What are ASCP Exams & how to pass?

Laboratory professionals are the unsung heroes of the healthcare industry. They perform essential duties that are vital to the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Given how important their duties are to the holistic care of patients, certification exams are doubly significant. By taking exams like those offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology, laboratory professionals can prove their knowledge and begin working in the field. ASCP exams are rigorous, but considering the weight of the work performed by laboratory professionals, it's important that the qualifying tests are just as challenging.

About ASCP Certification Exams

The American Society for Clinical Pathology is a leading professional organization for laboratory professionals. The group provides networking opportunities, professional development seminars, career advocacy and continuing education training. The ASCP exams offer aspiring laboratory professionals the chance to prove what they know and how they'll fare in the daily operations of a healthcare laboratory.

ASCP certification exams help qualify all kinds of laboratory professionals for their jobs. There's a test for aspiring medical laboratory scientists and one for medical laboratory technicians. ASCP exams for histotechnicians, histotechnologists, and medical laboratory assistants are also available. No matter your area of expertise, chances are good that you'll be required to take and pass an ASCP exam before you can begin working in the field.

What to Expect on the ASCP

Curious about how to pass the ASCP exam? We've got you covered. Knowing what to expect on the ASCP certification exams can help set you up for success. All ASCP exams are scored on a scale of 0 to 900 points. To earn a passing score, you'll have to get at least 400 points or more. Most of the tests span two hours and 30 minutes, during which examinees will face 100 multiple-choice ASCP exam questions. The rigorous tests demand thorough preparation, which is why it's smart to review practice tests and your results before heading to the testing center. ASCP exam requirements are strict. Be sure you meet them before registering, or else you could end up wasting valuable time and money. Generally speaking, you'll need to complete a training or degree program affiliated with your intended career path. For instance, those taking technician certification exams will need to have their high school diploma and complete a phlebotomy training course and 60 postgraduate education credits before registering. For more information about ASCP exam requirements, visit their website.

On Test Day

You've probably taken your fair share of standardized tests in your academic career, but it helps to understand exactly what to expect on the day of your ASCP exam. Unlike other computer-based tests, ASCP certification exams use computer adaptive testing. This means that the test will measure your knowledge and skills more efficiently than other types of exams. A correct answer on one question will trigger a more difficult follow-up question, while an incorrect response will cause a less difficult question to appear. This helps ensure that each examinee's abilities are fairly measured.

ASCP exams are sequential, which means you won't be able to skip questions you aren't sure about. Every exam is unique, based on the individual examinee's performance. While it's easy to get caught up in whether or not you're performing well, it's important to stay focused on the questions at hand. Taking ASCP exam practice tests can help you get familiar with the format and feel more confident on the day of the real thing.

ASCP Exam Strategies

As you prepare for your ASCP exams, set aside time in your week to fully focus on your studies. Research shows that distributed practice – breaking up the material into small chunks to study over several periods of time – is more effective than cramming all night before the exam. Give yourself plenty of time to study in 30 minute and hour-long periods. You'll retain more information and feel reinvigorated before each study session begins.

ASCP certification exams may also warrant extensive practice testing. Begin your studying by taking a practice test to see how you'd fare if the exam were today. The questions you got wrong can serve as sign posts for your test prep. Use the detailed explanations for the items you got wrong to create flashcards, outlines and other notes to study.

Take a Practice Test with Exam Edge

We offer a wide range of ASCP exam practice tests for our users. From the comfort of your living room – or anywhere you have a wifi connection – you can mimic the exact structure and content of the real exam. With options to pause or pace the test in the same way you'll be constrained to on test day, our resources will prove instrumental to your ASCP exam score.

You can preview our offerings right now with a free sample practice exam. Click here to get started!