Louisiana Administrative Code, Subchapter B, Section XLV-3509 - Qualifications for Licensure and Certification | Louisiana Administrative Code

A. Clinical Laboratory Scientist-Generalist. To be eligible for licensure as a clinical laboratory scientist-generalist an applicant, in addition to satisfaction of the procedural requirements for licensure under this Chapter, shall have successfully completed an approved nationally recognized certification examination for such clinical laboratory personnel classification as developed and administered by one of the following organizations or their successor organizations:

1. American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP);

2. American Medical Technologists (AMT); or

3. American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB) provided, however, that an applicant for licensure as a CLS-G who has, prior to January 1, 1995, successfully completed the certification examination for such clinical laboratory personnel classification developed and administered by the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) (predecessor to the Department of Health and Human Services) shall also be eligible for licensure as a clinical laboratory scientist-generalist.

B. Clinical Laboratory Scientist-Specialist. To be eligible for licensure as a clinical laboratory scientist-specialist, an applicant, in addition to satisfaction of the procedural requirements for licensure under this Chapter, shall:

1. possess a baccalaureate or more advanced degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the chemical, physical, or biological sciences; and

2. have successfully completed an approved nationally recognized certification examination for such clinical laboratory personnel classification, as developed and administered by one of the following organizations:

a. American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP);

b. National Certification Agency (NCA);

c. American Society of Microbiology (ASM);

d. American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC);

e. American Board of Immunology (ABI);

f. American Board of Bioanalysts (ABB); or

g. American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT).

C. Clinical Laboratory Scientist-Technician. To be eligible for licensure as a clinical laboratory scientist-technician, an applicant, in addition to satisfaction of the procedural requirements for licensure under this Chapter, shall have successfully completed an approved nationally recognized certification examination for such clinical laboratory personnel classification, as developed and administered by one of the following organizations or their successor organizations:

1. American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP);

2. American Medical Technologists (AMT); or

3. American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB).

D. Cytotechnologist. To be eligible for licensure as a cytotechnologist, an applicant, in addition to satisfaction of the procedural requirements for licensure under this Chapter, shall:

1. possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, fulfill the educational requirements necessary to enroll in a school of cytotechnology, complete one full year of full-time cytotechnology experience or its equivalent in an approved school of cytotechnology, and successfully complete an approved nationally recognized certification examination for such clinical laboratory personnel classification, as developed and administered by one of the following organizations:

a. American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP); or

b. International Academy of Cytology (IAC);

2. have successfully completed an approved nationally recognized certification examination for such clinical laboratory personnel classification, as developed and administered by one of the following organizations:

a. American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP); or

b. International Academy of Cytology (IAC).

E. Laboratory Assistant. To be eligible for licensure as a laboratory assistant, an applicant, in addition to satisfaction of the procedural requirements for licensure under this Chapter, shall:

1. possess a high school diploma or its equivalent;

2. document to the board, in a form sufficient to and upon the recommendation of the committee, training as evidence of competency in the basic practice of clinical laboratory science. For this purpose, successful completion of the certification examinations for laboratory assistants offered by the International Society of Clinical Laboratory Technology and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists shall be deemed a conclusive, but not the exclusive, means of documenting competency in the basic practice of clinical laboratory science;

3. prior to the performance of moderate complexity testing as provided in 42 CFR Part 493, have provided to the applicant's employer or laboratory director documentation of training appropriate for the testing performed. Such documentation shall ensure that the applicant has all of the following:

a. the skills required for proper specimen collection, including patient preparation, if applicable, labeling, handling, preservation or fixation, processing or preparation, transportation, and storage of specimens;

b. the skills required for implementing all standard laboratory procedures;

c. the skills required for performing each test method and for proper instrument use;

d. the skills required for performing preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and calibration procedures related to each test performed;

e. a working knowledge of reagent stability and storage;

f. the skills required to implement the quality control policies and procedures of the laboratory;

g. an awareness of the factors that influence test results; and

h. the skills required to assess and verify the validity of patient test results through the evaluation of quality control sample values prior to reporting patient test results; and

4. have provided to the committee or board, upon good cause shown, the documentation of training appropriate for the moderate complexity testing to be performed as provided in §3509. E 3

F. Phlebotomist. To be eligible for certification as a phlebotomist, an applicant, in addition to satisfaction of the procedural requirements for certification under this Chapter, shall:

1. have successfully completed a certification examination approved or written and administered by the board and the committee following completion of a training program for phlebotomists satisfactory to the board, upon recommendation of the committee, consisting of a minimum of 20 lecture hours or adequate practical hours to ensure that the applicant possesses:

a. the skills required for proper specimen collection, including patient identification and preparation, labeling, handling, preservation, processing, transportation, and storage of specimens;

b. the skills required for selecting the appropriate type of tube to collect for each test;

c. the skills required for performing preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and calibration procedures related to each test performed;

d. a working knowledge of reagent stability and storage;

e. the skills required to perform quality control procedures;

f. an awareness of the factors that influence test results;

g. a working knowledge of the actions of various anticoagulants;

h. a working knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of blood vessels and the circulatory system and blood;

i. a working knowledge of the components and functions of those components of blood to include, RBC, WBC, platelets, and plasma or serum;

j. a working knowledge of primary hemostasis;

k. a working knowledge of laboratory safety to include OSHA standards for handling bloodborne pathogens;

l. a working knowledge of the various isolation procedures and infection control;

m. a working knowledge of various medical terms and laboratory tests;

n. a working knowledge of the requirements of special laboratory tests;

o. a working knowledge of the clinical laboratory;

p. a working knowledge of the major tests performed in the clinical laboratory and specimen requirements;

q. a working knowledge of aseptic techniques and methods of sterilization; and

r. completion of 100 successful venipunctures and 25 successful capillary collections; or

2. have successfully completed an approved nationally recognized certification examination for such clinical laboratory personnel classification, as developed and administered by one of the following organizations:

a. American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP);

b. National Certification Agency (NCA);

c. American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT);

d. National Phlebotomy Association (NPA);

e. American Medical Technologists (AMT);

f. American Association of Blood Banks;

g. National Allied Health Test Registry (NAHTR); or

h. International Academy of Phlebotomy Science (IAPS).