Why Anatomy and Physiology I and II for PathA, Histotech, and MLS Program matters more for clinical lab careers than most applicants realize — and how the same two-course sequence opens doors across the entire NAACLS allied health vertical.
Anatomy and Physiology I and II — typically a two-semester, 8-credit-hour sequence with lab — is required by every NAACLS-accredited Pathologists’ Assistant program, required by most NAACLS-accredited histotechnology programs, and increasingly required by MLS programs as a program-specific prerequisite (separate from ASCP certification rules). Where MLS programs require A&P, the requirement is almost always one full year — both A&P I and A&P II — with lab.
| Bottom line If you’re applying to PathA, histotech, or any MLS program that lists A&P as a prerequisite, you need both semesters with lab. PrereqCourses offers BIO 270 Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits, $695) and BIO 275 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4 credits, $695) — both with lab, both transcripted by HLC-accredited Upper Iowa University, both with monthly start dates. |
Anatomy and Physiology occupies an unusual position in the clinical lab prerequisite landscape: the ASCP Board of Certification route requirements for MLS, MLT, HT/HTL, and PathA don’t universally name A&P as a mandatory prerequisite — but the educational programs that prepare students for those exams routinely do require it, because a working knowledge of human body systems is foundational to virtually every laboratory specialty. The result: certification rules are silent on A&P, but program admissions pages aren’t.
Below is the practical breakdown by credential. “Required” means the program-level admissions page lists A&P (one or both semesters) as a prerequisite. “Common but not universal” means A&P appears on most program lists but not all. “Sometimes” means it appears occasionally, usually as one acceptable option among several.
| Credential | ASCP / NAACLS rule on A&P | Program-level requirement | Practical implication |
| Pathologists’ Assistant (PathA) | Not required by ASCP for certification eligibility | Required at every NAACLS-accredited program — typically both A&P I and II with lab | A&P is the single most important prerequisite for PathA admission — the foundation for gross anatomic dissection coursework |
| Histotechnologist (HTL) | ASCP requires 30 SH biology + chemistry combined; A&P not specifically named | Common but not universal — many programs list A&P explicitly; others count it toward the 30-SH biology total | If your program lists A&P, take both semesters — counts toward the broader biology requirement either way |
| Histotechnician (HT) | ASCP requires 12 SH biology + chemistry combined; A&P not specifically named | Common — many associate-level HT programs list A&P I as a corequisite or prerequisite | A&P I alone often satisfies; A&P II is a program-by-program decision |
| Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) | ASCP requires 16 SH biology + 16 SH chemistry + microbiology; A&P not specifically named | Sometimes — varies sharply by program; some require both, some none | Always check the specific program. When required, A&P counts toward the 16-credit biology total |
| Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) | ASCP eligibility through associate degree program completion | Common — most associate-level MLT programs include A&P in the curriculum | Built into the program rather than a separate prerequisite at most schools |
| Cytotechnologist (CT) | CAAHEP-accredited (not NAACLS); requires bachelor’s with biology coursework | Common — most CT programs list A&P among required biology courses | Counts toward biology coursework total; verify with target program |
The pattern is consistent across every credential: certification rules don’t mandate A&P, but real programs do. This is the gap that trips up applicants reading ASCP eligibility pages and assuming they’re done — the program admissions page is a separate document, and it’s the one that decides whether you get in.
Pathologists’ assistants are the only NAACLS-accredited professionals who do gross anatomic dissection as the core of their daily work. They prepare and examine surgical specimens, perform autopsies under physician supervision, dissect organs, identify lesions, and orient tissue for histologic processing. The work is anatomy in three dimensions — handling real organs, identifying real structures, and recognizing what’s normal versus what isn’t.
That’s why every PathA program requires A&P I and II, almost always with lab, almost always within a recency window of 5 to 10 years. You can have an organic chemistry sequence from 15 years ago and still get in; an A&P sequence from 15 years ago will usually need to be retaken. Programs treat A&P as the perishable prerequisite — the one most directly load-bearing for the clinical work ahead.
If you’re new to PathA prerequisites in general, see our Pathologists’ Assistant Prerequisites pillar guide for the full requirement breakdown including organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, and the program-specific differences across the ~16 NAACLS-accredited programs.
Histotechnology — both the technician (HT) and technologist (HTL) levels — is anatomic pathology’s other clinical lab specialty. Histotechs prepare tissue specimens for microscopic examination by pathologists. The work is microscopic anatomy applied: tissue identification, sectioning, staining, and recognizing structures at the cellular level.
A&P shows up on most histotech program prerequisite lists, but the requirement varies by program structure:
For the ASCP HTL Route 2 path — which requires a bachelor’s with 30 SH combined biology and chemistry — A&P I and II together provide 8 credits toward the biology portion of that 30-credit threshold. That makes A&P unusually efficient: it satisfies a likely program prerequisite and contributes meaningfully to the broader biology total ASCP requires for certification.
If you’re working toward histotechnology, see also resources from the National Society for Histotechnology, which lists current NAACLS-accredited HT and HTL programs and their published prerequisites.
MLS is where the A&P requirement gets genuinely variable. The ASCP Board of Certification requires 16 SH biology, 16 SH chemistry (one of which must be organic or biochemistry), and microbiology — but does not specifically require A&P. Many MLS programs follow that same structure and don’t require A&P. Many others do, and the published requirement is usually one full year — A&P I and II — to ensure students enter the program with working knowledge of the body systems they’ll encounter in clinical chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, and clinical microbiology coursework.
Three things to know about A&P at MLS programs specifically:
Even when an MLS program doesn’t explicitly require A&P, the 8 credits from the A&P I + II sequence count toward the ASCP-mandated 16 SH of biology. For Route 2 applicants assembling biology coursework from a non-science bachelor’s degree, A&P is one of the most efficient ways to add 8 biology credits with strong applicability to clinical lab work.
MLS programs that require A&P universally want human anatomy and physiology — not vertebrate anatomy, not comparative physiology, not animal physiology. The course title and syllabus need to reflect human body systems coverage. PrereqCourses’ BIO 270 and BIO 275 are explicitly Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II — no ambiguity for the registrar evaluating your transfer credit.
When MLS programs list A&P as a prerequisite, almost all of them want the lab component too. The reason is the same as for PathA and histotech: A&P is one of the courses where future lab professionals first develop the observational habits and laboratory documentation skills the rest of the curriculum builds on. Lecture-only A&P credit gets rejected at most programs. Both BIO 270 and BIO 275 include lab — that’s why we list them as “with lab” in the title.
For the broader MLS prerequisite structure, see our Complete Guide to MLS Prerequisites: ASCP and NAACLS Requirements Explained — the pillar article that covers the 16+16+microbiology framework, organic vs. biochemistry choice, and program-specific requirements across major NAACLS MLS programs.
Programs reject A&P credits more often than applicants expect, because not every course titled “Anatomy and Physiology” is structured the way clinical lab programs need it. Five things programs check:
A single-semester “Survey of Anatomy and Physiology” or “Introduction to Human Body” course usually does not satisfy the A&P I + II requirement at clinical lab programs. The two-semester sequence covers materially more depth — 8 credits of paired coverage instead of 3 credits of overview. If your transcript shows a single A&P course, expect to need the full sequence.
Programs want graded laboratory work. “A&P I — lecture” without a corresponding lab grade typically gets flagged. Make sure both courses on your transcript carry the lab designation. PrereqCourses’ BIO 270 and BIO 275 are integrated lecture-and-lab courses, so the transcript shows the lab component clearly.
Some institutions offer a lower-rigor A&P sequence designed for students in non-clinical allied health programs (recreation therapy, exercise science, athletic training, etc.). Those courses sometimes don’t transfer to clinical lab programs that expect the standard rigor required for nursing, PA, and MLS applicants. The PrereqCourses sequence is at majors level — the same content depth required by ABSN nursing programs and PA schools.
PathA programs almost always impose a recency rule on A&P (typically 5 years, sometimes 10). Histotech programs sometimes do. MLS programs usually don’t impose recency on A&P specifically, though they may on lab science prerequisites generally. If your A&P is older than 7 years and you’re applying to PathA, plan to retake it. The program will tell you to anyway, and getting ahead of it shows seriousness.
NAACLS-accredited programs almost universally accept regionally accredited transfer credit. Many are stricter about national-only credit. PrereqCourses transcripts are issued by Upper Iowa University, regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission — the same accreditor that covers a large fraction of clinical lab programs in the Midwest and beyond. Regional credit transfers reliably to other regional institutions.
PrereqCourses offers the two-semester sequence specifically structured to satisfy clinical lab program A&P requirements:
| BIO 270 Human Anatomy & Physiology I (with Lab) Credits: 4 semester hours (lecture + integrated lab) Topics: Cells, tissues, integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous systems, sensory organs Tuition: $695 (compared with $1,800–$3,200 at most universities) Format: Self-paced online with monthly start dates |
| BIO 275 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (with Lab) Credits: 4 semester hours (lecture + integrated lab) Topics: Endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive systems Tuition: $695 (compared with $1,800–$3,200 at most universities) Format: Self-paced online with monthly start dates; BIO 270 is the prerequisite |
Three things matter for clinical lab applicants:
For deeper context on the online A&P landscape generally — virtual lab technology, comparative program reviews, study strategies — see our comprehensive Anatomy and Physiology Online: Complete Guide.
A&P I and II are the two most time-defining courses in a typical clinical lab prerequisite stack. They have to be taken in order (BIO 270 before BIO 275), they each carry a heavy reading and lab load, and at four credits each they require real time commitment. That means how you schedule them around the rest of your prerequisites matters.
Take BIO 135 Principles of Biology I first if your program requires general biology, then sequence BIO 270 → BIO 275. Don’t try to do general biology and A&P I simultaneously — the workload is too heavy and the content overlap is minimal enough that parallel scheduling won’t save you time.
Start BIO 270 immediately, and parallel-schedule a non-biology prerequisite alongside it — chemistry, statistics, or psychology work well. The mental loads don’t compete the way two simultaneous biology-with-lab courses would. When you finish BIO 270, roll directly into BIO 275 and parallel a different non-biology course.
Sequence A&P first, then BIO 210 Microbiology with Lab — micro is more accessible if you’ve already built the body-systems framework that A&P provides. For MLS in particular, microbiology is the single specialization course ASCP names by name; doing A&P first makes the micro course easier rather than harder.
PathA programs typically have January application deadlines for August matriculation. Histotech programs are more variable. MLS programs often have rolling or annual deadlines. The PrereqCourses self-paced format means you can finish a 4-credit course in as little as 6–8 weeks if you commit fully — meaning the full A&P sequence is achievable in roughly four months if you front-load study time. For applicants discovering an A&P gap six months before a deadline, that’s the mechanical answer to whether it’s possible to finish in time.
This happens most often for MLS applicants who confirm “A&P” is on the prerequisite list and assume one semester is enough. Almost no program means just one semester when they list A&P — they mean both, with lab. Confirm whether the requirement is for the I-and-II sequence or just I before enrolling.
Single-semester “Survey of A&P” or “Introduction to Human Anatomy” courses are designed for non-clinical pathways and usually don’t satisfy the I+II requirement. They’re often less expensive, faster, and easier — and they get rejected by the program. Save the time and money: take the standard sequence the first time.
Especially for PathA. A&P from 8 years ago that was great at the time is dead weight today — the program will tell you to retake it. If you’re more than 5 years out from your A&P sequence and applying to PathA, plan to retake. It’s annoying, but enrolling in BIO 270 + BIO 275 is faster, cheaper, and more transcript-friendly than appealing the recency rule.
Some programs scrutinize A&P lab credit specifically — they want to see graded lab work, not lecture-only credit with a separate “lab fee” line item. Take A&P with integrated lab the first time. Both BIO 270 and BIO 275 are integrated lecture-and-lab; the transcript shows it correctly.
For PathA especially, A&P performance is one of the few signals admissions committees can compare across applicants. A B+ in A&P is the floor for competitive applicants; A- and A grades are the norm at admitted students. A C in A&P is more damaging to a PathA application than a C in organic chemistry — because PathA is anatomy and the program’s read on you depends on your demonstrated grasp of it.
No. The ASCP Board of Certification Route 2 requirements are 16 SH biology, 16 SH chemistry (one of which must be organic or biochemistry), and microbiology. A&P isn’t named separately. However, when MLS programs require A&P (and many do), the credits count toward the 16 SH biology total. So even when not separately required, A&P is one of the most useful biology courses for MLS applicants.
No. Every NAACLS-accredited PathA program we’ve reviewed requires both A&P I and A&P II, and almost all require lab with both. Single-semester completion will result in an incomplete application.
For non-laboratory medical and PA school applications, online A&P acceptance is well-established. For NAACLS-accredited clinical lab programs, the pattern is: regionally accredited online A&P with integrated lab is accepted at the great majority of programs, but each program sets its own policy. We strongly recommend confirming with your specific program before enrolling. PrereqCourses’ BIO 270 and BIO 275 are widely accepted by ABSN nursing, PA, and pre-med programs; clinical lab program acceptance is similarly broad but should still be verified case-by-case.
PathA programs typically impose a 5- to 10-year recency rule on A&P, sometimes shorter. Histotech programs are variable; some require recent A&P, others accept older credit if the bachelor’s degree itself is recent enough. MLS programs less commonly impose recency on A&P specifically. Check your target program’s published recency policy. When in doubt, retake — it’s cheaper than a rejected application.
No. BIO 270 is a prerequisite for BIO 275 — the second course builds directly on body systems coverage from the first. Even if you could enroll in both simultaneously, you’d be lost in BIO 275 in week one. Sequential is the only approach that works.
In US clinical lab programs, yes — “A&P” is shorthand for the human anatomy and physiology sequence. Vertebrate anatomy, comparative physiology, animal physiology, and similar courses are different and don’t satisfy A&P prerequisites. Course title needs to specify “human.”
Upper Iowa University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and HLC credit transfers reliably to other regionally accredited institutions — including the great majority of NAACLS-accredited clinical lab programs. Always confirm with the specific program’s registrar before enrolling, but the answer is almost always yes, especially when the student can show the transcript explicitly lists the lab component.
If you’ve identified A&P I and/or A&P II as gaps on your way to a clinical lab program, the path is short:
| Ready to satisfy the A&P prerequisite? PrereqCourses offers BIO 270 Human Anatomy & Physiology I and BIO 275 Human Anatomy & Physiology II — both 4 credits, both with integrated lab, both $695. Transcripted by HLC-accredited Upper Iowa University. Start the 1st of any month and finish at your pace. Questions? Reach out to PrereqCourses advising at support@prereqcourses.com or 1-833-656-1651. |
PrereqCourses.com is a self-paced online prerequisite course platform issuing transcripts through Upper Iowa University, regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Our courses are accepted by NAACLS-accredited MLS, MLT, PathA, histotechnology, and allied health programs nationwide.
