AAB Board of Registry Exam

Has anyone here taken the AAB MT exam lately? I am in the process of studying and was curious about material covered and difficulty. Thanks

I am also currently in the process of studying for the AAB MT exam. I have the books that you can order from AAB but I am starting to freak. I am a MLT with ASCP certification from 17 years ago but all the chem reactions and details is making me worry. So much detail my brain hurts. lol I have just a month to study. Good Luck to you!

Brina in Beaverton, Oregon said: I am also currently in the process of studying for the AAB MT exam. I have the books that you can order from AAB but I am starting to freak. I am a MLT with ASCP certification from 17 years ago but all the chem reactions and details is making me worry. So much detail my brain hurts. lol I have just a month to study. Good Luck to you!

I am also ASCP certified as an MLT. I have recently heard from a coworker that the AAB test was easier than they expected. So that gave me some encouragement. Good luck to you also.

Most job postings say bs mt ascp, not aab, stop trying to take the easy way out in getting your mt. Go back to school and get ur bs degree. Then take the ascp. Most places will not recognize you as a mt if u have ur aab

Bob in Dallas, Texas said: Most job postings say bs mt ascp, not aab, stop trying to take the easy way out in getting your mt. Go back to school and get ur bs degree. Then take the ascp. Most places will not recognize you as a mt if u have ur aab

Hey Bob you sound like a real a**hole. Thanks for your support. "Most jobs say bs mt ascp" ok maybe where you live. Where I live there is a shortage of MTs and the hospitals are grateful for whatever they can get. Please explain why I should go to college for 4 years and pay thousands of dollars just to get a state License when I can study, take the AAB and get the same license? If you want to stereotype me as some one inferior you because I do not have a BS go ahead. But in the real world laboratory we all know MLTs do the same jobs as MT and often do it just as good if not better. What would you say to someone taking the AAB who was certified as an MLT through the military? Should they also give up and go get a BS? " Most places will not recognize you as a mt if u have ur aab". I guess I will never work at those places and unfortunately I will never meet encouraging, positive, d^ck like you. Wow I am so upset. Thanks Bob in Dallas.

I have worked as an MLT in two states Oregon and Arizona. The hospital I worked at in Arizona did not have a difference in pay for MLT or MT. We also did the exact same job, resulting work, calling critical and Blood Bank. Some Oregon hospitals will consider you an MT after working at their hospital for 3 years without sitting for the exam. So truthfully I don't need to go back and get a BS in Medical Technology to get paid the same. If I go back to school it would be for something else. I am choosing to take the AAB exam for MT because I want too.

For some reason there are always haters of those that didn't have to pay the extra money for school. We all do the same job, of course some better than others but it has nothing to do with what degree you have.

DJ you are lucky the lab does not have standards. I feel bad to my two students how are about to graduate from a accred NAACLS program and they are taking there ASCP, and guess what they are both going to be 10K in dept.

You CANNOT do that in other professions, like pharmacy or physical therapy, they are both ancillary profession like the lab. Its like saying I am a pharmacy tech, but I am going to take this certification that makes me a pharmacist and bypass paying student loans.

I am greatful my HR department looks for Degrees if you have a MT, you have to submit your BS degree and most if not all places here say ASCP so if you travel here with your AAB you will be paid like your MLT that you started with. So be greatful they have no standards in your area, b/c you are screwing over new grads that will see how this profession has no standards and go into things like PT, OT, pharmacy where they have standards and get paid well and make MT a stepping stone, hence more shortages.

California has the higest wages for MT thus far, they just started using MLT, lets see how far the wages will drop in the coming years.

This profession is a joke, no standards, military trained? Give me a break, people will do anything for a shortcut, I want to be physical therapist, I guess I will try to go to the military and bypass thousands of student loans, hey guess what I CANNOT do that, WHY? PT has standards. So have fun with your AAB, b/c like most lab directors they have their ASCP, and they are the ones that do the hiring.

Most of the techs that I see complaining about money are the slackers. The, as you call them, lesser qualified techs are busting their butts while the slackers complain that they should be paid more just because of the MT ASCP. It’s a total package and the ones that turn out the most results with the least errors get the highest pay. If we didn't do that it would be discrimination. Quit worring about doing more work than someone else and everyones elses pay.

Amen brother.

CAP is in favor of having every lab personell licensed with one credentialing agecy, so it's a matter of time.

Good - we need to get this crap over with and quit paying hard working techs by some stupid caste system.

Brina in Beaverton, Oregon said: I am also currently in the process of studying for the AAB MT exam. I have the books that you can order from AAB but I am starting to freak. I am a MLT with ASCP certification from 17 years ago but all the chem reactions and details is making me worry. So much detail my brain hurts. lol I have just a month to study. Good Luck to you!

Will you be taking the exam this coming July 17 at Cedars Sinai Medical Center? What have you been using to help you study?

Angelo in San Diego, California said: Will you be taking the exam this coming July 17 at Cedars Sinai Medical Center? What have you been using to help you study?

I live in Oregon and will take it at the local community college proctor test center. AAB will send them the paper test (paper only offered) by FED EX. The college will administer the test; I have up to 5 hrs to complete 240 questions. The breakdown is 40 questions in each department. They give you a percentage breakdown of what parts of each department will weigh more in that specific area. For the Generalist you have to pass all areas or you will fail the whole test and must retake the test. So if you pass Chem., Hemo, Immuno, Imuuno. Hemo and then fail Micro. section only you will have to take the test again. I have heard the ASCP is only about 100 questions, wonder why AAB has 240 questions.

I bought the AAB PERS publication book and question/answer book, also HARR CLS Review (has questions and breakdown of answer on same page-nice), Valarie Polansky Quick Review Cards and Clinical Lab. Science Review a Bottom Line Approach 3rd Ed.by Patsy Jarreau.

I would recommend PERS because it comes from the AAB testers and I really liked CLS Review Bottom Line (does not review all necessary info.) because it has a comical way of getting you to remember certain aspects of lab. Quick Review cards have a lot of information on each card and are portable to take one department at a time with you anywhere.
I hope this helps. :)

Brina in Beaverton, Oregon said: I have worked as an MLT in two states Oregon and Arizona. The hospital I worked at in Arizona did not have a difference in pay for MLT or MT. We also did the exact same job, resulting work, calling critical and Blood Bank. Some Oregon hospitals will consider you an MT after working at their hospital for 3 years without sitting for the exam. So truthfully I don't need to go back and get a BS in Medical Technology to get paid the same. If I go back to school it would be for something else. I am choosing to take the AAB exam for MT because I want too.

For some reason there are always haters of those that didn't have to pay the extra money for school. We all do the same job, of course some better than others but it has nothing to do with what degree you have.

Well, I just have to say that this is just sad if MLTs and MTs make the same amount and do the same thing. There is no point in getting a bachelors in that case. I'm glad the rest of the US is like this because it's a disgrace to the MT profession.

I meant to say not like that. At least most places pay more for MTs.

The AAB like the AMT is not recognized everywhere. You are better off taking your ASCP and having the advantage to work all over the united states. Most hospitals pay based on your degree, like here in nashville if you have your BSRN you are at higher pay scale than a ASRN. Most places will pay you more because they know you have much more student loans than someone with a associate degree at a community college.

That is true, my aunt has her BSPHARM and gets significantly less than the pharmD, but they do they exact same job.

Bob in Dallas, Texas said: Most job postings say bs mt ascp, not aab, stop trying to take the easy way out in getting your mt. Go back to school and get ur bs degree. Then take the ascp. Most places will not recognize you as a mt if u have ur aab

Most employers will require a Bachelors degree plus certification to be hired as a MT/CLS. Most employers will have an education requirement AND a certification requirement.

and most employers will give their own knowledge test because they don't trust the certifications.

No they won't they have standard requirements. BS MT ASCP

We've had many techs come in with a bunch of letters behind their name, including MS MT ASCP, and they didn't know what a NRBC was. They didn't even know that EDTA chelates calcium. We don't need them. It's a simple basic test and I think anyone should be able to pass it.

Once your hired bc of your MT ASCP every lab gives you a proficiency test within the 90 days.

Hem = 25 slides do the diff and morph
Micro = 25 unknown slides
Bb = ab panel
Chem = cap surveys

This was some of the profiency test I had after being hired, but I got hired bc of my MT ASCP.

Seems as if no one in this 'discussion' has anything to say about the AAB EXAM, which I read is what the first question was!

To the writer who said ASCP MLT has 100 questions, that is a fact. I just passed mine. 100 questions in 150 minutes. Having just completed my A.S. in MLT, it seemed very difficult, but due to the varying difficulties of questions posed, I exceeded the '400' minimum score by over 200 points.

I'd come to this discussion to learn a bit about techs' experiences with the AAB exam. Sorry to say, I didn't find any info...

I love all these people who think they "know" how it is everywhere...
Lots of hospitals pay their MLTs and MTs the same because they do the same job. I have 2 jobs. One pays the same for both and one doesn't. The job that pays different wages recognizes the AAB exam, so I plan on going that route for now. I will get a minor raise when I pass. I'm also in school completing my BS, which when I finish, I will get another small raise.
As in all professions, the numbers of letters after your name have nothing to do with your intelligence or knowledge of your field.

Skye in Copperas Cove, Texas said:
As in all professions, the numbers of letters after your name have nothing to do with your intelligence or knowledge of your field.

But it does usually mean a bump in pay. A BS commands more money than an AS, just as a doctorate commands more than a BS.

Tell that to research PhD's that make less than AAS MLT's

Wut are they researching? You must be smoking crack. For the most part, research PHds make major bread. Stop trying to make yourself feel better about yourself. You are transparent!

Go to school, get a real degree, so you dont have to keep reassuring yourself that an Associate degree is good and anything else is a waste of time. Or maybe you've tried already but just realized that you aren't capable. Stop making excuses!

Larry/spot/joker is a sad case of someone with multiple personalities, who knows how many alias he has. He thinks this AS degree is the end all be all, the fact that DCLS programs are popping up and starting soon will probably make his blood boil bc he wants to keep standards down, luckly the lab is like the rest of the ancillary fields that are increasing standards..

Yeah Larry. A person is not to be judged by how much they make in dollar amounts, but the content of their character. If you truly realize this, then you won't have to secretly measure yourself against others based on salary. It really is not the way to live. We all die one day, and better believe we can't take money to the grave with us, so stop being petty and try your best to enjoy whats really important in life. I know it's hard but it's worth the effort.

I don't understand the ire here. Dally: If YOU truly believe that people should be judged by the content of their character, then why are you telling those of us with AAS to get a real degree? I worked very hard for what I have. I'm working very hard to get a BS too. At both jobs I have, even where I get paid less than the MT's, I do everything they do and usually more. I'm the one they come to fix the instruments because the MT's think it's below them. I'm the one the supervisors leave in charge of their department while they're on vacation. It doesn't have anything to do with what degree I have, or how much money I make, but it does have to do with the fact that I work very hard at my job. So quit secretly measuring yourself against others based on education.

CLS48 in California said: But it does usually mean a bump in pay. A BS commands more money than an AS, just as a doctorate commands more than a BS.

As I already explained, usually does not mean always. I can understand why if someone was not going to gain anything monetarily for going back and getting a BS, they wouldn't see the worth in it.

Kind of sensitive about their 3 year BS degree's aren't they? The PhD fellows, that are in research, make very little. I kinda feel sorry for them, but I didn't post to brag. Inferiority is a major trait of many MT's and boy does it show. You just keep thinking you can buy respect and that it should just be given because of position. I went into business, with my AAS degree, and I'm making triple what I made as an AAS MT (but I still miss the lab).

Psycho Larry

I'm actually going for a 4 year BAS at the moment, which I found to be a little more rounded and broader in application than just getting a BS, but I'm doing it for my own benefit. The raise I'll get because of it is going to be negligible.

anyone who took the AAB?Any feedback?How's the questions? are they almost as hard as ASCP?Please help

Brina in Beaverton, Oregon said: I am also currently in the process of studying for the AAB MT exam. I have the books that you can order from AAB but I am starting to freak. I am a MLT with ASCP certification from 17 years ago but all the chem reactions and details is making me worry. So much detail my brain hurts. lol I have just a month to study. Good Luck to you!

hi Brina,
how was your test for AAB?
Did you make it?

The AAB is a waste of time, take the ascp and you can work everywhere.

wishful in Whittier, California said: anyone who took the AAB?Any feedback?How's the questions? are they almost as hard as ASCP?Please help

Wow my original question from 2 months ago and not one answer but about 40 useless replies. If you want to argue about education and MT vs MLT there are countless other post out there. If you don't have anything helpful or positive to say stay out of this post.

So has anyone actually taken the AAB exam? My test date is next Thursday July 9th. Wow an MLT who knows the days of the week, it must be a miracle.

CLS-90210 in Oxnard, California said: The AAB is a waste of time, take the ascp and you can work everywhere.

You are missing the point. AAB is an organization that allows MLTs to take their exam and license you as an MT if you pass. The only requirement is 3 years of experience. If ASCP offered this I would gladly take their exam as well. All we are doing is making the most of an opportunity.

DJ in Lafayette, Louisiana said: Wow my original question from 2 months ago and not one answer but about 40 useless replies. If you want to argue about education and MT vs MLT there are countless other post out there. If you don't have anything helpful or positive to say stay out of this post.

So has anyone actually taken the AAB exam? My test date is next Thursday July 9th. Wow an MLT who knows the days of the week, it must be a miracle.

can you give us a feedback regarding your test on july 9th? Where are you going to take the test? there will be one in LA on July 17th and oct 29th.
I am planning to take the test here in LA. Please give us feedback, I wish you luck

CLS-90210 in Oxnard, California said: The AAB is a waste of time, take the ascp and you can work everywhere.

California is recognizing the AAB now. I just want to have an idea how hard the test would be. Is harder than ASCP or NCA?

It recognizes it but you also must have the education requirements. All the education requirements ask for a bachelors degree so an MLT who takes the AAB to get their MT will still not qualify to get the CLS state license.

I want to work in Fl where I want to retire, I just turned 60, I need to work. I have worked in a lab 40 years, MLT(ASCP)MT(HEW). To work there I need a Fl license. I do not want to take a test, I do not want to go back to school. I have passed 2 exams, why should I have to take another? or go back to shcool. I get paid as an MT, I do at least the work of a new grad with a BS in a "life science", I am sure I know more and do more.

It's my job to put down everyone that does not work in California or qualify for California standards. I am the best and everyone else is nothing and that includes other techs in my state.

Wow that was not my post but someone copying me. Great, a copy cat. I guess it's easy to put CLS48 from California as your name on this discussion board. They really should change that.

CLS48 in California said: It's my job to put down everyone that does not work in California or qualify for California standards. I am the best and everyone else is nothing and that includes other techs in my state.

I apologize to everyone but the above poster was not my name but an impostor. I wish that this discussion board was designed better. This seems like the only board on MTs that gets traffic. If anyone else knows of a good CLS discussion board please let me know as I'd probably switch. Things like the above shouldn't be able to happen.

This is why we news registered accounts so people cannot use the other persons name. It was probably larry, I have read his posts, I feel sorry for the facility he works at, another reason not to hire MLT, no maturity.

Reguardless, no matter what he posts, he is crying like a baby bc of all these standards put in place in Cali, thus the highest salary, so keep posting larry probably with my name next, your not going to alter my paycheck.

CLS-90210 in Corona, California said: This is why we news registered accounts so people cannot use the other persons name. It was probably larry, I have read his posts, I feel sorry for the facility he works at, another reason not to hire MLT, no maturity.

Reguardless, no matter what he posts, he is crying like a baby bc of all these standards put in place in Cali, thus the highest salary, so keep posting larry probably with my name next, your not going to alter my paycheck.

Lol that's true, our paychecks will stay the same. I have a registered account. I don't know why indeed would allow someone to use the same id as me. That's just dumb. I would have a different email address but indeed allows you to put an id you like and change your location. I don't think the person hacked into my account. Either way I'll change my password.

Hello I want to apologize to CLS48, I am a child, I like to use other peoples names. I realize I only have a associate degree, that is as far as my mental capacity can take me. I am sorry for using so many alias, I have multiple personalities and I am bitter with my life. I think I will go to Africa and use my associate degree to become a medical doctor bc they have no standards there.

Once again I apologize for using other peoples names, I have to change my adult diaper now.