License Requirements for Pathologists' Assistant

Only persons licensed or otherwise authorized as a pathologists’ assistant under Article 168 of the Education Law can practice pathologist assisting or use the title “pathologists’ assistant” or the term “pathologists’ assistant” alone or in combination with other terms and phrases in describing their services and activities or the designation “Path A”.

To be licensed as a pathologists’ assistant in New York State you must:

• be of good moral character;
• be at least 21 years of age; and
• meet education and examination requirements.

You must file an application for licensure and the other forms indicated, along with the appropriate fee, to the Office of the Professions at the address specified on each form. It is your responsibility to follow up with anyone you have asked to send us material.

The specific requirements for licensure are contained in Title 8, Article 168, Section 8852 of New York's Education Law and Part 79-20 of the Commissioner's Regulations.

You should also read the general licensing information applicable for all professions.

The fee for licensure and first registration is $200.

The fee for registration renewal is $150 for each triennial period.

The fee for a limited permit is $105 (the limited permit fee is not refundable).

Fees are subject to change. The fee due is the one in law or regulation when your application is received (unless fees are increased retroactively). You will be billed for the difference if fees have been increased.

• Do not send cash.
• If you apply for licensure electronically using the online Application for Licensure, you will be required to pay by credit card.
• Other payments must be made by personal check or money order payable to the New York State Education Department. Your cancelled check is your receipt.
• Mail any required forms and fees to the indicated address on the form.

NOTE: Payment submitted from outside the United States should be made by check or draft on a United States bank and in United States currency; payments submitted in any other form will not be accepted and will be returned

Individuals who withdraw their licensure application may be entitled to a partial refund.

• For the procedure to withdraw your application, contact the Pathologists' Assistant Unit at opunit2@nysed.gov or by calling 518-474-3817 ext. 260 or by fax at 518-402-2323.
• The State Education Department is not responsible for any fees paid to an outside testing or credentials verification agency.

If you withdraw your application, obtain a refund, and then decide to seek New York State licensure at a later date, you will be considered a new applicant, and you will be required to pay the licensure fee and meet the licensure requirements in place at the time you reapply.

To meet the education requirements for licensure as a pathologists’ assistant, you must either have successfully completed a bachelor’s or higher degree in a pathologists’ assistant program registered by the Department, or the substantial equivalent of such a program as determined by the Department, or have a bachelor’s or higher degree in a National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) accredited pathologists’ assistant program.

To qualify for licensure as a "Licensed Pathologists' Assistant", you must obtain a passing score on an examination acceptable to the Department. The pathologists' assistant certification exam of the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC) is an exam acceptable for licensure. Please visit www.ascp.org/content/board-of-certification for additional information.

In addition to licensure, the responsibilities of a licensed pathologists' assistant may be performed under the authority of a limited permit.

A limited permit allows a person who satisfies all requirements for licensure as a pathologists’ assistant except that relating to the examination to practice as a pathologists’ assistant only under the direction and supervision of a licensed physician who practices anatomic pathology and pursuant to the order and direction of that licensed physician. A limited permit expires one year from the date of issuance. However, a limited permit may be extended for one additional year for good cause as determined by the Department. The fee for each limited permit is $105.

In addition to filing the Form 5 and the limited permit fee, you must also submit the Application for Licensure (Form 1), the licensure fee, and have the New York State Education Department approve your education before your application for a limited permit can be approved.

Your limited permit will expire one year from the date of issuance or upon notice that your application for licensure has been denied, or ten days after you have been notified that you failed the professional licensing examination, whichever occurs first. However, if you are awaiting the results of the licensing examination when your limited permit expires, your permit will continue to be valid until ten days after you have been notified of the examination results.