What Histotechnicians Do

Cancer can often be detected by the appearance of cells in a tissue sample. Once a sample tissue is taken from the patient, it’s sent to the laboratory. It’s the job of the histotechnician to prepare very thin sections of body tissues for microscopic examination by a pathologist.

The histotechnician must work quickly and under pressure since the answers may be needed while the patient is in surgery. Working closely with the pathologist, the histotechnician freezes and cuts the tissues, mounts them on slides and stains them with special dyes to make the cell details visible under the microscope. With the information learned from the section of tissue biopsy, the pathologist and the surgeon find out if disease is present and if it has spread. They can then decide on the best course of treatment for the patient.

The histotechnician works with delicate instruments and automated equipment as well as knives, chemicals and glass slides. He or she must value precision and have good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity.

Job opportunities

Today, there are more jobs for histotechnicians than educated people to fill those jobs. The future long-term employment looks bright. The need is great everywhere throughout the country.

Histotechnicians have an unlimited choice of practice settings. Hospitals, for-profit laboratories, clinics, public health facilities, and industry currently have positions open for qualified histotechnicians. Other opportunities are in industrial research, veterinary pathology, marine biology and forensic pathology.

What it takes to be a histotechnician

All histoltechnicians have certain common characteristics. They are problem solvers. They like challenge and responsibility. They are accurate, reliable, work well under pressure and are able to finish a task once started. They communicate well, both in writing and speaking. They set high standards for themselves and expect quality in the work they do. But, above all, they are deeply committed to their profession, and are truly fascinated by all that science has to offer. For someone who chooses a career in the histology laboratory, the exploration never ends.

Career preparation

To prepare for a career as a histotechnician, you should have a solid foundation in high school sciences — biology, chemistry, math and computer science. You’ll need clinical education in a histotechnician (HT) program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or an associate degree from a community college and training at a hospital.

Preparing for a career as a histotechnician is a good investment in your future. Unlike many other careers, your education as a histolotechnician will prepare you directly for a job. While you’re going to school, you may be able to work part-time in a laboratory to earn extra money. And you could start working full-time the day after you graduate.

Certification

To be sure that laboratory workers are competent and able to perform high quality laboratory tests, the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology gives a national certification exam. Students take this exam after meeting their academic and laboratory education requirements. Those who pass the exam for histotechnician may use the initials, HT (ASCP), after their name to show they are proficient in their field.

Opportunities for Advancement

A histotechnician who earns a baccalaureate degree and either has one year of experience or attends a NAACLS accredited histotechnology program, can become a histotechnologist (HTL). The histotechnologist performs more complex techniques such as enzyme histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. A histotechnologist can also teach, be a supervisor in a laboratory or be the director of a school for histotechnology.

Visit laboratory professionals at your local hospital or laboratory. Talk with biology teachers and career counselors in your school.

Reprinted from the ASCP Flier: Histologic Technician: A Career For You