Nov 24, 2024  
2021-2022 Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Catalog [PAST CATALOG]

Histotechnician (A.A.S.)


Title of Major: Histotechnician, A.A.S.

Award: Associate of Applied Science degree, A.A.S.

Code: AAS.HTC.HISTOTECH

Total Credit Hours: 60

Purpose: Prepares the student for employment as a histotechnician to meet the current and the increasing demands for histotechnicians in hospitals and clinical settings. Histotechnicians are members of the laboratory team who prepare specimens for research or medical diagnosis by pathologists.  Histotechnicians work with fragile, delicate tissue specimens, laboratory instruments, knives, chemicals and glass slides, all of which require mastery of skills and competency.

Range of Occupations

  • Histotechnician

Additional Program Requirements

A grade of C or better in each histotechnician and general education course is required to progress in the program. Students will be assessed on performing laboratory skills and procedures. Students must successfully complete two clinical courses designed for practical experience in a laboratory/clinical setting.

Entrance/Admission Requirements


  1. Attendance at a program information session or call 410-777-7310 for schedule. You may also view the online information session. Detailed information regarding program, profession, admission and academic requirements and selection criteria will be discussed.
  2. Submit a completed program application by the application deadline.
  3. Eligibility for ENG 101  / ENG 101A .
  4. Eligibility for MAT 137 .
  5. Must have a minimum adjusted grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 at this college.
  6. Foreign educated students: must have their college and high school transcripts evaluated by one of the following credential evaluators: ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators) at www.ece.org, WES (World Education Services) at www.wes.org, SpanTran: The Evaluation Company at www.spantran.com.
  7. Foreign educated students: must successfully pass the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a minimum score of 550 (213 is the equivalent computer score and 79 is the equivalent Internet based score) OR must have completed the  ENG 101  / ENG 101A  and ENG 102  course sequence with grades of C or better prior to applying to the Medical Laboratory Technician program. Anne Arundel Community College’s code for TOEFL is 5019.

Selection Criteria


Students will be admitted to the Histotechnician course sequence each fall as the number of students permit. Applications received by deadline will be assured consideration based on space availability. Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space-available basis. Applications will be available in the Health Sciences office, Health and Lifesciences Building (HLSB) and on the college website after Dec. 1 for fall. To be considered for conditional acceptance, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • First consideration will be given to candidates whose resident address is in Anne Arundel County for at least 3 months prior to the application deadline date.
  • Must satisfactorily complete all academic and admission requirements.
  • Final selection for the Histotechnician course sequence will be based on the criteria described in the Medical Laboratory Sciences department admission requirements available at a program information session.
  • Final acceptance into the program shall be contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal background check, health examination record, and submission of current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification card. Information and deadline for completion will be sent in applicant’s conditional acceptance packet. These are not to be completed prior to acceptance notification.

Technical Standards


Students who are conditionally accepted to this program of study will be required to submit a health examination record completed by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant validating that the student meets the technical standard of good physical and mental health as established by the School of Health Sciences, and verifying that the student is free of communicable diseases as evidenced by required immunizations/titers.

CPR


Students must successfully complete the American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR course by designated deadline.

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening


This program requires the satisfactory completion of a criminal background check and possible drug screening. For complete details, see the Health Sciences section of this catalog.

Enrollment Restrictions


Limitations of hospital, clinical or laboratory facilities necessitate certain enrollment restrictions.

Graduation Requirements


See Academic Regulations for college-wide Graduation Requirements .

Honors Program Courses


If you qualify for the Honors Program, you may take honors versions  of some courses (such as ENG 101H , ENG 102H , etc.).

Planning Tool: Two-Year Sequence of Courses


   Open/Print this Planning Tool  

First Year - Term 1


English Composition: 3 credits


  • 3 credit hours
  • ENG 101 and ENG 101A are equivalent courses. Students may take ENG 101-ENG 102 or ENG 101A-ENG 102 to meet their English Composition General Education requirement. 

Total credit hours: 14


First Year - Term 2


English Composition: 3 credits


Total credit hours: 15


Second Year - Term 1


Total credit hours: 16


Second Year - Term 2


Total credit hours: 15


Diversity Requirement


Satisfied by SOC 111 .

Technology Requirement


Satisfied by CTA 100 .

Wellness Requirement


Satisfied by HEA 111 .

Program Outcomes


Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1.    Utilize technical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in their didactic and clinical experiences in the histotechnician program. 
2.    Recognize factors that affect procedures and results, and take appropriate action within predetermined limits when corrections are indicated. 
3.    Recognize the responsibilities of other laboratory and healthcare professionals and interacting with them with respect for their jobs and patient care.
4.    Recognize and act upon individual needs for continuing education as a function of growth and maintenance of professional competence.  
5.    Exercise principles of management, safety, and supervision, as the primary analyst making specimen-oriented decisions on predetermined criteria, including a working knowledge of criteria values related to specimen processing, information processing, training, and quality control monitoring.
6.    Apply ethical values and appropriate legal standards in histotechnology laboratory practice.
7.    Promote advocacy of the profession through affiliations with professional organizations, marketing of professional skills, and by becoming vital members of the health care delivery system.
8.    Apply knowledge of cultural and socioeconomic differences to the practice of histotechnology.
9.    Participate in continuing education and the development of new knowledge and skills.
10.    Obtain eligibility to sit for national certification as a histotechnician offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification.

This program aligns with all the college’s core competencies.

Career and Educational Advancement Resources