About Us - Histotechnician

What is a Histotechnician?

Histotechnicians prepare thin sections of human, animal and plant tissue for microscopic examination. The Mt. SAC Histotechnician Training Program is intended to prepare students for entry level employment as histotechnicians in clinical, veterinary, forensic, marine biology, and research laboratories. It also serves as a pathway for career advancement in specialized areas in the histotechnology profession.

Mt. SAC Histotechnician Program

The program stresses histotechnology theory, practical application, as well as the development of job skills. The program is designed to enhance the ability of students to reason, understand and apply correct principles of histotechnology by teaching analytical and critical thinking skills as opposed to rote learning. In addition to lecture and laboratory classes on campus, students will be placed in work experience in affiliate histology laboratories. Graduates of the program will be eligible for certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

Students of histotechnology will be provided with a practical foundation through laboratory courses on campus, partnerships with hospitals, clinical laboratories and other histology settings provide students with on-the-job training. Program curriculum, including training in immunohistochemistry, will prepare students for career advancement or entry into ancillary programs.

Students wishing to pursue a baccalaureate degree and histotechnologist certification should consult with a Mt. SAC educational advisor to discuss transfer options.

Skills You Will Learn

Skills developed through the histotechnician training program include those required for histotechnician (HT) certification. Training will include:

Fixation, tissue processing
Embedding, microtomy techniques
Troubleshooting tissue slide preparation
Hematoxylin & eosin staining, special stains, and coverslipping techniques
Tissue identification
Histochemistry and Immunohistochemistry
Introduction to in situ hybridization and flow cytometry
Use and maintenance of histotechnology instrumentation
Safety and regulatory agencies
Quality control and record keeping
Interpersonal skills and ethics

Value Added for Degree

Since January 2005, the Mt. SAC Histotechnician Program has met the certification requirements mandated by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Registry.

Applicants who wish to take the ASCP Board of Registry exam for Histotechnician Certification must either complete a Histotechnician Training Program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), or achieve an associate degree and have one year of experience in a histotechnology laboratory.

The Histotechnician Training Program at Mt. SAC was awarded NAACLS accreditation in 2003. Graduates of this program will meet the certification requirements mandated by the ASCP.

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science
5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018
849.939.3597