Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Histotechnology
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Histotechnology Program is designed for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in the biological sciences from an accredited institution and have fulfilled the prerequisites listed below. This is a nine-month program that prepares the student for histotechnology certification. A five-month Clinical Experience at one of the program’s clinical affiliate sites is included.
Histotechnology is a structural science concerned with the evaluation of tissues, their cellular morphology, and their chemical composition. Histotechnologists work under the supervision of a pathologist, preparing, cutting, processing, and staining tissue specimens of human, animal, or plant origin for diagnostic, research, and teaching purposes. New technologies and methodologies are constantly being developed in the field, making this allied health care profession one of the most exciting and dynamic in the workplace today.
Barry University’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Histotechnology Program is designed to prepare students for this challenging field. Students completing this program are eligible to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) HTL certification examination. Please note that certification agencies may change their qualifying requirements; it is the student’s obligation to meet those requirements.
Histotechnologists must have critical thinking skills, precision, fine manual dexterity, and the ability to work well under pressure with minimal supervision. Patient contact is limited.
Program Objectives/Expected Learning Outcomes
The educational objectives for the Program correlate with the key domains of clinical laboratory practice: Safe Laboratory Practice, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Professionalism. Upon completion of the Program, the graduate shall have acquired knowledge, skills, and competence related to the key domains as evidenced by the ability to:
- Competently demonstrate mastery of knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for safe histo-technology clinical laboratory practice (Safe Laboratory Practice, Critical Thinking);
- Demonstrate collaboration by actively engaging in interdisciplinary local and global community outreach efforts for health promotion (Communication, Professionalism);
- Participate in health-related research and scholarship (Professionalism);
- Demonstrate technology skills to enhance overall lifelong learning through continuing education (Communication, Professionalism); and
- Demonstrate achievement of the Program’s objectives and synthesis of educational activities by completing a scholarly work in the form of a research project (Safe Laboratory Practice, Critical Thinking, Communication, Professionalism).
Admission Requirements
This program has a fall start only. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, however admission decisions will not be made until mid-spring prior to the desired fall start date. Students seeking admission to the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Histotechnology Program must submit a completed application, write a statement of purpose, provide official transcripts from institutions attended, and submit two satisfactory professional letters of recommendation from faculty or supervisors. A personal interview is required before acceptance into the program. Upon acceptance, a non—refundable deposit in the amount of $250 is required to hold the applicant’s position in the program. The deposit will be applied toward tuition expenses.
All students must have received a minimum grade of C in all college-level prerequisites listed below, and an overall GPA of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale).
Prerequisites
| Biology |
12 credits |
| Chemistry |
8 credits |
| Math |
6 credits |
Non-Academic Requirements
Vision
- Read charts, labels, graphs, materials with the aid of a microscope; discriminate colors and record results.
Speech and Hearing
- Communicate effectively using standard English, and assess non-verbal information.
Fine Motor Skills
- Skills necessary to operate instruments and manipulate tools.
Psychological Skills
- Possess the emotional health required to utilize full intellectual abilities.
- Recognize emergency situations and take appropriate actions.
International Students
International students who have completed all or part of their college coursework outside of the United States at an internationally listed institution must submit their transcripts to an official international transcript evaluation service. Information about professional evaluating services in the United States is available from the Office of Health Sciences Admissions. Official transcripts and the international credit evaluation must be submitted to Barry University for admission and evaluation purposes.
Students are also required to obtain a score of at least 550 (213 on the computer-based test, or 79 on the Internet-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Official test results must be submitted to the Office of Health Sciences Admissions, Barry University.
Criminal Background Checks and Drug Screening
Clinical rotation sites require a criminal background check and may refuse to accept students with documented criminal histories. In the event of a reported incident, a determination about the student’s continued progress in the academic program will be made by Barry University in accordance with program and University procedures.
Clinical sites also require drug screening of students prior to, and, in some cases, during the course of clinical training. The Clinical Biology Program may therefore require students to undergo drug screening and exclude or dismiss students who are unwilling to comply with these policies. Criminal background checks and drug screenings are done at the student’s expense. Individuals who have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor may be denied certification or licensure as a health professional. Information regarding individual eligibility may be obtained from the appropriate credentialing bodies.
Immunization and Physical Examination
Before attending the Clinical Experience, the student must present proof of medical insurance, physical examination, and current immunizations to include annual TB screening (PPD), Diphtheria Inoculation tetanus (DTP), MMRx2, and Hepatitis B. These documents must be presented before the student will be allowed to progress to Clinical Experience status. Immunizations and physical examinations are done at the student’s expense.
Participation in the Clinical Experience
Participation in the Clinical Experience is a requirement for students in the histotechnology specialization programs and is contingent upon successful completion of all didactic coursework. Students may be required to relocate during the clinical session. Students must be financially prepared to enter into and complete the program. Students must be able to provide their own transportation during the Clinical Experience. Every student in the Clinical Experience must secure and retain primary care health insurance coverage that meets the Barry University requirements. Coverage must remain in effect at all times while registered in the school. The University maintains liability insurance for each student entering the Clinical Experience at affiliate sites.
The minimum passing grade for each Clinical Experience is: CLB-484 Clinical Experience I, “73” (C) or higher; CLB-489 Clinical Experience II, “83” (B) or higher.
The grading scale for the Clinical Experience courses only is as follows:
| 93–100 |
= |
A |
| 83–92 |
= |
B |
| 73–82 |
= |
C |
| 68–72 |
= |
D |
| below 68 |
= |
F |
Academic Dismissal
Each didactic course must be passed with at least a grade of C or higher. Students will not be able to enroll in Clinical Experience I until all didactic courses have been successfully completed. Should a student fail to meet the minimum passing grade of “73” (C) or higher for Clinical Experience I, the student will be dismissed from the remainder of the program.
Sites
Didactic courses and CLB-450L Histology Lab and CLB-445L Microtechnique Lab are taught at Barry University on the main campus. Histotechnology Clinical Experiences are offered at clinical affiliate sites.
Accreditation
Barry University’s Histotechnology Specialization Program and Medical Technology Specialization Program is approved by the Florida Department of Health, Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel, and accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS): 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018 / Telephone: (773) 714‑3415 / Fax: (773) 714‑8886 / E-mail: info@naacls.org / Website: www.naacls.org.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (25 credits)
Required Courses (25 credits)
Note: Please click on CLB for course description