Australian Society of CytologyContinuing Education for Cytotechnologists
(CEC) Program
Continuing Education Categories
Credits must be acquired from a minimum of FOUR out of EIGHT categories listed below. The categories are grouped into Individual and Group CEC Activities. Registrants must gain a minimum annual requirement of 600 credit points.
1. Individual CEC Activities
Category 1: Reading Articles, texts etc (10 credits per hour).Category 2: Learning programs.
- Teaching sets eg glass slides, transparencies (10 credits per hour).
- Audio-videotape instructional material (10 credits per hour).
- Computer based learning activities eg Website access (10 credits per hour).
Category 3: Self Assessment Program, quiz, tests, puzzle tray like sessions etc (10 credits per hour).
Category 4: External QAP/Proficiency Testing Program (5 credits per hour).
Category 5: Teaching and Research
- Lecture/Workshop/Multiheader session (10 credits per session).
- Oral presentation (20 credits per presentation).
- Poster presentation (20 credits per poster).
- Teaching, oral and poster preparation (10 credits per hour)
- Literature search (10 credits per search).
- Participation in approved research (10 credits per hour*).
- Publication, key author (50 credits per publication).
- Publication, co-author (20 credits per publication).
Category 6: Employment in diagnostic cytology (100 credits per 6 months).
* With a limit of 50 credits per year.
2. Group CEC Activities
Category 7: In-House Learning Activities.- Approved Cytology Training Program (50 credits per course).
- Formal lecture/workshop (20 credits per session).
- Clinico-Pathological Meeting (10 credits per session).
- Slide Case discussion (multi-header microscope) (20 credits per hour).
- Computer/Management Course (20 credits per course)
Category 8: External Learning Activities*.
- Local ASC Branch Meeting (30 credits per meeting).
- Formal Lecture/Workshop (30 credits per session).
- National/International Cytology Meeting (50 credits per meeting).
- Formal Educational/Refresher Courses related to cytology (50 credits per course).
- National/International Meetings of related disciplines (30 credits per course)
- Computer/Management Course (30 credits per course)
* Meetings other than ASC/IAC should have a major cytology component in order to be acceptable.
The following notes are presented to clarify the above categories: INDIVIDUAL CEC ACTIVITIES
Category 5
Lecture/Workshop: this subcategory is reserved for lectures or workshops you may be presenting as part of a formalised teaching program in cytology. You may be presenting a lecture or workshop to a group of students as part of a syllabus or presenting on a one-to-one basis. To this you can add credits accumulated in preparing for the initial lecture/workshop.Oral/Poster Presentation: this subcategory is reserved for platform and poster presentations either in-house or at a state, national or international meeting of a Cytology Society or other professional organisation eg AIMLS. To this you can add credits accumulated in preparing for these activities.Teaching, oral and poster preparation: The time spent preparing a first time lecture, workshop, multi-header session, oral and poster presentation can be claimed under this subcategory. Preparation refers to such tasks as photographing diagnostic material, reviewing slides for workshops and multi-header sessions, collating and organising your presentation and rehearsal. Reading and literature searches can be claimed in addition to these activities. You also gain credits for attending the session (see Group CEC Activities) as interacting with your students during question and answer time and informal discussion with your colleagues following the presentation would be considered a learning experience. As you can see, presenting a talk or poster for a meeting can generate a substantial number of credits.Participation in approved research: Credits claimed in this category are restricted to a maximum of 50 per year. To claim under this category the project must have a clearly defined protocol and be officially approved by the Head of Cytology. You would most likely be a member of a research team and publication of the results would be a desirable aim. You would be expected to be an author or at least receive acknowledgment for your contribution.
Category 6
Employment: The same number of credits is assigned to full time and part time registrants. The purpose of this is to compensate part time cytotechnologists who may be unable to participate in certain learning activities eg weekly in-house seminars. Part time cytotechnologists will have to choose learning activities from other categories to gain the minimum annual credit requirement.
Category 7. Approved Cytology Training Program: This category is reserved for individuals who are undergoing initial training in basic cytology. The course should have a formal syllabus and be approved by the Head of Cytology.
Category 7 & 8. Formal Lecture/Workshop: The time spent attending a lecture or workshop can be claimed under this subcategory. Extra credits are allocated to external activities as these are usually in your own time. Supervising students in a workshop can also be claimed as the interaction that occurs in these sessions could be considered a learning experience. Credits cannot be claimed for supervising students sitting examinations eg CT (ASC) as no learning interactions would occur in these situations. This category would also include attendance at training sessions on the interpretation of cytology specimens prepared or scanned by the new automated technologies.Category 7. Clinico-Pathological Meetings: These meetings include those where clinicians, pathologists and cytotechnologists attend to discuss individual cases and management strategies.Category 7. National/international Meetings of Related Disciplines: Attendance at meetings other than those with a major cytology component are claimable eg AIMLS conference, Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy Meetings. The meeting must have relevance to the practice of cytology.
Category 7 & 8. Computer/Management Course: Attendance at formal computer/management courses relevant to the practice of cytology is claimable. The expectation is that a tertiary institution or registered training school would conduct these courses and a certificate of completion awarded following successful completion of training. Departmental management meetings are not claimable under the CEC Scheme.
