Histotechnology, Associate of Applied Science
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.
Program objectives
Upon completion of this degree, students will be able to:
- perform routine laboratory procedures encompassing all major areas of the histology laboratory;
- accurately and proficiently embed tissue and understand the principles of microtomy;
- proficiently produce slides of quality and quantity for patient diagnosis;
- evaluate the principles of staining and perform various staining techniques;
- recognize unexpected results and instrument malfunctions and take appropriate action;
- comply with safety procedures and ethical standards of practice;
- demonstrate professional and interpersonal communication skills with patients, laboratory personnel, pathologists, other health care professionals, and the public;
- recognize continuing education as a function of growth and maintenance of professional competence; and
- prepare to take the national certification examination offered by American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
