Histotechnology

Important Information

Semester Sequence

This is a suggested full-time schedule for a student who has completed any developmental course work and has no transfer credits. Refer to the College catalog for specific requirements in selecting General Education Courses .  Students are eligible to enter the program once the prerequisite courses are satisfied.

Courses Needed for this Program*

Total Number of Credits Required for Degree: 60*

Note

*Credit students who are new to college (no successfully completed transferable college credits from other institutions) are required to take ACDV 101 - Academic Development: Transitioning to College . This 1-credit course is designed to be taken in the first semester at CCBC. Students must provide an official transcript(s) from an accredited institution to document successful completion of college coursework for the ACDV 101 requirement to be waived.

Program Description

The A.A.S. degree program in Histotechnology is designed to prepare students to function in the highly complex arena of a histotechnology laboratory.  Histotechnicians are integral members of the health care team.  It is the job of the histotechnician to prepare sections of human tissue from biopsy or autopsy for microscopic examination by processing and cutting tissues, mounting them on slides, and staining them with special dyes for microscopic examination by a pathologist for the diagnosis of disease.  Most histotechnicians work in hospital laboratories, medical research laboratories, veterinary or marine pathology, dermatopathology, pharmaceutical, and forensic laboratories.

The Histotechnology Program at CCBC provides courses that offer the full range of clinical and didactic experience to practice as histotechnician.  This new program will be seeking accreditation from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) www.naacls.org; 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119; (773) 714-8880.  Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) exam given by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).  In addition, the program prepares students to enter the field with employment opportunities in a hospital, crime lab, veterinary lab, and public health facility upon graduation.

School of Health Professions Policies

Students in the School of Health Professions are expected to conduct themselves according to an honor code; exhibit professional behavior; communicate effectively in English; provide proof of health insurance, immunizations, and a tuberculosis (TB) test; and submit to a criminal background check and drug testing. Students are expected to pay the costs associated with these requirements.

Admissions

Applications for all School of Health Professions programs, except Dental Hygiene and Physician Assistant, are processed in a Central Application Service called CCBC CAS. The link to the CAS and the application instructions are located in the program admissions packet at the School of Health Professions website. You will need a CCBC student ID number and a CCBC student account password to complete the application. If you have questions about the CCBC CAS process, contact the School of Health Professions Admissions Office at (443) 840-1989 or read the FAQ selections at the bottom of each page inside the CAS application.

Admission to this program is on a rolling basis and is both competitive and selective, based on grades on prerequisite courses and general education courses.  Applicants must have a minimum overall GPA at CCBC of 2.00.  In addition, applicants must participate in an interview with the program director.  This program is offered only at the Essex Campus.

For more information, contact the SHP Office of Admissions in ADMIN 101 on the Essex Campus, call (443) 840-2810, or go to the School of Health Professions website.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this degree, students will be able to:

1. perform routine laboratory procedures encompassing all major areas of the histology laboratory;
2. accurately and proficiently embed tissue and understand the principles of microtomy;
3. proficiently produce slides of quality and quantity for patient diagnosis;
4. evaluate the principles of staining and perform various staining techniques;
5. recognize unexpected results and instrument malfunctions and take appropriate action;
6. comply with safety procedures and ethical standards of practice;
7. demonstrate professional and interpersonal communication skills with patients, laboratory personnel, pathologists, other health care professionals, and the public;
8. recognize continuing education as a function of growth and maintenance of professional competence; and
9. prepare to take the national certification examination offered by American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).