School of Cytology

Currently accepting applications for the Class of 2024-2025. 

Application period is open from January 5 – March 31, 2024.

UCLA Health School of Cytology operates under the aegis of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine of the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. The School of Cytology, founded in 1991, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), and offers a comprehensive course in Cytology.

This is a Certificate Program. College credits are offered for students concurrently enrolled in the California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), Clinical Science-Cytotechnology option certificate program only. Upon program completion, the student will be awarded a Certificate of Completion and is eligible to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology, Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC) examination in Cytology. After successfully passing the ASCP-BOC exam, domestic students will be granted the professional title, Cytologist -CT (ASCP); international students will be granted the professional title, Cytologist -CT (ASCPi).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Mailing address:
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
Phone: 727-210-2350
Fax: 727-210-2354
Email: [email protected]

Curriculum 

This one-year training program trains students to detect cancer, its precursors and other medical disorders. Students will learn to perform a variety of diagnostic and research procedures in the Cytology laboratory, including microscopic examination of human cellular material and processing and staining of cytological specimens. The student will be trained to assess adequacy at fine needle aspirations and other procedures. Students will also have opportunities to learn new technologies in Cytology.

Maximum capacity of this program is six students per year. The school year begins in mid-August and concludes in July of the following year.

Program Outcomes 

First-time pass rate of ASCP-Board of Certification exam from the year of 2020-2022 is 90%.

Tuitions and Expenses 

For the 2024-2025 school year:

*Fees are subject to change without notice.
*A $50 USD non-refundable processing fee is required for the application process.
** Processing fee for DS-2019 form is $380 per applicant (departmental recharge fee included in the tuition)

Important Notes:

1. Textbooks, gas and mileage, parking fees, scrubs, ergonomic supplies, & miscellaneous expenses/ fees (of approximately $2000-$3000) are not included in the fees listed above.
2. Housing and transportation are NOT provided by the UCLA Health School of Cytology or Department of Pathology during the training year. It is the responsibility of the students to provide their own housing, and to arrange transportation for off-campus lectures, special speakers’ lectures, and clinical rotations.
3. During the training year, students also have opportunities to participate in out-of-states national conferences, such as Annual Meetings hosted by the American Society of Cytopathology, American Society for Cytotechnology, and the American Society for Clinical Pathology. It is the responsibility of the students to provide their own housing, transportation, and expenses for these conferences if they wish to attend.

General policies and Information: click Here

Eligibility

1. Domestic Applicants 

• Application process includes either Route 1 or Route 2.
• Deadline of application for the school year starting in Fall is March 31.

Route 1:

• The School of Cytology accepts students through California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), College of Health-Human Services-and Nursing, Division of Health Sciences Program, Clinical Science - Cytotechnology Option. CSUDH will grant academic credit for the year of clinical training in the UCLA Health School of Cytology.
• CSUDH students should already have a Bachelor of Science Degree and enroll as Post-Baccalaureate candidates. A Certificate of Completion will be awarded upon successfully completion of the training program.

For more information, please visit the CSUDH website: https://catalog.csudh.edu/academics/clinical-science/

Route 2:

• Non-CSUDH applicants (with US citizens and Permanent Resident status) should possess a minimum of Bachelor of Science Degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants who have completed college degrees outside of the U.S. need to submit his/her Transcript/Degree evaluation by one of the American Society for Clinical Pathology designated agencies. See this list here 
• Non-CSUDH applicants (with US citizens and Permanent Resident status) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from an accredited college or university will be required to fulfill the following biological science courses prior to enter the program. Applicants who have completed college degrees outside of the U.S. need to submit his/her Transcript/Degree evaluation by one of the American Society for Clinical Pathology designated agencies. See this list here
• A minimum of 20 semesters (30 quarter) hours of biological sciences and 8 semester hours of chemistry, with additional prerequisite courses listed in the following section are required. A Certificate of Completion will be awarded upon successfully completion of the training program. Science Courses required for Non-CSUDH Certificate students Note: These courses need to be taken within the last 5 years of application date.

1. International Applicants

This is a Certificate Program and does not offer any college credits or degrees. Upon completion of training, students will receive a Certificate of Completion, and eligible to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification exam. (https://www.ascp.org/content/board-of-certification/get-credentialed International Certifications section)

International applicants will need to complete the following 2 steps:

• Apply to UCLA Health School of Cytology Training Program
• If accepted in Cytology Training Program, then proceed to apply for J1 Visa through UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars (DCISS), under the J1 visa categories – Student Non-Degree.
• Maximum duration of stay in the US for the training period is 18 months..
• Deadline of application for Cytology Program training starting in Fall is March 31.
• Deadline to submit documentation to the UCLA Health School of Cytology for DS-2019 form processing is April 30.

Step 1:  Cytology Training Program Requirement 

• Applicants must hold a minimum of Bachelor Degree in any medical science or related fields from an accredited college or university.
• Applicants who have completed college degrees outside of the U.S. need to submit his/her Transcript/Degree to be evaluated by one of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) designated agencies. See this list here
  • For applicants whose native language is not English, TOEFL exam is required. Submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT). This exam must be taken within the last 2 years of the application date. Scores from the listening and speaking portions of the exam are given particular consideration in admission decisions. Minimum TOEFL scores accepted: 90 (UCLA Health School of Cytotechnology, Institution code: B588)
  • Statement of Purpose: 500 words, including career goals and motivation to enter the clinical laboratory profession.
  • Copy of the picture page of the passport including expiration date.
  • One color passport picture, 2 x 2 inches.
  • Two professional letters of recommendation.
  • A minimum of 20 semesters (30 quarter) hours of biological sciences and 8 semester hours of chemistry, with additional prerequisite courses listed in the following section are required.

Applicants who meet ALL of Step 1 criteria will be invited to have a web-based interview with School Officials. Post interview, successful candidates will be notified and then proceed to Step 2 to apply for the DS-2019 form processing.

Step 2:  DS-2019 (J-1 Visa) Requirement 

• Candidates who meet the requirement of our Training Program are eligible to apply for the J-1 visa categories- Student Non-Degree.
• Applicants who have an advanced degree in Medicine related fields
• Documentary evidence of financial support in English. Applicants are required to have a minimum amount of $26,968* individual living expenses per year (tuitions & fees not included) to show in a bank statement or organization support letter.
  Requirement: 51% of this funding should be from NON-PERSONAL resources, such as a scholarship, fellowship, or a grant/award from a government institution, organization, or a company. Acceptable financial documents include:

1. Personal funds: A recent bank statement no older than 6 months verifying the required amount of money. Online print-outs and ATM receipts are not acceptable documents.
2. Family funds from abroad: Bank statements, sponsorship letter, and/or bank letters verifying that EV will receive the required amount of money from their family during the term.
3. Government or other sponsoring agency: A signed copy of the scholarship or award letter on official letterhead which states the amount and duration of the award.
4. Home country institution/employer: Copy of signed letter from employer on official letterhead indicating the amount and continuation of salary payments during program participation.
5. UCLA Health School of Cytology or Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine are not responsible for the sponsorship of the applicant’s J1 visa.

• All J-1 visitors must adhere to UCLA’s insurance policies and need to enroll in UCLA’s Garnett-Powers plan to meet both visa regulations and UCLA policy. More information can be found here: https://internationalcenter.ucla.edu/j-1-scholars/exchange-visitor-j1-program/health-insurance (Health Insurance section)
• Note: Participants can waive this requirement directly with Garnett-Powers if they already have an insurance plan that is comparable to what G-P offers.

Submit all of the above required documentation to the School of Cytology no later than April 30.   This is required to begin the “Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status" DS-2019 form processing.   

To download DS-2019 Form:  https://internationalcenter.ucla.edu/j-1-scholars/ds-2019-procedure 

Once the applicants received approved document from UCLA Health School of Cytology, then they can take it to a US Embassy/Consulate to apply for J-1 visa.

Important Notes:

1. Admission to Cytology Training Program is contingent upon successfully passing the Program interview process AND obtaining legal J-1 visa status through UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars (DCISS).
2. Policies and fees for Cytology Training Program are subject to change without notice.;

Policies and fees for international students (J1 Visa) are subject to change without notice. Check UCLA Dashew Center website for up to date information. https://internationalcenter.ucla.edu/j-1-scholars/ds-2019-procedure

Cytology Program Officials 

Medical Director:  Jianyu Rao, M.D.
Program Director:  Mary Levin, SCT(ASCP)
Education Coordinator:  Po Chu Fung, MBA, SCT(ASCP)  

Submit application and DS-2019 documentation in a package to: 

Mary Levin, SCT(ASCP)
Program Director
UCLA Health School of Cytology
UCLA Medical Center
Dept of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
CHS, AL-209 C, Box 951732
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1732
TEL: (310) 825-9102
FAX: (310) 983-3289
E-mail: [email protected] 

Download application forms here: 

For CSUDH and Non-CSUDH students, download the Certificate Application.

For International students, download the Certificate Application.