Why You Should Work in a Laboratory as a Histotechnician

Not many people are aware of histology, the study of human or animal tissue. But histology is an important part of medical laboratory work. Histotechnicians prepare tissue samples for examination by pathologists or histotechnologists. Histology is perfect for someone who wants to work in a lab setting and help patients. Find out why you should work in a laboratory as a histotechnician.

1. You’ll Help Diagnose and Treat Diseases

First and foremost, histotechnicians—also known as histology technicians—play essential roles in diagnosing and treating diseases. They collaborate with histotechnologists and pathologists to find irregularities within tissue samples. Doctors perform biopsies to remove pieces of tissue from patients’ body. Once the sample reaches the lab, histology technicians prepare the samples for equipment. Then, histotechnologists or pathologists study the samples and report their findings.

Histologists discover vital information that helps medical providers make life-saving decisions. In fact, histotechnicians are some of the most important positions in medical testing labs.

2. There’s a Low Barrier to Entry for Lab Work

Becoming a histotechnician generally has a lower entry barrier than that of other laboratory professions. So if you’re interested in starting a meaningful lab career soon, this could be the job for you. You can become a technician in three ways:

• Earn a high school diploma and complete two years of training in a clinical lab.
• Complete an accredited program in histotechnology.
• Earn an associate’s degree and complete one year of clinical lab experience in histotechnology.

Whatever path you choose, you must pass a national exam to earn your certificate. And after you enter the field, you’ll have opportunities to advance into other positions.

3. You’ll Start on a Strong Career Path

With more education and training, you can become a histotechnologist. If you love histology, you can complete a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and gain more experience in a histopathology lab. After this, you must pass a certification exam to become a histotechnologist.

Starting as a histotechnician allows you to work in a lab sooner and gain relevant experience in a career that’s in high demand. If you want the opportunity to grow in your career path, you should work in a laboratory as a histotechnician.

4. You’ll Work in an Exciting Environment

As a histotechnician, you’ll have the opportunity to work with some of the most advanced medical lab equipment. You’ll work with microscopes, slide managers, and centrifuges as you prepare samples for pathologists to investigate.

Many people imagine lab work to be lonely, but this isn’t the case for histology technicians. They collaborate with a team working toward a common goal. Working with experts can help you develop new skills and a deeper understanding of histology and clinical laboratories. You’ll collaborate with some of the most knowledgeable people in the field, getting the opportunity to network and build relationships with other professionals.

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