Any MLS (ASCP) certified students/PA's out there.

[Parashooter79]

Just curious if anyone has kept their certification after becoming a PA or current students still on the fence about doing the same. For those that are currently PA's,  how's keeping your certification helped or hurt you? Are you planning to add the DCLS or other doctoral training in the future? This topic is very interesting to me, just entering PA school after being a MLS and I'm interested how those skills translate to direct patient care. Cheers! 

 

 

[kidpresentable]

I knew a guy who kept a microscope in the office; he would prep simple slides himself for quick results. Not sure how he billed, nor if he actually kept up his cert

[MT2PA]

I kept mine through PA school (just in case) but did not renew after graduating and being NCCPA certified.  There's no value to it.  It does not enhance your PA career in any way.  Other than having a very good handle on lab values and which tests you can add on without looking it up, it doesn't really translate to patient care.

Anyone who is hiring you as a PA is not going to care about your MLS cert (i.e this will not help you in negotiating higher salaries).  Unless you plan to work as lab tech, I don't see any reason to keep the cert.

[PAzole]

I'm still currently applying to PA school and will have to renew my certification. I will probably keep renewing as a back up for some chance I don't get in. However, once I become a PA then I don't see a reason to renew it.