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To
be a successful Histologic Technician / Technologist you
should:
- Show accuracy and attention to detail
- Be a problem-solver
- Like challenge and responsibility
- Be able to work independently with little supervision
- Be able to communicate well, both orally and in writing
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| What
type of education and/or training do I need?
Programs for certified histotechnologist are four years
and lead to a bachelor's degree.
Histologic technicians complete a 12-month program, usually
at a community college offering a diploma, or can complete
on-the-job training and then take an examination.
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| Do
I need a license or certification for this career?
Licensure is not required in the State of Connecticut.
Prerequisite: The Board of Registry of the American Society
of Clinical Pathologists gives a national certification
exam. Students take this exam after meeting their academic
and laboratory education requirements. Those who pass
the exam for histologic technician may use the initials
HT (ASCP) after their name to show they are proficient
in their field. |
| Where
can I get more information? American Society
for Clinical Laboratory Science
6701 Democracy Blvd
Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 657-2768 www.ascls.org
National Society for Histotechnology
4201 Northview Drive
Suite 502
Bowie, MD 20716
(301) 262-6221
www.nsh.org |
What
is the salary for this career?
$37,440-$58,240
(Source: 2003 Connecticut Hospital Association
Compensation Survey) |
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| What
will my job be like? Histology technicians
(HTs) and histotechnologists (HTLs) are experts in slide
preparation for use by pathologists and scientists. Histology
is the microscopic study of tissues and their structures.
They prepare tissue sections for microscopic slide preparation
for pathologists or other medical scientists. They section,
stain and coverslip microscopic tissue sections on slides
to identify signs of disease, illness or malignancies
in the body. The tissue may be human, animal, or plant
in origin.
The histotechnologist may specialize in more complex
techniques such as enzyme histochemistry, immunohistochemistry
and electron microscopy. |
| Where
could I work? Histologic technicians have
an unlimited choice of practice settings. Hospitals, for-profit
laboratories, clinics, and public health facilities. Other
opportunities for histologic technicians are in industrial
research, veterinary pathology, marine biology, and forensic
pathology. |
| What
is the future of this career? Today, there
are more jobs for histologic technicians than educated
people to fill those jobs. The future long-term employment
looks bright. The need is great throughout the country. |
Where
can I get the education and/or training?
- Hartford Hospital School of Allied Health, Hartford
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