Certificate
Certificate in Histotechnology
- Program Director: Clinical Assistant Professor D. Wood
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
In order to meet health care manpower needs in both urban and rural settings nationwide, the program functions as a cooperative effort between IUSM and qualifying histology laboratories around the United States. Laboratory training sites are located nationwide and change based on the student and/or laboratories need. Courses are taught via distance education to employed and non-employed students. A limited number of clinical sites for the program are located within the Indianapolis area for local non-employed students.
Length of the Program Nine months of professional course work beginning in both the fall and spring semesters. The course of study consists of eight courses (24 credit hours), including four didactic courses and four practicum courses.
Structure of the Program The program administers a balanced curriculum of University-based theory and practicum course work. Lectures and related course material are presented utilizing distance education. Practicum course work is performed in the student's laboratory that has been identified as an affiliate site. All course work whether lecture or lab are completed at the student’s location giving them the benefit of training in the environment they are/or will be working in. Assignments are submitted to the program for evaluation.
Design of Professional Curriculum Students who are employed/non-employed at the laboratory that qualifies as a clinical affiliate site are accepted into the Histotechnology Program to begin the course of study in either the fall or spring semester. The curriculum consists of a balance of didactic and practicum courses delivered by distance learning to students at their location. The program curriculum is delivered in a highly structured, sequential format that utilizes multiple methods of instruction to meet different learning styles.
Weekly lectures are recorded and are accompanied by related assignments that require approximately 3.5 hours per week for completion. The live 60-minute interactive audio/video web-conference review sessions are held using Adobe Connect. The practicum course modules are designed to be accomplished in approximately 16 hours per week for the employed student; however, as part of on-the-job training, it is assumed that students in the program receive full-time technical training at their place of employment. The non-employed students should expect 20 hours/week to accomplish the assignments and practice the technical skills.
Location of Clinicals Laboratory training sites are located nationwide and change based on the student and/or laboratories need.
The Histotechnology Program is designed to
- Provide educational and clinical experiences in all area of histologic technology to prepare students for beginning a career as a histologic technician.
- Provide medical communities nationwide with individuals qualified to effectively carry out the functions of the histotechnology discipline.
- Assist affiliate sites' histology trainers in meeting the student's needs in accomplishing the course work.
- Assist students in reaching their goals by providing academic, occupational, and personal guidance.
Program Facilities The Histotechnology Program office is located in Van Nuys Medical Science Building at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). "Classrooms" for delivery of web-conferences, as well as practical training sites, are located in institutions throughout the United States that qualify as clinical affiliates where students are located. Clinical affiliate sites may vary from year to year, as training needs change.
Additional Costs of the Program In addition to tuition and course fees, students are required to purchase books. Completion of course requirements may necessitate the purchase of laboratory supplies not ordinarily used at the student's training facility laboratory. Clinical training laboratories may cover some expenses for laboratory supplies and mailing costs for submission of assignments to the program office. Additional training costs to student and/or laboratory are estimated at $400.00 per year.
Feasibility of Work for Students In addition to the didactic courses, students should plan on completing the minimum practicum hours: employed student- 16 hours/week minimum, non-employed student: 20 hours/week minimum. The program is designed for students employed full-time in a histology laboratory. Some non-employed students work part-time.
Accreditation The Histotechnology Program (certificate level) at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Rosemont, Illinois; (312) 714-8880.
Updated: April 28, 2016
