Technician in Pathology Anatomy and Cytodiagnosis

About

This program trains students to process histological and cytological samples, to select and make the gynaecological and general cytology diagnostic approximation. Collaborate in the realization of clinical and forensic necropsies to support the clinical or medico-legal diagnosis, organizing and planning the work and fulfilling criteria of quality service and optimization of resources, under the specific supervision of a doctor.

The duration is 2,000 hours (1,485 in class and 515 in internship) divided in two academic years.

Access

People having some of the following requirements can access directly to the program:

• Have the high school diploma or equivalent
• Have a Vocational Education and Training diploma (VET) or a Certificate of Higher Education (HNC)
• Professional or technical specialist
• Have any Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent
• Having passed the university entrance test for over 25 years

People not having any of the aforementioned requirements must pass an entrance test. In order to apply, it is necessary be aged 19 years old or turn 19 during the year in which the test will take place.

Objectives

The Technician in Pathological Anatomy and Cytodiagnosis will develop the following competences:

• The organization, management and involvement in necropsy units or services and in pathological anatomy and cytology laboratories.
• The realization of clinical or medico-legal autopsies, always under supervision of a doctor.
• The processing of post-mortem and surgical pieces and clinical biopsies.
• The application of necessary techniques of microtome, staining, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and molecular biology in tissue samples and cytologies.
• The selection and diagnostic approach of cytologies, always under the supervision of a doctor.
• The photographic record of the materials and preparations at a macroscopic, microscopic and ultramicroscopic level.
• Relate the basic pathology with the pathophysiological process, applying scientific and technical terminology.
• Perform techniques of opening, removal and dissection of the body to apply the autopsy technical procedures.
• Apply extension and staining procedures to process cytological samples.
• Select the methods of chromosomal analysis, depending on the type of sample and determination, to apply genetic analysis techniques.

Internship

Internships are carried out in the departments of pathological anatomy of hospitals, as well as in public and private laboratories or at the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Catalonia. All of them are reference centers in the regions of Girona and Barcelona.

Modules

MP1: Management of Biological Samples (165 hours) – 1st course
MP2: General Laboratory Techniques (165 hours) – 1st course
MP3: Molecular Biology and Cytogenetics (165 hours) – 1st course
MP4: Necropsies (132 hours) – 1st course
MP5: Cytological and Tissue Processing (264 hours) – 1st course
MP6: General Cytology. (218 hours) – 2nd course
MP7: Gynecologic Cytology (198 hours) – 2nd course
MP8: General Physiopathology (99 hours) – 1st course
MP9: Personal Pathway to Employability I (99 hours) – 1st course
MP10: Personal Pathway for Employability II (66 hours) – 2nd course
MP11: Intermodular Project (198 hours) – 2nd course
MP12: Professional English. (66 hours) – 1st course
MP13: Optional Professional Module (66 hours) – 1st course and (33 hours) – 2nd course
MP14: Digitalization Applied to the Productive Sectors (33 hours) – 1st course (33 hours) 
MP15: Sustainability Applied to the Productive System (33 hours) – 1st course

Career opportunities