CLINICAL LAB SCIENEC

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ESSENTIALS OF CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
licensure, as well as two controversial provisions for granting licensure to those
with a bachelor’s degree and 2700 clock hours of experience by September 1,
2006. In addition to “grandfather” laws, a person who has worked 7200 clock
hours, even with no formal college education or additional training other than
on-the-job, can still qualify for licensure as a technologist in New York. And
those who are currently pursuing educational requirements have until September
2011 to complete these requirements.
Much opposition from both local and national groups is focused on professional
licensure for all the categories of laboratory medicine professionals. Hospital
associations, state medical societies, laboratory managers, and a number
of pathologists are averse to any changes in the way laboratory professionals
are categorized and their competence is verified. Many of these groups work
behind the scenes with their state representatives from the position that work is
progressing in a satisfactory fashion so there is no need for licensure. This type
of opposition is probably responsible for the complicated, cumbersome, and difficult
process of documenting the need for licensure, as in Nebraska’s case. Even
some doctoral scientists who are directors of laboratories state that they do the
hiring and firing and believe they can determine the competence and certify the
quality of the work performed in their respective laboratories without further
laws. They maintain that no harm is coming to the public as things are now, so
licensure is not necessary.
In a rare display of unity, several Illinois state societies, with support from
the national offices of some of the professional organizations, began meeting in
1999 on issues of common concern such as personnel licensure. ASCP, ASCLS,
American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), Clinical Laboratory
Management Association (CLMA), Illinois Society for Microbiology (ISM), and
AMT were all in attendance. This is not to say that all were in favor of laboratory
personnel licensure, but at least contemporary issues of interest to the
medical laboratory community were mutually discussed. A bill was eventually
written and introduced in the Illinois legislature, but there was opposition from
the Illinois Society for Pathologists, whose official organization is the College
of American Pathologists (CAP); the American Association of Bioanalysts; the
Illinois Hospital Association; the Illinois State Medical Society; and the Illinois
Department of Professional Regulation. In the face of such pressure from powerful
groups with lobbyists, the bill did not pass. However, it was hoped by those
in favor that the bill would be reintroduced at a later date.
Others states that have recently mounted a strong campaign for laboratory
personnel licensure include Massachusetts, which had a personnel licensure bill
“stuck” in legislative committees in 2004. But strong efforts through ASCLS
continue currently in Massachusetts. Minnesota is trying to educate the population
and to identify those who would oppose legislation for personnel licensure.
A coalition of supporting organizations will work toward that end. Pennsylvania’s
effort failed and efforts were not renewed for a number of years following
strong efforts in the 1990s. In 2004, a coalition of ASCLS Region II states met,
seeking to organize a regional approach from the states of Delaware, New Jersey,
Virginia, and Maryland, and from Washington, DC. West Virginia is also in
Region II but has recently succeeded in obtaining personnel licensure.
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