Histotechnician Program Admission Guidelines

Applications for Fall 2026 entrance through Fall 2028 entrance (HSTO)

Admissions Guidelines

Minimum requirements to apply to the Histotechnician program:

1. CCRI Application for Enrollment into General Studies with a pre-Histotechnician (HSTO) concentration.

2. Official copy of a high school transcript, GED® transcript or baccalaureate transcript from an accredited institution, including date of graduation or completion.

3. CCRI uses a multiple measures approach to determine admission into Health Science programs (For example: High School GPA/GED® transcripts, SAT, ACT, HESI A2, Accuplacer scores or ENGL 1002 Critical Reading with a grade of A- or better [see below for points system]). Placement can also be determined by taking college level English and Math courses. Anyone with a degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution may have this requirement waived following submission of the official college transcript. 

4. Complete the following required prerequisite courses with a grade of "C" or better:

   • BIOL 1070: Human Biology 

     or BIOL 1010: Human Anatomy 

     or BIOL 2201: Anatomy & Physiology I and BIOL 2202: Anatomy & Physiology II

   • CHEM1010: Survey of Biomedical Chemistry 

     or CHEM 1030: General Chemistry I 

     or permission from the department

5. A minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required to apply to the program and be maintained until enrolled in the Histotechnician program.

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   All the above requirements must be met satisfactorily BEFORE submission of the Performance-Based Health Science (PBHS) application and does not guarantee acceptance. Students declining acceptance into the program for the semester must resubmit a PBHS application for the program and meet current requirements. Once accepted into the program, the student must attend a mandatory orientation conducted by the Allied and Rehabilitative Health Department.

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6. Complete and submit an online PBHS application here.

   Deadlines are listed on the form.

Conditionally accepted students are required to complete the following:

• When directed by notification from the Office of One Stop Student Services, students must submit a background check
  Results of BCI may prevent admission due to clinical agencies' requirements.
• Applicants must have a physical examination and the required immunizations completed prior to completion of HSTO 1310: Introduction to Histology.
• Students also must have a current CPR card (American Heart Association, Healthcare Provider level) obtained through an AHA-recognized community training center. This course is also available at CCRI through the division of Workforce Partnerships (https://www.ccri.edu/workforce/programs/healthcare/BLSCPR.html).  CPR must be documented prior to completion of HSTO 1310: Introduction to Histology.

Final acceptance is based upon the completion of the above criteria.

Please note: Requirements are subject to change.
For more clarifying information regarding any of the above please contact the Office of One Stop Student Services at:

• Mike Hynes, Knight Campus, 401-825-2266, [email protected]

• If more specific information is needed, contact Maddie Josephs, the Histotechnician Program Director, at 401-333-7418 or via email at [email protected]

Histotechnician Program Admission Criteria Point System

The performance‐based acceptance process is based on the performance indicators identified for the program. A point system based on the admissions guidelines has been assigned to the performance criteria.

The criteria for the incoming class will include:

• GPA in prerequisite courses
• Grade in BIOL 1070 (or BIOL 1010 or BIOL 2201 Anatomy & Physiology I and BIOL 2202 Anatomy & Physiology II)
• Grade in CHEM 1010 (or CHEM 1030)
• Selected Multiple Measure

In the event of a tie, the students' earliest completion date of the preadmission course will be used as the tie-breaker.

Credits granted through AP, CLEP, challenge exams or assessment of prior learning will be recognized as satisfying course requirements and will be assigned points equivalent to a grade of "B."

A student with a baccalaureate degree or higher may still be required to complete an ACCUPLACER test depending on the prerequisites for individual general education courses.

Please review the Department of Health website to learn about licensing requirements for the health sciences professions.

Please note: A Social Security number is required to begin the certification process for the health sciences professions.

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