Histology Specialists

Duties and Responsibilities:

Histology Specialists include both Histologic Technicians and Histologists.  Histologists are also referred to as Histotechnologists.  Both histologic technicians and histologists prepare tissue samples that are used by physicians to determine if a patient has a disease, dysfunction, or malignancy.

Histology technicians and histologists prepare samples by using equipment to thinly slice tissue samples.  They then mount the thin slices on microscope slides and use chemicals to stain them so important structures are visible.

Histologists perform more complex and advanced procedures than technicians and often also perform management functions.

Histology specialists work in hospital, veterinary, pharmacy, or research laboratories.

Average Salary:   

$22,000 - $35,000 (Histologic technicians) 

$30,000 - $50,000 (Histologists)

Educational Requirements:

Students should take the most challenging high school courses in science, math, and English.

To become a histologic technician, students must either earn an associate's degree in the field and complete a one year internship or complete a long-term training program in a histopathology lab.  They must also pass a national examination.

To become a histologist, students must either earn a bachelor's degree that includes a one year clinical internship or complete a long-term training program in a histopathology lab.  They must also pass a national examination.

Reflection: I would not like to do this job because I find this job to be in a way boring.

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