UPMC School of Histology

The UPMC School of Histology offers an excellent pathway for individuals with a background in science to pursue a high-demand healthcare career without the need for extensive additional years of education.

Academic Prerequisites

• Associate’s degree with 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of academic credit from a regionally accredited college/university. Courses should include 12 semester hours of Bio/Chem.
  • Biology I & II w/labs
  • Chemistry I w/labs
• Algebra/Math
• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.

Health Standards

Each student accepted into the program must pass a health screening conducted by UPMC Employee Health before the start of the program.

Technical Standards

Candidates for admission to the Histotechnology program must possess the following skills:

Sensory/observational skills

• Be able to observe demonstrations and participate in laboratory experiments as required in the curriculum.
• Have visual acuity corrected to 20/40 and visual perception with respect to depth and color.

Physical and motor skills

• Have sufficient motor function to operate/manipulate and maintain a microscope and other laboratory instruments or equipment.
• Have dexterity with both wrists, hands and arms, and dexterity with all fingers.
• Possess eye-hand coordination and be able to perform laboratory procedures that involve grasping, pinching, pulling, holding, extending, rotating, and cutting.
• Be able to obtain and/or verify patient samples and possess sufficient stamina to tolerate physically taxing workloads.

Communication skills

• Demonstrate the ability to follow instructions/procedures with accuracy and precision.
• Possess the ability to maintain intellectual and emotional stability and maturity under stress, while also maintaining appropriate performance standards.
• Be able to manage time, organize workloads, and meet deadlines.
• Be able to learn and exhibit professional attributes.
• Be able to practice discretion and confidentiality about laboratory and patient reports.
• Adhere to safety guidelines for self and others and be able to comply with standards and regulations required by external agencies.
• Be able to function as part of a team and to learn to delegate responsibilities appropriately.

Intellectual/conceptual, integrative, and qualitative skills

• Be able to measure, calculate, analyze, interpret, synthesize and evaluate data.
• Be able to learn to prioritize and perform laboratory testing.
• Be able to learn to make sound judgments and formulate diagnoses after correlating clinical data with histologic findings.
• Possess organizational skills and be able to solve one or more problems within specific time frames, which are often short.
• Be able to perform duties and assignments in a timely fashion while under stress and in a variety of settings.
• Be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of anatomic, histologic and cellular structures.

Behavioral/social skills and professionalism

• Demonstrate the ability to follow instructions/procedures with accuracy and precision.
• Possess the ability to maintain intellectual and emotional stability and maturity under stress, while also maintaining appropriate performance standards.
• Be able to manage time, organize workload and meet deadlines.
• Be able to learn and exhibit professional attributes.
• Be able to practice discretion and confidentiality about laboratory and patient reports.
• Adhere to safety guidelines for self and others and be able to comply with standards and regulations required by external agencies.
• Be able to function as part of a team and to learn to delegate responsibilities appropriately.

Tuition

• Program fee is $10,000 plus expenses, which include textbooks, scrubs, parking (location dependent), and background checks.
• We are proud to offer a tuition loan forgiveness program through which the entire $10,000 cost of the program will be forgiven in exchange for a two-year employment contract in a qualifying position within the UPMC health network.
• For current employees, tuition reimbursement can be applied to help cover the cost of the program.
• Students are responsible for providing financial support, meals, living quarters, and health insurance.

Refund Policy Before Classes Begin

Applicants may cancel their enrollment in person or in writing up to 30 days before the first day of classes. If an applicant cancels their enrollment within this period, the tuition portion minus the deposit money will be refunded.

It is the responsibility of the prospective student to resell or return textbooks for refunds.

If the School terminates the program before the first day of classes, all monies paid by the applicant will be refunded within 30 days after cancellation or termination of the program.

Refund Policy After Classes Begin

If a student enters training and subsequently withdraws or discontinues four weeks or more after the first day of classes, there will be no refund.

If the student withdraws or discontinues within the first four weeks, a prorated tuition refund, minus a processing fee, will be issued.

Cancellation Policy

The School reserves the right to dismiss students from the program if they:

• Fail to do satisfactory work.
• Fail to comply with established rules and regulations.
• Fail to meet financial obligations.

There will be no refund.

The School reserves the right to terminate the program provided that the students will be able to complete the program or be accommodated by a transfer.

• HT01  Professionalism - 1 credit
• HT02  Laboratory Safety - 1 credit
• HT03  Laboratory Math - 1 credit
• HT04  Instrumentation - 1 credit
• HT05  Accessioning and LIS - 1 credit
• HT06  Grossing - 1 credit
• HT07  Histology and Microanatomy - 1 credit
• HT08  Fixation - 1 credit
• HT09  Processing - 1 credit
• HT10  Embedding - 1 credit
• HT11  Microtomy - 1 credit
• HT12  H&E and Coverslipping - 1 credit
• HT13  Special Staining- Carbohydrates and Amyloid - 1 credit
• HT14  Special Staining - Connective Tissue and Muscle - 1 credit
• HT15  Special Staining- Microorganisms - 1 credit
• HT16  Special Staining- Pigments, Minerals, & Cytoplasmic Granules - 1 credit
• HT17  Special Staining- Nerves - 1 credit
• HT18  Muscle/Enzyme Histochemistry - 1 credit
• HT19  Antigen Retrieval - 1 credit
• HT20  Immunofluorescence - 1 credit
• HT21  Immunohistochemistry - 1 credit
• HT22  Diagnostic Molecular Techniques - 1 credit
• HT23  Cytology - 1 credit
• HT24  Laboratory Management - 1 credit
• HT25  Clinical Rotations - 24 credits

Graduate Competency

Prepare graduates with the knowledge, technical skills, and professional behaviors necessary to competently perform routine and specialized histologic procedures in clinical laboratories.

• Upon completion of the program, students will:
  • Demonstrate proficient theoretical histology knowledge
  • Develop an aptitude for performing histologic techniques
  • Conduct themselves in a professional manner and communicate effectively

Workforce Readiness

Provide clinical training experiences that reflect employer expectations, ensuring graduates are immediately employable

• Upon completion of the program, students will:
  • Demonstrate proficiency in core competencies in all areas of the histology laboratory

Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving

Foster critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills to enable graduates to function effectively in a variety of histology laboratory settings.

• Upon completion of the program, students will:
  • Apply theoretical knowledge to make informed decisions and effectively troubleshoot problems

Program Assessment & Improvement

Continuously evaluate and improve curriculum and instructional methods based on feedback, outcome data, and NAACLS standards to ensure program effectiveness.

• Upon completion of the program, the UPMC School of Histology will:
  • Monitor graduation success rates
  • Monitor employment rates
  • Monitor graduate satisfaction rates with the program
  • Monitor employer satisfaction with the graduates

Affiliated Programs

• Slippery Rock University 3+1 Program
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The UPMC School of Histology embraces a 3 + 1 program, in which students spend the first three years of their college careers at an accredited institution in a biology curriculum. Their fourth year (senior year) is spent going through the UPMC School of Histology program. College credit for this senior year is assigned by the institution granting the degree upon successful completion of the UPMC School of Histology program, and is sufficient to guarantee a baccalaureate degree awarded by the affiliated institution. Individuals who have earned a baccalaureate degree in any discipline and meet the prerequisite requirements are eligible for admission to the program. These students are generally considered 4 + 1.