Histologic - FAQ

Histologic - FAQ

The Histologic Technology Program is an 11-month, hybrid program. Didactic courses (in-person courses) and student lab are scheduled on Phoenix College campus. Please see the specific schedule under the “Downloads” page.

The clinical practicums are scheduled Monday through Friday, during dayshift hours, and require 20-30 hours per week in histology labs located throughout the Phoenix area.

Online applications for the 2024-2025 Histology Program are due 4pm August 2, 2024.

You can view a SAMPLE application in the “Histology - Downloads” section but the actual applications must be submitted online.

 

 

FAQ

There are two program starts per year – August and January. 

The August program is a daytime hybrid program, which meets in-person on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-4pm.  This program runs through May.
The January program meets on Mondays from 9am-4pm. The program schedule runs through the following November.

For both program options, students are working online and attending in-person classes and student lab at Phoenix College. Additionally, students complete clinical rotations which average 20 hours per week during day shift hours, to complete their clinical rotations at clinical sites selected by the school.

The schedule for the Histology Program Courses and Externships can be found in the "Downloads/Forms" page.

It is important to contact an Advisor, to ensure you are prepared for the application process. Online applications for the 2024-2025 Histology Program are due 4pm August 2, 2024.

The Certificate program is only an option for an applicant who has completed an Associate in Applied Science.

Applicants must complete the following prerequisite courses prior to applying for the program:

  • HCC130
  • HCC145AA
  • BIO156
  • MAT140 (or higher)   **PLEASE NOTE - This is a change in prerequisite course effective for admission to the Fall 2019 Program**
  • CHM130/130LL
  • BIO201
  • BIO202
  • ENG101
  • ENG102
  • COM 100 or 110 or 225 or 230
  • CRE101 (or exempt by assessment or degree).

If a student has completed related courses at a higher level, please contact the program director to discuss possible course substitutions for the prerequisite courses.

HCC130 and HCC145AA may be waived for those candidates who have more than two years of relevant healthcare work experience.

*All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to applying for the program.

Admission to the program is via an online application process.

Please note that the college does not guarantee all applicants to be accepted into the program due to limitations of clinical placements and classroom size. Admission to the program is not guaranteed. Admission is based on a competitive evaluation process of application completeness, grade point average in prerequisite courses, quality of essay response, and quality of reference. The program usually has 4 times as many applicants each year as there are spots available in the program.

It is important to meet with an Advisor, to ensure you are prepared for the application process. 

Online applications for the 2024-2025 Histology Program are due 4pm August 2, 2024.
You can view a SAMPLE application in the “Histology - Downloads” section but the actual applications must be submitted online.

The following items must be submitted via the Online Application to be considered for admission to the program: 

  • Completed Histologic Technology Program Application 
  • Copy of Unofficial College Transcripts showing completion of prerequisite courses with a grade of C or higher 
  • Completed and signed Health and Safety Documentation form with copies of actual immunization record or laboratory titer results as supporting documentation of: 
  • Proof of 2 MMR vaccinations or positive titers for measles, mumps, AND rubella - Proof of immunity through serologic testing (positive IgG titer) OR documentation of two (2) doses of MMR vaccination on separate dates at least 28 days apart. If a titer shows negative, equivocal, or non-reactive you will be required to repeat the MMR series with two (2) additional immunizations and provide appropriate documentation. 
  • Proof of positive varicella titer or 2 varicella vaccinations (History of disease is not sufficient) - Proof of immunity through serologic testing (positive IgG titer) OR documentation of two (2) doses of Varicella vaccination 30 days apart. If a titer shows negative, equivocal, or non-reactive you will be required to repeat the Varicella series with two (2) additional immunizations and provide appropriate documentation. History of chickenpox is NOT sufficient proof of immunity. 
  • Proof of negative Two-Step TB Skin Test consisting of an initial TB skin test and a boosted TB skin test 1-3 weeks following the first test within the last 6 months. OR Negative Two-Step TB Skin Test and annual testing within the last 6 months. OR Negative chest X-ray and annual documentation of a TB disease-free status by completing a Tuberculosis Screening Questionnaire. OR Documentation of a negative result from an IGRA test (Quantiferon, T-Spot) within the last 6 months, must be valid throughout the duration of the program including clinicals
  • Proof of 3 Hepatitis B vaccinations or positive Hepatitis B titer - Proof of immunity through serologic testing (positive HbsAB titer) OR documentation of three (3) doses of Hepatitis B vaccination (an initial injection followed by a second injection given 1 or 2 months after the first dose and a third injection 4 to 6 months after the first) OR signed declination (see downloads section for form)
  • Proof of Tetanus (Td) vaccination within the last 10 years, must be valid throughout duration of program including clinicals
  • Health Declaration signed by M.D., D.O., N.P., or P.A. (see Downloads section for form)
  • Proof of Current CPR training – Healthcare Provider level, must be valid throughout duration of program including clinicals - Healthcare Provider CPR card issued by the American Heart Association. All Health Science Programs require American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR certification. This certification includes training for adult/Child/Infant CPR, choking, AED, and one- and two-man rescuer. Please be sure to verify with the trainer that the course you take satisfies these requirements. Courses that do not have a demonstration component will not be accepted. Examples would be cards received on the internet that do not have an in-person skills review. A fully online CPR course will NOT be accepted. A photocopy of the front and back of the card must be provided with the program application. 
  • Current Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card - Issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. A photocopy of the front and back of the card is required as part of the application process. The original Fingerprint Clearance Card will need to be presented and validated prior to course registration by advisement. 
  • Clinical Planning Form (part of Program Application)  
  • Proof of two-dose vaccination of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine or Proof of one dose vaccination of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine for covid-19

You do not schedule your own clinical site.

The program director and the clinical coordinator schedule your clinical rotations.

Clinical hours must be completed during the dates and times identified in the program application, evening/weekend hours are not available. 

*Application and materials for the Program will be reviewed after the submission deadline, and students will be notified via email of their conditional acceptance or nonacceptance.

 

Yes, most students in this program work while completing the program. The program is a hybrid design and is designed for students who might work. The hybrid design allows for some of the learning to be completed by the student using their own home computer or other computing resources and limits the amount of time students need to be in a campus-based setting. The campus-based classes are scheduled only on Saturdays (January start) or Tuesday and Thursday afternoons (August start) which allow students working any shift to be able to participate in the program.

Clinical rotations (practicums), scheduled for specific dates throughout the course, require 20-30 hours per week, Monday - Friday, and day shift hours.