse of one) within 60 months of your application, you qualify for a fee waiver through the VALOR system. Go to

http://www.veteransflorida.org/2016/02/11/valor-system-expedited-health-care-licensure-for-florida-veterans/ for the full details.

HURDLE 2 - Apply for a Florida license Cost $100

We recommend that all students apply for a Florida license, even if you plan to work in Alabama.

Below is a link for the application process of the Florida license.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxVlGbNG-dlmVHN5R2J1bkhZNGs

Complete the "Florida DOH application", found by logging into this website.

http://flhealthsource.gov/mqa-services

The DOH communicates with you by email, so make sure your email address is one you check regularly.

The DOH will want documentation for any questions you answered yes to during the application process. There is the place during the application process to upload them. If you need to upload anything after, you can go to the dashboard screen and click the select button next to application status. There will be a location to upload documents on this screen. There is a video below showing how to upload documents to the MQA website.

The CLS program will provide additional material for your file, so it is imperative that you let us know when you have accomplished this step. Send an email to LFlaniken@uwf.edu when you have completed your application.

CLS Program will send:

Board of NAACLS completion

CE for HIV, FL Laws and Rules, and Medical Errors

Check list - Did you do the following?

¨ upload or mail signed and notarized attestation form

¨ Send verification of certification and examination scores to the Dept of Health from to ASCP

VETERANS ONLY: If you are a veteran who was honorably discharged (or a military spouse of one) within 60 months of your application, you qualify for a fee waiver through the VALOR system. Go to

http://www.veteransflorida.org/2016/02/11/valor-system-expedited-health-care-licensure-for-florida-veterans/ for the full details.

HURDLE 3 - Schedule your exam No Additional Cost

It may take 45 days for ASCP to process your application, so we're starting you early. ASCP will e-mail you a letter of eligibility (Admission letter) one month prior to the date you are eligible to take the exam, stating that you are eligible to take the ASCP exam. You may now schedule your exam. Exams are offered only at Pearson Professional Centers. Your eligibility is good for a 3 month period. Schedule your exam at http://www.ascp.org/Board-of-Certification/GetCertified.. Select the tab for Scheduling. Most students take the exam the week following review week. Note: some students reported that many of the dates they wanted were already full, so don't delay in scheduling.

Note - the nearest Pearson Centers are in Mobile and Tallahassee. You might plan to carpool, so discuss this with your colleagues.

HURDLE 4 - Order transcripts w/ degree posted Cost $25

Both ASCP and the Florida Department of Health require that you send them your UWF transcript proving that you have graduated. This is called a "transcript with the degree posted". You will order two transcripts after your degree has posted and mail to the address below. There is a video showing you the process below.

ASCP accepts electronic transcripts, at Transcripts.boc@ascp.org

If you mail them, there may be a delay. The mailing address is listed below.

ASCP BOC

33 W. Monroe St, Suite 1600

Chicago, Illinois 60603

312-541-4999

AND

DOH accepts them electronically at MQA.ClinicalLab@flhealth.gov

The mailing address is listed below.

Department of Health

Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel

4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C07

Tallahassee, Fl 32399-3257

850-488-0595

Caveat: If you are a December graduate, UWF closes between Christmas Eve and New Years Day. Be alert for degree posting, and order your transcripts that day! Send it expedited to ASCP. KEEP ALL YOUR RECEIPTS AND TRACKING MATERIALS.

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HURDLE 5 - Pass the exam Cost - priceless

We will prepare during Review Week. The exam is a computer adaptive exam, administered only on computer. You will have a dry erase board only for your notes during the exam. You may use a calculator, but it must be non-programmable. We will discuss more about this during Review Week. If you do not pass the exam, you cannot take it again for 3 months. Furthermore, you cannot work in a Florida lab until you pass it. Please email kcavnar@uwf.edu following the exam to tell us your status.

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HURDLE 6 - Send the "Verification of Certification" from ASCP to the Florida Department of Health after you get your score $16

ASCP should post information to your dashboard within 4 days after passing the exam, and it will have your scores. At that time, you have to request verification of certification.

After you get your ASCP scores, return to their website: www.ascp.org.

1. Click on the 'Board of Certification' in the menu bar.

2. Then select the 'verification of certification' Icon (red circle) or click on this link http://ascp.org/Board-of-Certification/Verification-of-Certification

3. Select the tab “verification of certification”. On this page, find the bullet of “Verification of certification”, and the link to “Request verification of certification to California, Florida, …”. Click "start verification" red button in the middle of the page, then select "start new search".

4. Fill out the online form. You will be charged $16 for the score report.

5. At the bottom of the form you will click for 3rd Party Verification. When you do this a drop down box will appear. Select State Licensing Board. Then select Florida Department of Health.

The procedure is described below as a PDF with screenshots for sending your ASCP score to the Florida Department of Health. Just remember to wait until you have your scores to do this.

Caveat: ASCP closes between Christmas Eve and New Years Day. If you are a December graduate, you should use expedited mail for your transcript delivery. You can expect to get your license around week 2 of January.