Holiday Hours

With the exception of Inova hospitals, Inova Emergency Care and Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care, all Inova outpatient offices will be closed for the Christmas and New Year's Day holidays – Wednesday, Dec. 25 and Wednesday, Jan. 1.

Some Inova care sites have additional closures for the holidays, which will be noted on the relevant location pages. 

Curriculum

The Inova Histology Program will cover histology, immunohistochemistry, cytology specimen preparation, and light microscopy.

This program will also include principles and methodologies, problem‐solving, and troubleshooting for all major areas practiced in the contemporary histopathology laboratory. The Inova Histology Program is a full-time, 10 month (40 weeks) training program.

Curriculum: Histotechnician (HT) Certification Program

Course Description

This course will be an introduction to the profession and histology laboratory organization through observation and shadowing of those in the profession in the areas of accessioning, grossing, specimen transport, processing, embedding, microtomy, frozen sectioning, and basic H & E staining. The individual lectures will cover laboratory operations and basic histology which includes tissue morphology and anatomy. The labs will cover multi-headed scope session, operation, troubleshooting and maintenance of all histopathology equipment. The student will obtain wet tissue samples during shadowing for training purposes.

Course Description

HT 101 is a pre-requisite for Histotechniques. Tissue identification learned in HT 101 will help students comprehend the principles and practical application of the routine histologic techniques with regards to fixation, decalcification, tissue processing, embedding, microtomy, frozen sectioning, H&E staining, special staining procedures and quality control under supervision. The student will complete a binder of special stain procedures with images and there will be a competency evaluation of the students’ embedding, microtomy and staining abilities.

Course Description

The practical aspects of the special stains procedures learned in the previous course, quality control of routine and special stains, and introduce the fundamentals of immunohistochemistry, enzyme histochemistry and cytopreparatory techniques. Students will refine embedding and microtomy skills and demonstrate knowledge of the histopathology process from accessioning to staining under minimal supervision. The mandatory slide project and comprehensive exam will prove the students’ histotechnological scientific and artistic abilities and preparation for the American Society for Clinical Pathology Histotechnician Board of Certification Exam.

Curriculum: Histotechnologist (HTL) Certification Program

Course Description 

This course will be an introduction to the profession and histology laboratory organization through observation and shadowing of those in the profession in the areas of accessioning, grossing, specimen transport, processing, embedding, microtomy, frozen sectioning, and basic H & E staining. The individual lectures will cover laboratory operations and basic histology which includes tissue morphology, anatomy and pathological diseases. The labs will cover multi-headed scope session, operation, troubleshooting and maintenance of all histopathology equipment. The student will obtain wet tissue samples during shadowing for training purposes.

Course Description

HTL 101 is a pre-requisite for Histotechniques. Tissue identification learned in HTL 101 will help students comprehend the principles and practical application of the routine histologic techniques with regards to fixation, decalcification, tissue processing, embedding, microtomy, frozen sectioning, H&E staining, special staining procedures and quality control under supervision. The student will complete a binder of special stain procedures with images and there will be a competency evaluation of the students’ embedding, microtomy and staining abilities.

Course Description

Pre-requisites for this course are HTL 101 (MLAB 401) and HTL 201 (MLAB 403). The practical aspects of the special stains procedures learned in the previous course, quality control of routine and special stains, and introduce the fundamentals of immunohistochemistry and troubleshooting, enzyme histochemistry and cytopreparatory techniques. Digital pathology and histo-molecular pathology techniques and trouble shooting. Students with be introduced to managerial practices, laboratory financial planning. This Course will refine embedding and microtomy skills and demonstrate knowledge of the histopathology process from accessioning to staining under minimal supervision. The mandatory slide project and comprehensive exam will prove the students’ histotechnological scientific and artistic abilities and preparation for the American Society for Clinical Pathology Histotechnologist Board of Certification Exam.

Facilities


Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate from the Inova Histology Program and to qualify to take the Board of Registry examination, the requirements are as follows:

Program Policies and Handbook

Inova Histology Program Student Handbook

Student Employment Policy

Students can begin working after completing training in certain areas of the laboratory and they are compensated at a student rate salary. This is encouraged since it enhances a student’s job opportunities after graduation.

Contact the Inova Histology Program