Curriculum 

The School of Histotechnology provides a seven month structured program offering both laboratory,online, and classroom instruction. Students are assigned to rotations through each work station where they learn manual techniques and operation of automated lab instruments, including:

  • Specimen accessioning
  • Microtomy
  • Frozen sections
  • Fixation
  • Decalcification
  • Processing
  • Embedding
  • General and special staining
  • Immunohistochemistry.

All lab activities are supervised by certified histologists. Judging specimen and reagent quality, evaluating instrument function, validating stain results through quality control protocols, and troubleshooting common instrument malfunctions are an integral part of this learning process. The classroom phase consists of online lectures, class discussions, use of audio-visual materials and a variety of written assignments. The teaching faculty include a certified histotechnologists, a medical technologist, and on-staff pathologists who are board certified in anatomical pathology.

Courses

Classes are scheduled full-time, Monday through Friday. There are no weekend or evening sessions. Class hours vary, depending on the assigned department rotation, ranging from 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. shifts through 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. shifts. Weekly classroom and online times will vary by topic, from 1-4 hours weekly.

Students will rotate through all work areas of the histology laboratory over the course of the program. Each student follows an individualized rotation schedule, allowing one-to-one interaction with their designated instructors.

The program is approximately 7 months in length. Classes started in September are completed in 7 months. Students graduate in sufficient time to prepare for the Board of Registry certification exam for the HT(ASCP) credential.


For more information, please contact the School of Histotechnology:

Phone: (309) 624-9021
Email: carol.e.becker@osfhealthcare.org