Cytotechnologist (CT)

• Students should take a college preparatory curriculum.
• Helpful high school courses include anatomy & physiology, biology, chemistry, math and statistics & probability.
• Shadowing a Cytologist is strongly recommended.

• Undergraduates must complete a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school with usually a minimum of 20 semester hours in biological sciences, 8 semester hours of chemistry and 3-4 semester hours of mathematics. Programs can vary on prerequisites.
• Afterwards graduates will be eligible to apply for a 12-month accredited Cytotechnology program that generally runs for one calendar year at an affiliated hospital.
• Certain colleges partnered with Hospital Cytotechnology Programs allow their undergraduates to apply usually in their senior year, complete the Program, and then receive a degree from the original college.
• The Cytotechnology Program at Marshfield Labs is affiliated with the following universities: UW-Stevens Point; UW-Green Bay; Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI; Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI; Luther College, Decorah, IA; Winona State University, Winona, MN; and College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN.
• Marshfield Labs offers a 12-month program. Applicants either possess, or are eligible for, a bachelor’s degree upon completion of the Program. Prerequisites: minimum GPA of 2.5, 28 credits of various sciences, and 3 credits of college math. See website for specifics.
• Mayo School of Health Sciences’ Cytotechnology Program allows application from graduates with a bachelor’s degree OR seniors enrolled at select educational institutions meeting their prerequisite courses.
• UW-Stevens Point offers a major in Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS) with 3 options—1) Histotechnology 2) Cytotechnology 3) Medical Technology
• Carroll University partnered with UW-Milwaukee offers a CLS major with a Cytotechnology emphasis. Entry into professional training phase is competitive and follows 2 ½ years on Carroll campus completing both general education and science requirements.
• Core course work includes biology, genetics, physiology, anatomy, cell biology, electron microscope techniques, microbiology, medical terminology, college algebra, statistics, and general education.
• Practicum experience at a clinical laboratory focuses on clinical techniques with hands-on exposure.

Educational Institutions

Carroll University
Edgewood College
Marian University
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
University of Wisconsin – Madison
University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin – Platteville
University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
University of Wisconsin – Whitewater

Affiliated Twelve Month Laboratory Training:

Marshfield Labs, Marshfield
Mayo Clinic, Rochester
State Lab of Hygiene, Madison
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee

• Baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college/university AND successful completion of a 12-month Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)/ National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) accredited Cytotechnology program within the last 5 years.
• NOTE: Either the college/university has to be accredited OR the12-month Cytotechnology lab program accredited OR both to be eligible for exam.
• Graduates are then eligible to take the National Registry Examination of the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

American Society for Clinical Pathology
33 West Monroe, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL, 60603
312/541-4999 or 800/267-2727 (ASCP)
www.ascp.org

American Society for Cytotechnology
1500 Sunday Drive, Suite 102
Raleigh, NC, 27607
919/861-5571 or 800/948-3947
www.asct.com

American Society of Cytopathology
100 West 10th St., Suite 605
Wilmington, DE, 19801
302/543-6583
www.cytopathology.org

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
1361 Park St.
Clearwater, FL, 33756
727/210-2350
www.caahep.org/

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720
Rosemont, IL, 60018-5119
773/714-8880 or 847/939-3597
www.naacls.org