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Rules and Regulations of the ABCC for Certification Programs in Clinical Chemistry and Toxicological Chemistry

The American Board of Clinical Chemistry is a not-for-profit organization, incorporated in 1950, devoted to certification of individuals with doctoral level degrees in the practice of clinical chemistry, toxicological chemistry, and other clinical laboratory medicine disciplines. In purpose, function, and organization the ABCC is analogous to the certifying boards in various medical specialties. The aim of the Board is to serve the public interest and advance the science by establishing standards of competence for those who practice clinical laboratory medicine, and to certify as Diplomates those qualified specialists who comply with the requirements of the Board.

Certification is based on the candidate's personal and professional record of education, experience, and achievement, as well as on the results of a comprehensive written examination. Listing of Diplomates in the directory of active Diplomates shall be based on each individual's certification and demonstration of continued professional competence, as determined by ABCC from time to time.

The Board cooperates and collaborates with other professional organizations and governmental bodies in matters within its sphere, and serves as a sponsoring organization of the National Registry in Clinical Chemistry.

The requisite background for certification in clinical chemistry and/or toxicological chemistry includes (1) good moral character and high ethical and professional standing; (2) an earned doctorate in the natural sciences or in medicine; (3) acceptable chemical education including adequate graduate education in biochemistry; (4) at least five years' experience in the applicant's discipline of clinical chemistry or toxicological chemistry subsequent to obtaining the doctorate, in a setting acceptable to the Board. In addition, successful applicants must pass a written examination based on all aspects of clinical chemistry and/or toxicological chemistry, and on fundamental knowledge in biochemistry and other related disciplines.

Rules and Regulations of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry for Certification in Clinical Chemistry or Toxicological Chemistry

I. General Qualifications

The applicant shall be of good moral character and high ethical and professional standing.

II. Educational Requirements

A. The applicant must possess an earned Doctor of Philosophy or an equivalent doctoral degree in chemistry or another of the natural sciences, or a Doctor of Medicine degree from an appropriately accredited university or college acceptable to the Board.
B. Applicants must have satisfactorily completed a minimum of 30 semester hours (or equivalent) in undergraduate and/or graduate level chemistry or biochemistry courses taken at institutions acceptable to the Board.
C. Applicants with education obtained at institutions outside the U.S. or Canada must, at their expense, have their credentials evaluated by the International Education Research Foundation, Inc., or acceptable equivalent.

III. Professional Experience Requirements

A. Prior to admission to examination (or prior to certification when an applicant has been admitted under exception #1 below), the applicant must demonstrate five years' full-time (or equivalent part-time) diverse professional experience in clinical chemistry or in toxicological chemistry. The experience must be obtained subsequent to conferral of the doctoral degree and in laboratories or institutions maintaining standards in clinical chemistry or toxicological chemistry that are acceptable to the Board.
B.

Exceptions to the above professional experience requirements may be made under the following conditions:

1. Applicants may apply for early admission to the examination if, by the examination date, they will have completed a minimum of one year in a post-doctoral clinical chemistry training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Clinical Chemistry or other entity acceptable to the Board. To be considered, the postdoctoral training program the applicant attends must be fully accredited on the stated ABCC application deadline date. Should the applicant pass the examination but not complete the program, the Board has the right to void the examination results.

2. Applicants who hold a valid Certificate of Qualification in either Clinical Chemistry or Toxicological Chemistry issued by this Board may be admitted to the other examination upon documentation of completion of at least one year full-time (or equivalent part-time) diverse experience in the other specialty (which has been acquired subsequent to the issuance of the certificate held, and in laboratories or institutions maintaining standards acceptable to the Board).

3. Applicants from or graduates of ComACC accredited postdoctoral training programs who have passed the ABCC examination in either clinical chemistry or toxicological chemistry may be admitted to examination in any of the other ABCC specialties upon documentation of focused experience in that specialty. For applicants currently in a ComACC program, documentation of focused experience should be provided from the program director.

IV. Examinations

When the Board or its committees are satisfied that the requirements for admission as a Candidate for examination have been met, the applicant is designated as a Candidate for examination and will be notified at least 45 days prior to an assigned examination date that:

A. Upon receipt of confirmation to take the exam on an assigned examination date and, effective January 1, 2004, pay an examination fee ($100) per exam part, the Candidate will be admitted to a comprehensive written examination.
B. Candidates must achieve a passing grade in each part of the examination.
C. All parts of the examination must be passed within three years after the date of the first examination for which the applicant is eligible. Failure to take or pass the examination within this time will result in termination of the application and forfeiture of all fees.
D. If necessary, all or part of the examination may be repeated one time (only) without reapplication during the three-year eligibility period noted in item C above by notifying the ABCC office of such intent at least 45 days prior to any scheduled examination.
E. If unable to successfully complete the examination under the conditions above, the applicant may reapply one additional time, according to the then-current rules for reapplication. The applicant will be required to sit for all parts of the examination regardless of past performance on any one portion.

V. Application Procedures and Fees

A. Applications must be submitted on the forms available from the ABCC office in full compliance with the instructions furnished and must be accompanied by the application fee ($500). Half of the application fee is refunded if the applicant is found ineligible for examination. No refund is made to candidates declared eligible for examination, whether or not they take an examination.
B. Applicants must arrange to have official documentation of all degrees awarded, transcripts of academic records, or equivalent documentation of all courses taken and marks earned, submitted directly to the ABCC office by the registrar of every university or other institution of higher education attended. When education was obtained at an institution outside the U.S. or Canada, a course-by-course evaluation must be submitted from the credentials evaluation agency directly to the ABCC office. If a post-doctoral training program was taken, the Program Director must submit a letter describing the nature of the training and attesting to its satisfactory completion by the applicant.
C. Applicants must arrange for three letters of reference to be submitted by the originators directly to the ABCC office. These must be current at the time the application is submitted and should attest to familiarity with the applicant’s professional expertise, the length of acquaintance, and the good character of the applicant insofar as pertinent to the Board. Current ABCC Credentials Committee members may not serve as references.
D. All official documents, letters of reference, and any other information required must be received in the ABCC office within nine months after submission of the application forms and fees. Failure to meet this requirement will terminate the application without prejudice. The application fee, minus a $50 service fee, will be returned to the applicant.
E. Applicants should apply a minimum of four months prior to an anticipated examination date. The Board takes no action on incomplete applications (lacking, for example, a transcript or letter of recommendation). Only applicants admitted to Candidacy at least 45 days prior to an examination date may take the examination on that date.
F. Examinations are administered in July at the annual AACC meeting.

VI. Reapplication Requirements

A. A new application for certification and the current application fee must be submitted to the ABCC office not sooner than 12 months after the date on which the last examination was taken by the applicant.
B. The applicant must arrange for three letters of reference to be submitted by the originators directly to the ABCC office documenting that the applicant has been actively employed in clinical chemistry or toxicological chemistry in labora-tories or institutions acceptable to the Board during the period since the applicant's last examination.
C. In the absence of information to the contrary, all prior documentation of education and experience will be deemed by the ABCC to meet the requirements in effect at the time of original application and will be accepted for reapplication.
D. An individual may reapply for certification only once.
E. When the above conditions are met, the applicant will be allowed to take the examination in accordance with prevailing rules and regulations governing the taking of the examination as if this were an initial application.

 

VII. Continuing Education Requirements

A. Effective January 1, 2004, Diplomates of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry must document 50 contact hours of participation every two years in an organized continuing education (CE) experience acceptable to the Board in order to maintain listing in the directory of active Diplomates.
B. The Board accepts education activities that are Category 1 CME- or ACCENT-approved as well as education activities provided by state laboratory agencies in the U.S. Routine professional activities do not satisfy continuing education requirements. Satisfactory CE credits must be from a recognized provider of CE. Examples of CE providers acceptable to the Board include ASCP, CAP, ACS, American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, Society of Forensic Toxicologists, American Academy of Forensic Science, and the Royal College of Pathologists in the UK. The Board reserves the right to accept other educational activities in satisfaction of the CE credit requirement upon prior application to the Board by the person, organization, or entity sponsoring or providing the educational activity.
C. All continuing education must reflect the scope of practice of clinical laboratory medicine and must be obtained during the two-year period, January 1-December 31, immediately prior to submitting documentation.
D. Diplomates will be notified every two years of the CE requirement. In addition to attesting they have completed the required 50 hours of CE for the previous two years, Diplomates must submit a CE renewal fee of $200 by March 1 of the appropriate year in order to remain in the directory of active Diplomates. The requirement for CE is waived for the calendar year during which Diplomate status is achieved. A percentage of Diplomates will be audited each year to determine compliance with the CE requirements. Diplomates who are audited must provide copies of their transcripts or attendance certificates for category 1 CE as reported for the CE renewal period. All Diplomates are responsible for maintaining documentation of their category 1 CE for three years past attendance in order to comply with the audit if selected.
E. Diplomates may re-establish active status by submitting documentation of CE and annual fees for the preceding one-year period. An additional service fee of $100 must accompany the request.
F. Records will be maintained in the ABCC office for active members and the ABCC directory will include names of active members only at the time of printing.

General Provisions Concerning Certification

A. ABCC reserves the right to deny Certification for cause.
B. Certificates issued by the Board are not transferable. They may be revoked for misrepresentation, or other valid causes.
C. Successful candidates are issued a Certificate of Qualification by the Board to attest to their status as Diplomates of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry. Persons holding a valid Certificate of Qualification issued by the Board are entitled to use the designation "Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry" and the initials "DABCC" whenever professionally appropriate.
D. Standards, requirements, and application procedures for Certification are subject to revision by the Board. The latest official version is available from the ABCC office.
E. Diplomates of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry who complete the required continuing education requirements are referred to as Active members.

This brochure is a summary of the by-laws and not a substitute for the by-laws.