Pathologist's Assistant

Pathology Lab with pathologist dropping sample into test tubes.

Your path to being a Pathologists’ Assistant starts here …

Navigating the path to becoming a pathologists’ assistant can be complex. We're here to guide you every step of the way.

Plan Your Path to becoming a Pathologists’ Assistant

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Choose an Ideal Grad School: Each pathologists’ assistant program sets its own specific course requirements for undergraduate students. By familiarizing yourself with these prerequisites, you can strategically plan your academic schedule at UIS to align with your desired graduate school.
When choosing which schools to apply to, it's important to weigh a variety of factors. These include the school's geographical location, the characteristics of the student body, and the nature of the curriculum. There is only one route to becoming a pathologists’ assistant. You must attend and graduate from a National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) accredited program and pass the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification exam.
The American Association of Association of Pathologists’ Assistants (AAPA) provides many resources for prospective students, including a list of accredited programs.

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Course of Study Planning: Your journey to becoming a pathologists’ assistant requires careful planning. From selecting the right prerequisites to aligning your courses with graduate school requirements, our advisors are here to tailor a plan that suits your goals.

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Connect with our Pre-Health Community: We are here to help and connect you with others on a similar path. These connections are not merely supportive—they're transformative, opening doors to mentorship, hands-on experience, and collaborative projects that will shape your journey in healthcare. Embrace the community of faculty, staff, students, and professional mentors around you!

Classes

Each NAACLS accredited graduate school sets its own unique requirements, yet there are several standard prerequisites you're likely to encounter. Here's an overview of the commonly required courses.

What to take at UIS

General Chemistry	CHE 141 and CHE 142
Organic Chemistry	CHE 267/268
Biochemistry	CHE 475/476
Biology	BIO 141 and BIO 142
Microbiology	BIO 495
Genetics	BIO 381
Anatomy and Physiology BIO	BIO 201/202 OR BIO 429/431
Math	MAT 121

Note: Some classes require prerequisites—Be sure to plan your path with an advisor.

General Advice

Thinking of becoming a pathologists’ assistant? Explore the many resources provided by the AAPA.

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