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Become a Histotechnologist

Learn what histotechnologist careers are like and how to get started.

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Histotechnologists, also known as histologic technologists or tissue technologists, prepare slices of body tissue for examination by pathologists. As a histotechnologist, you'll be performing complex procedures for processing body tissue and must make judgments concerning the quality of results.

Histotechnologist Job Description

Your daily duties as a histotechnologist will likely include the following:

  • Preparing slides of human or animal tissue for study
  • Identifying any abnormalities in tissue structure and cell components for further analysis by the pathologist
  • Relating the test results to physiological functions
  • Implementing new testing techniques and procedures

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Histotechnologist Salary

According to the American Medical Association, average wages for histotechnologists range from $44,970 to $49,360 per year. A shortage of histotechnologists throughout the nation has created a strong demand for these professionals.

Histotechnologist Work Environment

Most histotechnologists work in hospitals or clinical pathology labs. You might also work in any of the following settings:

  • Research laboratories
  • Doctors' offices
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Government agencies

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Histotechnology Education & Training

In order to become a histotechnologist, you'll need to have a bachelor's degree and certification from a National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) accredited program. In addition to histology and histochemistry, you'll learn processing techniques, preparation of specimens and microcopy. Courses in histotechnology generally include the following:

  • Medical Terminology
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Immunology
  • Anatomy and Physiology

Histotechnologist Licensure

Regulations vary from state to state, but certification is highly recommended because many employers require it. The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) offers national certification and testing, which earns histotechnologists the title Certified Histotechnologist (CHTL).

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Did You Know?

  • The first microscope capable of bringing cells and bacteria into view was invented by Anton van Leeuwenhoek in 1674.
  • The average human adult possess about 25 square feet of skin.

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