Pathologists' Assistant Program

Introduction:

Pathologists’ Assistant Program

The Pathologists’ Assistant program at WVU School of Medicine was approved and founded in 2007, with the first class beginning in January, 2008. The program is an intensive 24-month curriculum, culminating in a Master’s degree in Health Science. The first year is an intense didactic schedule, with some “hands on” experience in the Surgical Pathology Gross Room and Autopsy Suite. The second year is clinical practice, with rotations in various medical settings for a wide-ranging experience prior to employment. Students are required to have a Bachelor’s degree and come from a wide variety of science-related backgrounds, including Medical Technology, Pre-Professional Biology, and Forensic Science.

The goal of the program is to educate and train qualified Allied Health Professionals as Pathologists’ Assistants, with the objective also being that the graduates pass the national certifying exam. Successful completion of the program enables alumnae to obtain employment in hospital laboratories, clinical laboratories, research facilities, and academic centers.

Although our objective is to academically prepare students to pass the national certifying exam, granting of the Master's degree in Health Science is not contingent upon passing any external certification exam, only successful completion of the approved program curriculum.

Our Graduates:

The class is composed of 10 students, the first graduating in 2009. Pending attaining Serious Applicant Status (SAS) in the NAACLS accreditation process, graduates will be eligible to sit for the ASCP (American Society of Clinical Pathologists) exam, earning the designation of “P.A. (ASCP)” upon passing. As well, graduates are eligible to become fellows of the AAPA (American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants), the governing agency for Pathologists’ Assistants. Certified Pathologists’ Assistants from accredited training programs are in high demand as Allied Health Professionals across the U.S. and can be found in Canada, Australia, and Denmark as well. An above average salary is earned by graduates of these programs.