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Board Examination Certification Boot Camp

The Laboratory Director Board Certification Examination Boot Camp is a multi-week virtual program facilitated by board-certified professionals, designed to help jump-start the studying process for the board examinations required to direct high-complexity laboratory testing (HCLD). The Boot Camp runs twice a year in the spring and fall and aims to align with scheduled examination dates.

Questions?

Contact APHL’s Leadership Programs team: [email protected].

About the Board Exam Boot Camp

With an ever-increasing number of laboratory directors reaching retirement age, now is a great time to ensure you’re eligible to become a high-complexity laboratory director by taking a board certification exam!

Jump start your studying process with the Laboratory Director Board Certification Examination Boot Camp, a multi-week virtual program facilitated by board-certified professionals and subject matter experts to:

  • Enhance your study efforts.
  • Allow you to practice with other professionals planning to take a Board Exam.
  • Keep your motivation high.
  • Learn helpful hints from board-certified laboratory directors and other subject matter experts.

Boot Camp Sessions

Tuesday evenings, 7:00–8:00 pm ET in the Spring and Fall. Find the link to join in the Boot Camp Schedule.

Fall 2026 Boot Camp

The Fall 2026 Laboratory Director Board Examination Boot Camp Sessions will run August 25 - October 20, 2026. The sessions take place on Tuesdays from 7:00–8:00 pm ET and sessions are being recorded.

The Fall 2026 sessions focus on areas that support Boot Camp participants studying for the American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB) and American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM) exams.

Join each weekly session at the following link:

JOIN THE SESSION

August 25: HIPAA, Employment and Personnel Law, Budget and Laboratory Administration 

  • September 1: Break - No Session

  • September 8: OSHA, Laboratory Safety, Packing and Shipping 

  • September 15: Bacteriology and General Microbiology (Parasitology and Mycology) 

  • September 22: Quality Control, Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement

  • September 29: Virology, Immunology and Serology 

  • October 6: CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments), Laboratory Facilities, Operations and Management 

  • October 13: Pathogens, Diseases Caused, Modes of Transmission, Epidemiology and Clinical Significance

  • October 20: ABB Examination Focus Q&A- Final Fall 2026 Boot Camp Session

  • October 24: American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB) Examination in Baltimore, MD

     

    • Please note that exact Boot Camp topics and the length of the weekly session may vary. 

    Get Involved

    Are you preparing to take the board certification examination? Or are you qualified and interested in helping others prepare for their exam?

    Please read the Boot Camp Roles and Responsibilities for detailed information on the ways that you can be involved.

    To join APHL’s Board Certification Boot Camp program as a participant, sign up for a free APHL account if you don't already have one. Then, email [email protected] to request to be registered on the Boot Camp ColLABorate Community to receive routine announcements. Join the Fall or Spring weekly calls using the link in the Boot Camp Schedule section.

    Moderators should be currently board-certified, or those with a doctorate and are preparing to take a Laboratory Director Board Certification examination. If interested in helping others study and prepare for a Board Certification, get involved in our program! 

    • ​Sign up in advance of the weekly boot camp calls as a Session Moderator.
    • Find the link to join the weekly Fall or Spring sessions below in the Boot Camp Schedule section. 

    Please read the Boot Camp Roles and Responsibilities for more detailed information on the ways that you can be involved with the Laboratory Director Board Examination Boot Camp. Contact us at [email protected] and request to be registered in our Laboratory Directory Board Certification Boot Camp ColLABorate Community. 

    Are you qualified (e.g., knowledgeable in weekly session topics) and interested in helping others study and prepare for their examinations? If so:

    • Sign up in advance to be a subject matter expert (SME) on a weekly call.
    • Join the call as an SME and participate in the knowledge sharing to help provide technical information about boot camp questions and responses.
    • Find the link to join the weekly Fall or Spring sessions below in the Boot Camp Schedule section.

    Please read the Boot Camp Roles and Responsibilities for more detailed information on the ways that you can be involved with the Laboratory Director Board Examination Boot Camp.

    Contact us at [email protected] and request to be registered in our Laboratory Directory Board Certification Boot Camp ColLABorate Community to receive routine announcements. 

    Boot Camp Resources

    We utilize a variety of resources to assist laboratory professionals studying for a board examination:

    The aim of the Practical Guide, which was updated in 2024, is to provide guidance and a curriculum framework for potential public health laboratory directors (PHLD) and laboratory leaders. It outlines the unique competencies required of today’s PHLD, as well as the board certification requirements for laboratory directors of high-complexity clinical testing laboratories as mandated by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). Additionally, it offers resources to help individuals review core curriculum materials in preparation for board certification examinations. 

    The purpose of this community is to provide a forum for individuals interested in pursuing director-level positions within public health laboratories, and for those particularly interested in taking one of the board certification exams. In this forum, a panel of board-certified laboratory directors, subject matter experts and other APHL volunteers are ready to answer your questions, provide advice and guidance, or suggest additional resources related to leadership positions and board certification requirements. 

    To join APHL’s Board Certification Exam Boot Camp ColLABorate Community and receive routine announcements, please email [email protected]​. 

    The APHL Laboratory Director Boot Camp utilizes a game-based learning platform, Kahoot!, during live sessions each week of the Fall and Spring cycles. Boot Camp participants are expected to actively participate in the live Kahoot! game, with points awarded based on the accuracy of their answers and response time. The game helps subject matter experts track question discussion needs and allows participants to assess their knowledge of the subject area. Join the Kahoot! game with a unique pin provided at the start of each weekly Fall or Spring session to participate. 

    APHL Boot Camp offers a Quizlet Classroom with digital flashcards organized by various laboratory and scientific topics typically covered on the most popular Board Examinations. Flashcard sets are continuously added to the site. 

    Please note that participants are responsible for meeting all exam requirements with the exam body of their choice, and no assistance is available from APHL regarding eligibility questions or exam fees.