Histotechnician


This course provides formal training for Histopathology Technicians who are assigned to a Medical Treatment Facility (MTF). The course combines didactic classroom instruction, hands-on experience and clinical rotations in an MTF. The instruction also assists graduates in preparing for the Histotechnician (HT) certification examination. Instruction is presented in the following major areas: introduction to histotechnology, basic scientific information, specimen processing for histological study, routine technical procedures, special stains for histologic study, anatomy and tissue identification, autopsy procedures, cytopreparatory techniques, immunohistochemistry, practical histotechnician training, and clinical practicum.  
 
 US Air Force
AFSC: Histopathology Apprentice
Program Length: 1440 hours
Iterations per year: 2

 US Army
MOS: N/A

 US Navy
NEC: Histopathology Technician
Program Length: 1440 hours
Iterations per year: 2
 

School Code 083


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Histotechnician 


A histotechnician is an allied health professional who utilizes histology techniques and technology to diagnose diseases at the cellular level. The Histotechnician program provides the education and training in the art and science of histopathology. 

The instructional design of this program’s courses is group-lock step. This is a consolidated program with two military services that has a two phase, field of study schedule. Resident training is first conducted at the METC and then the student transitions to clinical training that is conducted at military and/or civilian medical treatment facilities (MTF). 

Upon initial entry to METC, students are provided formal education and training that develops them into entry-level histopathology apprentices/technicians within fixed and deployable medical facilities. 

Students will learn the histopathology mission and scope of practice. Instruction is presented in the following units: Introduction to Histotechnology, Specimen Processing for Histological Study, Routine Technical Procedures, Staining for Histological Study, Anatomy and Histology, Autopsy Procedures, Anatomy and Histology, Practical Histotechnician Training, and Clinical Practicum. 

Methods of instruction include, but are not limited to: lecture, demonstration, online materials, simulations, laboratory practice, and practical exercises. Quality control and safety techniques are emphasized throughout the program. 

Clinical training provides students with clinical knowledge and hands-on experiential training which consists of clinical practicum in a MTF. 

The program prepares the student to exercise judgment and accept responsibility in performing diagnostic procedures in the care of patients. Students will perform a clinical rotation to obtain practical training necessary to prepare them for assignment as entry level Histopathology Technicians. Training will include, but is not be limited to: grossing tissue, embedding and sectioning blocks, staining and cover slipping slides, assisting in necropsies, and assisting in administrative tasks. Additional duties such as filing slides, labeling slides, filing blocks, coverslipping, and or general lab clean up, also known as service work, are a part of this training program. 

Proficiency advancement in clinical applications is determined by the program director and clinical advisor/ coordinator on a case-by-case basis. 

                                                                                                          
A Histotechnician student checks                                                                                              Intestinal section stained
for cover slipping errors                                                                                                             positive with Mucicarmine                                  

Service Specific Information:

 
Students are to proceed directly to the METC Histopathology School after completing Basic Military Training located at Lackland AFB.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be awarded a 4T032 AFSC and be assigned to their duty locations which will be located in one of the U.S. Air Force's military treatment facilities.
 
Students who are selected for the METC Histopathology School will proceed directly from their current command or from Hospital Corps "A" School upon selection to advanced "C" school training. Students who are selected from Hospital Corps School will proceed with the "A" school check out process prior to checking into METC's "C" School program.

Upon successful completion of the program students will be awarded a NEC 8503 and be assigned to their duty locations which will be located in one of the U.S. Navy's medical centers.
 

Program Academic Pre-Requisites:

Student Educational background must include prerequisite content in biological sciences, chemistry, and mathematics that provide the foundation for coursework required to succeed in the histotechnician program. Each service has specific academic requirements that must be met before selection.

Curriculum Courses:

HISTO 101: Introduction to Histotechnology

HISTO 102: Basic Scientific Information

HISTO 103: Specimen Processing for Histological Study

HISTO 104: Routine Technical Procedures

HISTO 105: Special Staining for Histological Study

HISTO 106: Anatomy and Tissue Identification

HISTO 107: Autopsy Procedures

HISTO 108: Cytopreparatory Techniques

HISTO 109: Immunohistochemistry

HISTO 110: Practical Histotechnician Training

HISTO 111: Clinical Practicum

College of Allied Health Sciences (Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences)

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates earn 50 semester hours toward their associate degree in health sciences in histology through the CAHS.

 

Accreditation:


The Histotechnician program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences  (WWW.NAACLS.ORG). 

 National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720
 Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
 (773) 714-8880 
 FAX: 773-714-8886
 

Credentialing Information:


Histotechnician students are certified upon program completion by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). To be eligible for the certification examination, an applicant must satisfy the requirements and have successfully completed a NAACLS- accredited Histotechnician program within the last five (5) years. The Histotechnician program is granted college credit from the College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS).. 
 

Program Outcomes: 

 
Upon successful completion of the METC Histotechnician Program, all graduates are assigned to Air Force and Navy medical treatment facilities within the continental United States and in overseas locations.


 
Year Graduation Rate Job Placement ASCP BOC First
Time Pass Rate
2020 100% 100% 100%
2021 100% 100% 100%
2022 0% 0% 0%
  Program is Temporarily Inactive as of 01 January 2023

 

Histotechnician Images    

Cover Slipping

A Histotechnician student checks
for cover slipping errors
Embedding

A Histotechnician student practices
tissue embedding techniques
Frozen Section

A Histotechnician student practices
frozen section techniques
Microscope

A Histotechnician student checks the
progress of special stain reactions
 

Histopathology Images

Cartilage

Cartilage showing matrix and chondrocytes. H&E stain.
Alcian Blue 2.5 pH

Intestinal section stained with Alcian Blue.
GMS

Fungal elements stained positive with
Grocott Methenamine- Silver technique
Immunohistochemistry

Cytokeratin (CK) on intestinal section
Kidney

Glomerular basement membrane stained positive
with Periodic Acid-Schiff
Liver

Liver section. H&E stain
 
Mucicarmine

Intestinal section stained positive with Mucicarmine
Pancreas

Pancreas section. H&E stain
PAS

Glomerular basement membrane stained positive with Periodic Acid-Schiff
 
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Program Director (210) 808-5296
Air Force Lead  (210) 808-5080
Navy Lead  (210) 808-5301
DSN Prefix 420
 
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