Licensure is a state-regulated entity, and currently neither Delaware, Maryland nor New Jersey have any form of licensure regarding clinical laboratories. Laboratory personnel, themselves, are NOT licensed even in Pennsylvania. There are a few states, like Tennessee and California, where you can get a temporary permit to work if you are certified, but you need to take a state exam as well to get a license. You never need to take the exam again, or demonstrate continued competency, to use the certification initials after your name. You do not need to pay ASCP to be able to place your certification initials after your name throughout the rest of your career.
Many individuals belong to a generalist type society and another more specialized one.
If I pay to renew my certification registry, receive my yearly sticker, and receive Laboratory Medicine , I am already a member of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. A professional organization provides many tangible benefits such as continuing education opportunities, representation of your interests before Congress, networking with colleagues in your city, state, nation and around the globe. You have worked long and hard to gain the knowledge needed to succeed in this career. This is something no Associate Member in ASCP, who belongs to no other professional laboratory organization, can ever aspire to.