Licensure Requirements for Histotechnologists

Practice as a histotechnologist and the use of the title "histotechnologist" in New York State require licensure, unless otherwise exempt under the law.

To be licensed as a histotechnologist in New York State you must meet all requirements, including:

• submit the application and fee for initial licensure;
• be of good moral character;
• be at least 18 years of age;
• meet education or alternative to education requirements; and
• meet examination requirements.

You must file an application for licensure and the other forms indicated, along with the appropriate fee, to the Office of the Professions at the address specified on each form. It is your responsibility to follow up with anyone you have asked to send us material.

The specific requirements for licensure and definition of practice are contained in Title 8, Article 165 of New York's Education Law and Subpart 79-21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. The laws and regulations are available on this website.

You should also read the general licensing information applicable for all professions.

The licensure and first registration fee is $345.

The limited permit fee is $50 (the limited permit fee is not refundable).

Fees are subject to change. The fee due is the one in law when your application is received (unless fees are increased retroactively). You will be billed for the difference if fees have been increased.

• Do not send cash.
• If you apply for licensure electronically using the online Application for Licensure, you will be required to pay by credit card.
• Other payments must be made by personal check or money order payable to the New York State Education Department. Your cancelled check is your receipt.
• Mail any required forms and fees to the indicated address on the form.

NOTE: Payment submitted from outside the United States should be made by credit card, check or draft on a United States bank and in United States currency; payments submitted in any other form will not be accepted and will be returned.

Individuals who withdraw their licensure application may be entitled to a partial refund.

• For the procedure to withdraw your application, contact the Clinical Laboratory Technology Unit by e-mailing opunit2@nysed.gov or by calling 518-474-3817 ext. 260 or by faxing 518-402-2323.
• The State Education Department is not responsible for any fees paid to an outside testing or credentials verification agency.

If you withdraw your application, obtain a refund, and then decide to seek New York State licensure at a later date, you will be considered a new applicant, and you will be required to pay the licensure and registration fees and meet the licensure requirements in place at the time you reapply.

To meet the education or alternative to education requirement for licensure as a histotechnologist, you must meet ONE of the seven criteria described below.

You must document that:

1. You are currently certified as a Histotechnologist by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification with the ASCP (HTL) or ASCPi (HTL) credential.
   (Use ASCP's online system to submit verification of your certification to the Department to document meeting this criteria.)
   Or
2. You are licensed and in good standing in Nevada as a Histotechnologist.
   (Use Form 3 to document meeting this criteria.)
   Or
3. You graduated from a bachelor's or higher degree histotechnologist program while the program was fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) at the time you graduated.
   (Use Form 2 to document meeting this criteria.)
   Or
4. You graduated from a bachelor's or higher degree program in histotechnology from a program registered by the Department as licensure qualifying at the time of graduation (A list of licensure-qualifying programs can be found on the Inventory of Registered Programs available at http://www.nysed.gov/heds/IRPSL1.html under "HISTOTECHNOL ").
   (Use Form 2 to document meeting this criteria.)
   Or
5. You graduated from a bachelor's or higher degree program in histotechnology that is determined by the Department to be substantially equivalent to a Department registered histotechnologist program .
   (Use Form 2 to document meeting this criteria.)
   Or
6. You graduated from a bachelor's or higher degree program in a natural science or a laboratory science AND you completed coursework acceptable to the Department AND you meet criteria in (a) or (b) below:
   1. A credit bearing advanced certificate program in histotechnology that is registered by the Department as license qualifying (or determined by the Department to be the substantial equivalent); or
   2. A credit-bearing or hospital based histotechnology program that you completed while the program was accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) as a histotechnologist program.
   (Use Form 2 to document meeting this criteria.)
   Or
7. You completed a bachelor's degree in a natural science or in a clinical laboratory science and coursework acceptable to the Department AND you meet criteria in EITHER (a) or (b) below:
   1. At least two years' full-time experience (or the part-time equivalent) working in a clinical laboratory while certified as a histotechnician in New York State or as a histologist in West Virginia; or
   2. at least two years' full-time experience (or the part-time equivalent) working in a clinical laboratory while certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification as a Histotechnician with the following credentials: ASCP (HT) or ACSPi (HT).
   (Use Form 2 to document meeting this criteria. You must ALSO USE Form 4 to document the professional experience required to meet this criteria.)

To meet the examination requirements for licensure as a histotechnologist, you must pass ONE of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification's examinations, as described below, with a converted score of at least 75. Refer to the chart below for the effective dates for acceptance of these exams.

Examination Eligibility

Before you will be made eligible to take an examination for New York State, you must:

• Apply for licensure, pay the $345 fee for licensure and first registration and submit all required documentation;
• The Department will review your application to determine your eligibility. You will be notified when you are eligible for the examination; and
• after the Department notifies you that you are eligible to take the examination, you must sign up directly with the ASCP Board of Certification by completing the New York State Licensure Application found at www.ascp.org/content/board-of-certification/get-credentialed/#state-licensure. The ASCP Board of Certification will inform you of next steps, including how to schedule an appointment to take the examination. You should schedule an appointment to take the examination within the assigned three-month examination period.

Reasonable Testing Accommodations

If you have a disability and may require reasonable testing accommodations for the examinations, please contact the ASCP Board of Certification at the website above or at:

ASCP Board of Certification
33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 1-800-267-2727
Fax: 312-541-4845

A limited permit authorizes an individual who has met all requirements for licensure as a histotechnologist, except for the examination requirement, to practice histotechnology in a specific setting.

The permit is valid for not more than 24 months and is not renewable. The permit holder shall be under the general supervision of the director of a clinical laboratory. Limited permit holders may not work at more than one clinical laboratory at a time. A limited permit holder who seeks to work in a different clinical laboratory must submit a new limited permit application to practice in such clinical laboratory and may not start practice until the limited permit is issued for the new setting and supervisor.

The supervising clinical laboratory director must serve the laboratory full-time, or on a regular part-time basis; ensure the supervision and technical performance of the limited permit holder and be readily available for consultation with the limited permit holder, as needed; shall be responsible for the performance and findings of all tests carried out by the limited permit holder, either by directly overseeing such testing or by assigning qualified supervisors to provide onsite supervision of the permit holder.

If the clinical laboratory director named on the limited permit ceases to supervise the limited permit holder or is replaced by another clinical laboratory director, the limited permit holder must submit a new limited permit application form identifying the new director to the Department. The limited permit holder may only practice under the supervision of the clinical laboratory director when the new permit is issued; the limited permit will be issued for the unused portion of the 24-month limited permit period.

You may apply for a limited permit by submitting the Application for Limited Permit (Form 5) and limited permit fee of $50 at the same time or any time after you submit your application for licensure (Form 1), $345 licensure and first registration fee, and evidence of meeting the education or alternative to education requirements.