Histologic Technician/
Histotechnologist

Histologic technicians prepare slides of body tissue for microscopic examination by freezing and cutting tissues, mounting them on slides, and staining them with special dyes to make the details visible under the microscope. Histotechnologists perform more complex tasks than histologic technicians, including procedures associated with histochemistry, electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence. Histotechnologists may function as section supervisors, teach students, and perform more complex analyses such as identifying tissue structure and cell components to be used in the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease.

Work Environment
Most histologic technicians and histotechnologists work in hospital laboratories. Others may work in research institutions, industrial laboratories, or government agencies.

Job Outlook
Employment opportunities are excellent. A shortage of histologic technicians and histotechnologists in Texas and throughout the nation has created a strong demand for these professionals.

Length of Training/
Requirements
To become a histologic technician, a high school graduate can enter either a 12-month, hospital-based on-the-job training program or a two-year associate degree program at a community college. A histotechnologist must have a bachelor's degree and one year of additional laboratory experience or have completed a histotechnology program accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation.

Salary
Salary depends on education, specialty, geography, job setting, and experience. Current salaries range from $25,000 - $32,000 for histologic technicians. Current salaries range from $26,000 - $38,000 for histotechnologists.

Educational Programs
St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital - Houston
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center - Houston

Professional Associations
American Society of Clinical Pathologists Board of Registry
2100 W. Harrison St.
Chicago, IL 60612-3798
312/738-1336
Fax: 312/738-5800