Note: Not currently enrolling students. We intend to end our period of inactivity January 2, 2026.
The Histotechnology School of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). This 10.5-month training program is offered to candidates who have earned a high school diploma (or equivalent) and have earned at least an Associate Degree with 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of academic credit from a regionally accredited college/university. Courses should include:
- Biology I & II w/labs
- Chemistry I w/labs
- Algebra/Math
Please feel free to contact the Program Director at mwhschhisto@mail.magee.edu.
The candidate must submit the following to the program director of the school:
- A completed application
- An application fee of $25 (Please utilize our Online Bill Pay service to School of Cytology/Histology)
- An official college transcript
- Two employment or academic references sent directly to the program director
- A job shadow experience with a histotechnologist and completed Job Shadow Verification Form.
Please submit all materials to:
Stephanie Wharton, SCT (ASCP)
School of Histology
MWH Gulf Building, Suite 208
327 Craft Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
After these materials are received, eligible candidates are contacted for a personal interview with the faculty. Students are selected on the basis of their past academic record, as well as character assessment and evaluation through a personal interview. A maximum of two students will be admitted to the program per start date.
Policy for Transfer Students
The Histotechnology School, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center policy for students requesting transfer from another institution states that each prospective student shall be evaluated on an individual basis. The student must complete an application, submit an application fee, submit official transcripts and two references along with documentation (including course description, length of time spent in course, grades, screening evaluation forms, statement explaining transfer request) from the transferring institution. Only current prospective students from histotechnology programs accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science will be considered.
After extensive evaluation, appropriate credit may be given for comparable education and training from an accredited institution if deemed acceptable by the Medical/Program Director of The Histotechnology School, UPMC. It shall be the Medical/Program Director's decision as to what credits and courses may be acceptable or unacceptable. This decision is final. The training period will be adjusted accordingly if the student is accepted.
Health Standards
Each student accepted into the program must submit evidence of good health to the program officials. This is accomplished through completion of a Health Screening Form signed by a student physician. This form will be included in the student's file.
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 have the ability to engage in laboratory procedures which involve grasping, pinching, pulling, fingering, holding, extending, rotating and cutting
- Have the ability 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
- Have the ability to manage time, organize workload and meet deadlines
- Be able to learn and exhibit professional attributes
- Be able to practice discretion and confidentiality in regard to 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
- Have the ability to function as part of a team and to learn to delegate responsibilities appropriately
Intellectual/Conceptual, Integrative, and Qualitative Skills
- Have the ability to measure, calculate, analyze, interpret, synthesize and evaluate data
- Have the ability to learn to prioritize and perform laboratory testing
- Have the ability 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
- Have the ability to perform duties and assignments in a timely fashion while under stress and in a variety of settings
- Have the ability 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
- Have the ability to manage time, organize workload and meet deadlines
- Be able to learn and exhibit professional attributes
- Be able to practice discretion and confidentiality in regard to 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
- Have the ability to function as part of a team and to learn to delegate responsibilities appropriately
Online Bill Pay
Please utilize our Online Bill Pay service for tuition payments and application fees.
https://www.upmc.com/pay/HistologySchool
- Choose Type of Bill as School of Cytology/Histology
- Choose which specific school payment is for.
- Enter bill payment information.