Histotechnology Career & Jobs: Training, Salary & Certification Requirements

It can be very scary when people are afflicted with an illness or disease that they don’t understand or expect. Some diseases are very serious, and they might not be easily detected, even by the infected persons. Doctors, surgeons, and pathologists depend on laboratory testing and results to make decisions about which course of action is best to take in treating their patients. However, doctors usually don’t have the time or the expertise to perform these tests themselves, so they depend on trained histotechnologists to perform the tests for them, and accurately report the results. These histotechnologists are responsible for obtaining adequate samples of human and animal tissue from the patients, preparing them through freezing or other methods and examining them under the microscope. Histotechnologists are generally more experienced than histologic technicians and are usually employed in a management role over several technicians. These professionals perform a vital task for pathologists and surgeons that allow patients to get more efficient care.

Salary Outlook

Average Annual Salary
$36,800
Salary Range
$29,600 - $45,700

Work Environment

Because histotechnologists require sophisticated laboratories and medical equipment in order to perform their jobs, it is normal for them to be employed by research laboratories, hospitals and at government agencies. In some cases they might also be employed by private companies that are related to the health care fields, such as medical equipment manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies.

High School Preparation

Those individuals that think that they might enjoy a career as a histotechnologist are encouraged to focus their high school careers on the sciences and mathematics, as these are the foundational subjects that will come in handy later. Other courses to focus on include biology, chemistry, physics, and physical education.

Requirements

After completing the high school diploma, or approved equivalent, students interested in the histotechnology field are required to enroll in an undergraduate program at an accredited college or university. The degree should be in histotechnology or another related field that has been approved by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). Following graduation with the bachelor’s degree, the student is required to spend at least a year studying under a certified pathologist before taking and passing a national certification exam.

Career Outlook

As health care and medical testing becomes even more in demand due to the increased population of elderly people, it will be important for all medical institutions to have histotechnologists on staff so that they can perform speedy, accurate testing of tissue samples. Experts predict that the number of jobs in this field will increase between ten and twenty percent over the next few years.

Professional Organizations

National Society for Histotechnology
4201 Northview Drive, Suite 502
Bowie, MD 20716-2604
Phone: (301) 262-6221
www.nsh.org