12-1-2016: Update for Pathologists’ Assistants Practicing in New York. Read full news story here.

Nevada is only one of a couple states which require a license to practice as a pathologists’ assistant. The license does NOT require that you be an ASCP certified pathologists’ assistant. They allow experience based applicants as well. If the applicant is not certified, then they must possess a baccalaureate degree with a major or minor in a biological science or an allied health field and have at least 3 years of combined experience in surgical pathology and autopsy pathology.
 
An application form and information on how to apply for a Nevada license can be found here. The entire text of the Nevada code (law) may be found here specifically under subsection 652.452.

New York is in the process of implementing a licensing law. As of December, 2016 the Governor signed off on a bill creating a new licensure category for Pathologists' Assistants. The law also provides Pathologists' Assistants a secure future in New York, thereby supporting the patients and institutions they serve. See our previous news story here. View the law here.  Although specific details on obtaining licensure are yet to be devised, a state committee has been established that includes three of our own AAPA members: Kathleen Bykowicz, PA(ASCP)^CM, Charles Fernandez-Perez, PA(ASCP)^CM, and Lysette Seegobin, PA(ASCP)^CM.  Read the full news story here.

California does NOT currently require a license or certification to practice. California did however pass a law which states that if you are not certified and are doing anatomic pathology work which involves the dissection of tissue specimens, then a pathologist must be physically present on-site, in the facility, available for immediate consultation during the entire time the work is being performed. If the person performing the work is certified then a pathologist does not need to be present when the work is being performed. These California stipulations apply to specimens which have to be "dissected.” There is an exception for specimens that are so small that they do not require dissection, but can just be described and totally embedded without cutting. In that case, a non-certified person may process those specimens with indirect supervision by a pathologist. The specific wording is:  "For tissue processing that does not involve dissection, a qualified pathologist may be available by telephone or other electronic means."  People doing any kind of grossing in California must still be qualified to perform high complexity testing per Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations (which are also cited in the California rule). See "Federal” below.

Federal law classifies anatomic pathology as "high complexity" testing. CLIA requires an associate degree in a related field or the equivalent for persons performing high complexity testing. Anyone working in anatomic pathology in the United States must meet CLIA requirements for high complexity testing but does not need to be certified. The full text of the CLIA requirements for personnel performing high complexity testing can be found here. Refer to paragraph 493.1489 beginning on page 611 for these qualifications.

Additional clarification of the federal requirement was issued in a later interpretive guideline by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services which can be found here, under D6171 subpart 493.1489(b)(7).

The federal government authorizes private organizations to inspect and accredit laboratories to ensure that laboratories meet all relevant legal standards and requirements. One such prominent organization is the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The CAP issued an announcement in May, 2010 revising their accreditation standards for personnel who perform macroscopic or gross examinations of tissues. The full text of the CAP announcement and a discussion of what it means to pathologists’ assistants can be found in the AAPA e-News Today dated April 7, 2010.

Legislative and Regulatory Information

States requiring licensing of other clinical laboratory personnel, and how their regulations may affect pathologists’ assistants