Fixation on Histology

Though a national certification for histotechnology is not required to work in the field, there are several states that require their own state licensure to work as a laboratory technician. One such state is Florida. Florida state licensure is granted by the Florida Department of Health, specifically the Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel, a 7-member group within the Department of Health that is appointed by the Governor of Florida.

In order to get the histology technician license, you must meet the requirements for Moderate Complexity Testing under the CLIA Amendments as well as the requirements for the HT ASCP Certification.

To meet the CLIA Moderate Complexity Testing Requirements you need either:

• MD, DO, DPM with current medical license in state of lab’s location

• PhD in laboratory science, chemical, physical, or biological science

• Masters in medical technology, laboratory science, chemical, physical, or biological science

• Bachelors in medical technology, laboratory science, chemical, physical, or biological science

• Associate degree in chemical, physical or biological science or medical laboratory technology

• High school graduate or equivalent and successfully completed military training of 50 or more weeks and served as a medical laboratory specialist

• High school diploma or equivalent and appropriate training/experience
  
  

To meet the HT (ASCP) Certification Requirements you need either:

• Successful completion of a NAACLS accredited Histotechnician program within the last five years.

• 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of academic credit from a regionally accredited college/university, with a combination of 12 semester hours (18 quarter hours) in biology and chemistry (must include credit hours in both) AND one year of full time acceptable clinical experience in a histopathology laboratory within the last five years OR one year of full time acceptable veterinary, industry or research experience in a histopathology laboratory in the U.S. or Canada within the last five years.

In addition to meeting the requirements for CLIA and ASCP, you are also required by the Board to take a 1-hour course on HIV/AIDS, and a two-hour course on preventing medical errors. Check out NSH’s courses for this requirement.

If you meet all of these requirements, you can apply online through the Board website. You will be required to pay an application fee and provide documentation including:

• Official Final Transcript from your college or university

• Official License Verification

• National Certification

Once you have your Florida histology license, you need to maintain it. Florida license renewal must be completed by August 31 of even years (ex. 2020, 2022). To renew your license, there is a fee you pay, and you need to complete continuing education. This CE includes general hours, as well as courses in medical errors, HIV/AIDS, and Florida rules and laws. If it is your first time renewing, for example if you earned your certificate in 2021 and you’re applying for your August 2022 renewal, you would not be required to complete the general CE requirements.