Allied Health Education

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Inova Histology Program

The application deadline has passed for the upcoming fall 2021 class year. We will begin accepting applications for 2022 on June 1.
Goals & Curriculum Admissions & Application Contact Us
Goals & Curriculum Admissions & Application Contact Us
Education at Inova
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Inova Histology Program

Histotechnicians (HTs) play a fundamental role in the allied health profession. They are members of an anatomic pathology team who employ histologic technology to prepare tissue samples for analysis, diagnose diseases or conduct research on tissue specimens. The sophisticated techniques used by HTs play an important role in confirming patient diagnosis and establishing patient treatment.

Inova Histology Program curriculum objectives will meet the standards set by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science which includes the qualifications and responsibilities of the HT Program Administration, and HT curriculum requirements in the area of instruction, learning experiences, and evaluations.

This certification program is available to both Inova team members and the public.

The program's course work and clinical practicums are done simultaneously over 10 months and taught by Inova Health System Pathologists, Certified HTs, and Certified Cytologists, consisting of over 840 clock hours of instruction. The program is intended to qualify its graduates to take the national certification examination given by the American Society for Clinical Pathology in pursuit of the HT (ASCP) certification. We enroll 4 students each year.

Schedule & Location

  • Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
  • Two weekends a month from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Starts in August of every year
  • Students will receive days off for holidays and breaks
  • Classes will be held at Inova Laboratory, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax, VA 22031

Certification

Accreditation

Inova Histology Program is in the process of becoming accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Rd, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018, (773) 714-8880, www.naacls.org.

Inova Histology Program has completed all requirements for recognition as a Serious Applicant for Initial Accreditation. Therefore, students are eligible for the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Histotechnology Board of Registry Certification Examination.

Photos From Our Inaugural Open House

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About the Histotechnology Profession

Between October 2016 and January 2017, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) conducted its bi-annual Vacancy Survey of medical laboratories in the United States. According to the survey, 17% of all histology employees are expected to retire in the next 5 years. Staff and supervisor retirement rates are 14% and 23% respectively. Most responders report hiring credentialed or certified HTs is preferred – identifying qualifications and certification status as crucial factors in addressing the needs of the laboratory workforce. This confirms the need to address and intensify efforts to recruit the next generation of laboratory personnel. (Source: American Journal of Clinical Pathology, Volume 149, Issue 5, 29 March 2018, Pages 387–400) Read the report: The American Society for Clinical Pathology’s 2016-2017 Vacancy Survey of Medical Laboratories in the United States

About Inova

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that serves more than 2 million people each year from throughout the Washington, DC metro area and beyond. Inova is a comprehensive network of hospitals, outpatient services and facilities, primary and specialty care practices, and health and wellness initiatives. Inova's five hospitals include more than 1,800 licensed beds and 18,000 team members and encompass a full array of health services.

Inova provides the only locally based, full service central laboratory in Northern Virginia, offering hospital quality and same-day results for many tests.

All five of Inova's hospitals have been recognized with regional and national achievement by U.S. News & World Report in at least one specialty or common core ranking; by the Leapfrog Awards, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); and by many others.

Contact the Inova Histology Program