Histology technicians – often referred to as histotechnicians – are medical laboratory specialists who work with biological tissues and specimens. They prepare tissues for diagnosis, examine them under microscopes, and identify microscopic structures and abnormalities within them. Histotechnicians, as a result, play an imperative role in the medical field. These are the individuals that make it possible for medical professionals to detect disease – say, for example, cancer or diabetes – in biological tissue samples.

Being such a critical member of the medical team, histology careers are considered to be very satisfactory – in terms of the work that these professionals do, as well as the pay they receive.

A Breakdown of the Histotechnician Salary

Nationwide, the average annual salary for medical and clinical laboratory technicians and technologists (which includes the histotechnologist and histotechnician salary) is $51,770. The technologists and technicians working in hospitals, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), make even more annually – approximately $54,670 each year.

What’s more is the histotechnician salary in Connecticut. In their occupational employment statistics, the BLS also ranked Connecticut the third highest-paying state in the country for clinical laboratory technicians and technologists. Based on the average, histotechnicians in Connecticut can expect to make $63,520 per year.

According to salary.com, histology technicians in the Greater Hartford area of Connecticut (where Goodwin College is located) earn an estimated $61,386 per year – again, higher than the national average.

How to Break into this Rewarding Career

To become a histotechnician today, it is recommended that you pursue and successfully complete a histology program that is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). Accreditation ensures that this is a viable, recognized college program that adheres to high educational standards. You can find accredited histology programs at the certificate level or the associate degree level. Both cover core topics such as: histology techniques, medical terminology, medical laws and ethics, biology, chemistry, and more.

Some healthcare employers will seek out histology specialists who have also earned certification in the field. Some states also require histotechnicians to be licensed, though Connecticut is not one of them. Certification is offered through the ASCP, or American Society for Clinical Pathology.

At Goodwin College, we aim to prepare our histology students for every career outcome in their field. For this reason, histology degree holders are fully eligible to sit for the Histotechnician (HT) Board of Registry exam administered by the ASCP after graduation. Successful completion grants them their national licensure. For those that desire to continue their education, earn a bachelor’s degree, and become a histotechnologist – those students can sit for the Histotechnologist (HTL) examination. Reflecting the guidelines set forth by our accrediting body, as of June 2015, 100% of Goodwin College Histotechnician graduates have passed the ASCP Board of Registry Certification Exam. Many have gone onto to lead successful careers as histotechnicians in areas such as:

• Botany and forensic medicine
• Hospital Laboratories
• Hospitals
• Immunopathology
• Industrial and university research
• Marine biology
• Pharmaceutical Laboratories
• Pharmaceutical testing
• Research Laboratories
• State Laboratories
• Veterinary

As an aspiring histotechnician with eyes set on the prize, it is important to know that you have options. At Goodwin College, you can choose to pursue a certificate in histology and break into the workforce after just three academic semesters of training. For those that desire to enroll in the degree program at Goodwin College, the advantage is walking away with both your associate degree and your certificate in Histologic Science – which can really stand out to potential employers across the state.

For more information about the histotechnician salary, requirements, and job description, or to learn more about pursuing your histology education at Goodwin College, please do not hesitate to reach out. Call us at 800-889-3282 or visit https://www.goodwin.edu/landingpages/histology to learn more.