For those interested in the HT and HTL pass rates for July -Dec 2004. Taken
from the ASCP BOR webpage.

MCQ = Multiple Choice Questions (i.e., written/computer)
PRACT = Practical
Minimum Pass Score required = 400
Range of scores theoretically possible = 100-999
NAACLS = National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (i.e.,
accredited HT programs)

MCQ
- NAACLS & non-NAACLS
    - Mean = 373
    - Range = 100-761
    - Total # taking exam = 1213
    - Total # pass = 478 (39%)

- NAACLS students
    - # taking exam = 148
    - # pass = 111 (75%)

- non-NAACLS candidates
    - # taking exam = 1065
    - # pass = 367 (34.5%)

PRACT (H&E - artery, kidney, skin, tonsil, cervix; Trichrome - liver;
Prussian blue - spleen; Mucicarmine - small intestine; GMS - fungus)
- NAACLS & non-NAACLS
    - Mean = 474
    - Range = 100-865
    - Total # taking exam = 1101
    - Total # pass = 833 (76%)

- NAACLS students
    - # taking exam = 149
    - # pass = 126 (87%)

- non-NAACLS candidates
    - # taking exam = 952
    - # pass = 707 (74%)

COMBINED MCQ & PRACT
- NAACLS & non-NAACLS
    - Total # taking exam = 429
    - Total # pass = 1176 (36.5%)

- NAACLS students
    - # taking exam = 97
    - # pass = 139 (70%)

- non-NAACLS candidates
    - # taking exam = 332
    - # pass = 1037 (31%)

HT Exam first given in 1948. Number certified to date = 19,515

Comments from me, from observations of watching these numbers for decades:
The usual pass rates are:
- NAACLS students = 65-75%, so students in this session had the usual pass
rate
- non-NAACLS candidates = 40-45%, so candidates in this session did worse
than usual.

However, I have seen this phenomenon before, when there have been other
"deadlines" for people working in the histology field to take a
certification exam (or their perception that it might be required), for
example during the beginnings of DRG's (mid-1980's) and just before CLIA '88
was enacted (early 1990's). There is a lower pass rate. Probably many
reasons why - definitely not prepared for the caliber of the exam, possibly
just wanting to get the exam in before the deadline and planned on studying
harder for the next time they took it after the deadline, or a myriad of
other reasons.

And, no, it was not a harder written exam. Many of the questions in the pool
are the same for the past 10-20 or more years. The theory on a GMS or PAS
has been the same for a century. Yes, there are newer questions (microwaves,
recycling, safety, for example), but these are tested and then referenced to
already existing questions that have a long history. So their degree of
difficulty is referenced to other questions of the same degree of
difficulty.

Anyway, thought people might be interested. I'll post the HTL scores in the
next email.

Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)SLS
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, MI 48073


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