The American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) is a national multi-disciplinary organization whose membership includes obstetrician-gynecologists, family physicians, pathologists, gynecological oncologists, advanced practice clinicians such as nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician’s assistants, and other licensed health care practitioners.
The educational mission of the ASCCP is to improve clinician competence and performance and patient outcomes through educational activities focused around the study, prevention, diagnosis, and management of lower genital tract disorders. To accomplish this mission, the Society provides postgraduate courses, a biennial scientific meeting, online CME programs, and enduring materials such as the textbook Modern Colposcopy, 3rd Edition, DVDs, etc. The ASCCP is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to conduct continuing medical education courses for physicians.
The curriculum to accompany this program, now under development, will highlight up-to-date adult learning methods and serve as a foundation for comprehensive colposcopy education--the first tier of the ASCCP's three-tiered colposcopy training program. A hands on “mentorship” (a period of supervised colposcopy training), and a comprehensive examination comprise the second and third tiers of the program. The colposcopy curriculum will include the necessary and basic principles considered the foundation of knowledge required to evaluate, diagnose and manage lower genital tract disorders in women.
The Society recommends this curriculum for all comprehensive colposcopy training purposes including postgraduate medical education courses and residency colposcopy modules. The Society strongly recommends that the minimum acceptable training requirements for a colposcopist include completion of a didactic program, and hands-on mentorship program, and an examination to document colposcopic proficiency.