Cytotechnology is the diagnosing of diseases through microscopic observation of changes in cells. Cytology testing is primarily a pre-cancer and cancer screening test; however, in the Berkshire Medical Center School of Cytotechnology students learn to not only recognize pre-cancers and malignancy but also infections, inflammatory responses, reactive and reparative changes, and benign tumors.
The Berkshire Medical Center School of Cytotechnology is a 12-month training program with a maximum capacity of 4 students. The school year begins the Wednesday after Labor Day and ends usually the third week of August. At the completion of the program, students are eligible to take the national certification exam given by the Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.
Admission requirements are as follows:
- baccalaureate degree with a minimum of 20 semester hours (credits) of biological sciences and 8 semester hours (credits) of chemistry
- official transcript(s)
- completed application
- 3 reference letters
- a personal interview
Also eligible are 3+1 students, whereby the student does 3 years of college work and attends a school of cytotechnology as the 4th year of college. BMC's School of Cytotechnology has academic affiliation agreements with a few colleges and universities in the Northeast.
No application fee is required. BMC's School of Cytotechnology does not offer financial aid.
Tuition is $3,500 payable the first week of school minus the $100 deposit received at the time of acceptance into the program. Other than living expenses, the only fee required is $195 to be sent with the BOR exam application in March.
For more information, contact Judy Shaffer at 413-447-2590 or e-mail jshaffer@bhs1.org
