CAAHEP Updates Cytologist Nomenclature and Educational Standards

On September 15, the Board of Directors for the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) approved the Proposed Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Cytology. The standards and guidelines approved by CAAHEP had been developed by the Cytotechnology Programs Review Committee (CPRC).

The new standards unify the professional nomenclature, adopting the term “cytologist” to refer to the professionals and “cytology” to denote their field of practice. Besides optimizing nomenclature, the updates outline a series of new educational standards and scope of practice enhancements to elevate the cytology profession.  With these modifications, cytologists will continue to serve patients in meaningful ways.

The new standards and guidelines also raise the minimum educational requirement to a master’s degree and will require cytology program directors to possess a relevant master’s degree.

Prior to approving these new standards, ASCP, ASC, and ASCT issued a statement urging CAAHEP’s support of the cytologist nomenclature as well as changes to the educational standards and scope of practice.

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