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Histology

Admission Policy

Applicants desiring admission to the HT program must follow the regular procedures for admission to Central Texas College. Upon admission to CTC, a prospective student must follow the procedures required by the HT program as follows:

  • Application to the HT program accompanied by the documents listed below. An incomplete application (lacking any of the documents) will not be accepted.

    - Transcript of high school graduation or GED equivalency.

    - All students must be TSI complete. For more information and assistance on testing, contact the Academic Advising office and refer to the TSI section in the current Central Texas College catalog.

  • Applicants must create an account at the students’ expense at mystudentcheck.com for submission of the following documents:

    - Current immunization record. (See the General Admissions and Immunizations Policy for Department of Health Sciences Programs for a list of the required immunizations.)

    - Physical exam form completed within the last six months signed by a M.D. or D.O.

    - Student health history.

Note that additional immunizations and/or health requirements may be required by the clinical site based on its rules and regulations.

Currently many or all clinical sites are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination to include documentation of the 2-dose Moderna or Pfizer, or 1-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine before entry into the facility as a clinical student. Students should expect this facility requirement to continue.

Deadline for application submission and supporting documentation is July 1 for students beginning the program in the Fall semester, and November 1 for students beginning the program in the Spring semester. Pre-admission mandatory orientation will be scheduled by the HT program to take place after application deadline for admission.

Additional requirements are:

  • Students with prior college credits: It is the applicants’ responsibility to ensure CTC receives official transcripts. For effective counseling, copies of transcripts should be sent to the HT office prior to the pre-admission interview. All transfer courses accepted in the HT program must have a grade of C or better. Science courses that are 5 years old or greater must be repeated.

Additional information:

  • The Histotechnician program is a full-time program designed to be completed in 21 months as described in the Course Catalog Program of Study.
  • There is no part-time option available in the HT program.

Progression Requirements

In order for a student to progress in the HT program, the following requirements must be met:

  • Achieve a grade of 75% or better in each course listed on the degree plan.
  • Achieve a grade of 70% or better in each non-HLAB course listed on the degree plan.
  • Achieve a grade of 75% or better on clinical rotations.
  • Attendance is required in all HLAB classes and Clinical rotations. Three absences in a class or lab will result in the drop of one letter grade, and 4 absences will result in an F for the course.
  • Any student who does not successfully complete or withdraws from a course with a failing average in any 2 courses on the degree plan (with a grade of less than 70 for any non-HLAB class and less than 75 for any HLAB class) will be subject to automatic dismissal for academic deficiency. Once dropped from the program, a student is allowed a one-time readmission into the program.
  • Any student who does not successfully complete or withdraws in failing status from a third course on the degree plan is ineligible for readmission.
  • Successfully complete the prerequisites to Clinical I with a grade of 75% or better. Prerequisites are: HLAB-1301, HLAB-1302, HLAB-1443, HLAB-1305, HLAB-1446
  • Selection for acceptance to the clinical courses of the program will be made on a space-available basis. The selection process is a function of the HT Program Director. The following criteria will serve as the basis for the decision regarding selection.
  • Students who have completed BIOL-2401, BIOL-2402, MATH-1314, and CHEM-1411 will be given priority for placement
  • Further selection will be based on review of transcripts and courses currently in progress; specifically academic courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and histotechnology.
  • Students will be notified by letter regarding their status for admission to Clinical I.
  • Additional clinical rotations may be scheduled in the Summer semester for students unable to attend clinical rotations as outlined in the program of study.
  • Current CPR certification on file.
  • Tuberculosis: Documentation of negative screening results for tuberculosis (TB) is required. Students must complete one of the following TB tests within thirty (30) days preceding first day of first clinical rotation period at any Facility and repeated annually thereafter: 2-Step Tuberculin Skin Test; QuantiFERON®-TB Gold in- Tube test (QFT-GIT or Q-Gold) or T-SPOT®TB test (T-Spot). Thereafter a 2-Step Tuberculin Skin Test; QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT or Q-Gold) or T-SPOT®TB test (T-Spot) is required annually. Those who have had a previous positive TB skin test result will be required to submit a negative chest x-ray completed within thirty (30) days preceding first day of first clinical rotation period at any Facility. Thereafter an annual negative chest x-ray will be required through program completion.
  • Results of Criminal Background Check and Urine Drug Screen completed and submitted prior to entering Clinical I.

Transfer Students

Transfer students must:

  • Meet general admission requirements of Central Texas College and the HT program.
  • Have a minimum 2.5 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale. The GPA requirement may be waived by the program director based on recent performance or upward trends of transferred grades.
  • Present transcripts and syllabi of completed science and HT courses to the CTC Incoming Transcripts department.
  • Submit transcripts and syllabi evaluations completed by the CTC Incoming Transcripts department to the HT program.

Readmission Policy

  • Student must submit a written request for readmission to the program. Refer to the HT Student Handbook.
  • Readmission to any HT course is dependent upon availability of class openings after current class enrollment, but it is not automatic.
  • Student who does not successfully complete two HT or science courses or withdraws from two HT courses with a failing average may apply once for readmission to the program.
  • For readmission to the clinical courses of the program, the student must be in good academic standing, receive approval from the HT program director and repeat the clinical admission process.
  • Upon readmission to the clinical course, the following documents must be on file in the HT program prior to the first day of the course.

    - Proof of physical exam signed by a M.D. or D.O. within the last six months.

    - Copy of current immunizations.

    - Current CPR certification on file.

    - Results of current TB Tine (skin) test, blood test or chest x-ray.

    - Results of Criminal Background Check and Urine Drug Screen submitted prior to entering the clinical course(s).