Histology Technician Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for a histology technician job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a histology technician. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a histology technician.
Who is a Histology Technician?
Histology is the study of a tissue’s microscopic composition. A histology technician is therefore a clinical laboratory technician who prepares ultra-thin samples of body tissue for a pathologist to examine under a microscope. A histology technician is a member of the medical laboratory team that analyzes samples from people, animals, and plants to identify diseases and anomalies. They are primarily responsible for preparing tissue specimens for analysis. They transform tissue samples into microscope slides, which are then used to diagnose and cure diseases. The study of microscopic tissue features is known as histology.
Histology technicians are in charge of taking a tissue sample from a patient, preparing it, and producing those tiny structures. A pathologist evaluates presentations by histology technicians for diagnostic or research purposes after the samples are created. Pathologists and lab managers are mostly Professionals that work together with histology technicians. To make tissue anomalies visible under a microscope, these professionals use specialized machinery and a range of dyes and chemicals.
For the microscopic study, a histology technician makes slide presentations of sick cells and tissues. Under the supervision of staff members of the lab or clinic, he or she gathers specimens for presentation. Medical professionals, especially pathologists, examine the specimens collected. Following collection, the histology technician is given instructions on how to preserve the specimens. The specimens may be frozen, preserved in paraffin, or wrapped in plastic, depending on the usage they are intended for. Staining is a popular technique that can be applied to slide specimens to help identify various tissue features.
This specialist has the knowledge and authority to choose viable specimens. Histology technicians regularly collect their samples as well as those that have been provided by other medical professionals for their use. To keep samples viable, each one can need unique management. The histology technician keeps an eye on the integrity of the specimens as they are examined to make sure they are valid throughout the analytical procedure. Performing quality control and quality assurance testing is a regular part of this. To ensure their adherence to industry standards and testing accuracy, the equipment, tools, and instruments also need to be regularly inspected.
In certain labs, the histology technician is expected to design and carry out testing protocols independently. Both highly developed technical skills and an in-depth understanding of the tissues being evaluated are necessary for this. Pathologists who are familiar with the tissues in question assess procedures created by technicians before they are put into use to ensure they adhere to strict standards for accuracy. A histology technician’s performance depends on their ability to pay attention to detail. Accuracy is crucial to every step of her profession, including sample collection, preliminary analysis, and final testing. Correct laboratory conclusions require error-free record-keeping of testing processes.
A histology technician routinely compiles thorough reports of laboratory findings and testing methods. Usually, these reports are posted internally or online for the benefit of the medical profession. The technician might be asked to check for clarity in other people’s documents. A histology technician should be competent in the use of light and electron microscopes in addition to being at ease with other pieces of laboratory equipment. Tissue processors and embedding facilities may be included in this equipment. It’s also essential to be familiar with using lab databases and computers.
A two-year associate’s degree that includes a large number of biological or chemical science courses is the minimum educational need for a histology technician. It might also be necessary to complete an authorized histotechnology certification program successfully and have two years of relevant laboratory experience. It would be ideal if you are already familiar with clinical trials, healthcare settings, or laboratory techniques. You must be able to communicate clearly with different medical professionals and produce clear clinical reports if you want to thrive as a histology technician. Outstanding candidates will have a keen attention to detail and the capacity for sustained concentration.
Histology Technician Job Description
What is a histology technician job description? A histology technician job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a histology technician in an organization. Below are the histology technician job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a histology technician job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
Histology technicians are responsible for a wide range of tasks, which can include:
- Take thorough notes during examinations so that the results can be properly documented.
- Prepare biological samples for analysis by using a microtome to cut them into small slices or by mounting them on slides.
- Use methods like swabbing, scraping, cutting, or collecting fluid samples to handle specimens to gather samples for lab testing.
- Perform elementary laboratory procedures including staining slides to detect cells or preparing tissue samples for microscopic examination.
- Enter symptoms, test outcomes, and treatment plans into an electronic medical record (EMR) system.
- Communicate test results to patients and medical professionals.
- Maintained lab tools like microscopes, stereotactic equipment, incubators, and autoclaves.
- Perform autopsy procedures, such as gathering tissue samples and running tests to identify bacteria or viruses present in the body, to aid the pathologist in identifying the cause of death in cases of unnatural death.
- Use a microscope camera that has been connected to an electronic device for image capture to take pictures of tissue samples.
- Check for correctness in medical records and make any necessary updates.
- Choose the best tissue samples for analysis.
- Utilize biopsies, aspirated tissue, and, in rare cases, frozen tissue sections to dissect and analyze the resected tissue.
- Utilize microtomy, staining, tissue processing, embedding, and accessioning to analyze tissue.
- Spend some time in the morgues performing autopsies.
- Handle cell and tissue samples with extreme caution to avoid infection.
- Teach and mentor other biomedical team members on tissue analysis, identification, and the right test to run.
- Assemble and submit clinical reports to medical experts and other healthcare providers, working together to recommend patient care.
- Conduct clinical audits to find the best laboratory practices to deliver good patient care.
- Handle tissue samples by safety and infection control guidelines.
- Stay updated and knowledgeable of pathology samples and share them with colleagues.
- Create slides for microscopic examination or other sample preparation for lab procedures.
- Examine slides under a microscope to look for anomalies and measure things.
- Use computerized histology equipment to measure tissue samples and create permanent records of the results.
- Obtain patient blood samples to examine the DNA sequences for disease indicators.
Qualifications
- A first degree in medicine
- At least 4 years of specialist training in histopathology.
- Must have completed a Medical Licensing exam.
- Thorough knowledge of tissue sampling and analysis procedures.
- Outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Outstanding clinical supervision skills
- Ability to lead the biomedical team.
- The ability for the regular presentation of tissue.
- Cell diagnostic reports skills.
- Must be able to write lucid clinical audit reports.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Competence in presentation is required.
- Ability to educate personnel in the medical team about laboratory findings.
- Ability and willingness to learn and embrace advanced technology easily.
Essential Skills
- Communication skills: For interactions with patients and other medical personnel, communication skills are essential. You may be needed to explain procedures to patients and respond to their inquiries from time to time as a histology technician. Additionally, you must be able to pay attention closely to and comprehend your patient’s concerns and that of their families as well. To ensure the appropriate collection and storage of samples, you might also need to speak with other medical specialists.
- Attention to detail skills: As a histology technician, you need to pay close attention to detail because you handle medical supplies and samples. You can be in charge of properly labelling samples, maintaining a record of samples, and managing equipment. Attention to detail is essential for preserving the lab’s state as you might be in charge of keeping it clean. Histology technicians need to be able to recognize and record the right data when working with medical records. They must pay close attention to every detail since it might be useful in the future. When recording the outcomes of laboratory tests, histology technicians also pay close attention to detail.
- Scientific knowledge: For a histology technician, the capacity to comprehend scientific ideas and use them in your work is an essential skill. This is because a histology technician’s job requires them to comprehend scientific principles and techniques. For instance, a histology technician may need to know how to correctly analyze a specimen’s chemical composition.
- Time management skills: Histology technicians may have a variety of responsibilities to carry out in a day, therefore time management is an essential skill. For instance, they could have to prepare, process, analyze, and write reports on samples. They could also be responsible for overseeing the work schedules of additional lab employees.
- Technological skills: Another essential skill for a histology technician is the ability to use technology and software. To execute duties including gathering and recording patient information, creating slideshows, and keeping patient files, you might need to employ a variety of software applications.
- Organizational skills: Histology technicians need to have the ability to arrange their workspace and their tools. This is because they usually work in confined areas and must keep their work organized to find what they need fast. You can keep track of samples and documents by using your organizational skills.
How to Become Histology Technician
Step 1. Acquire Education
A high school diploma in science and mathematics is required for individuals who want to become histology technician. There are two ways to acquire a histology technician’s educational qualifications. A histology technician program that has been approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) is one possibility. Most histology technicians graduate with an associate’s degree in medical laboratory way to do, and that can be achieved after two years of study. Community colleges and technical schools offer this qualification. There are classes in biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, histology, immunology, biochemistry, and medical ethics included in the histology technician program. An associate’s degree program that involves supervised histology training in a medical facility is the second possible option to acquire educational qualifications as a histology technician. In most cases, students who successfully finish these associate’s degree programs are awarded an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree with a specialty in histology.
Step 2. Acquire Work Experience
Students may be able to significantly boost their future opportunities for employment by working part-time in a laboratory while attending classes histology technicians classes. Histology technician education directly prepares prospective employees for the job. After being hired, the majority of histology technicians undergo on-the-job training from their employer. This training, which could span a few weeks to a month, could include topics including using the lab’s tools, handling specimens, and cleaning and sanitizing the space.
Step 3. Obtain Certifications
Histology technicians in many countries are required to earn government licenses. While some countries require lab facilities to license their technicians, others need histology technicians to seek licensure only from the government. With the right certifications, you can be distinguished from the competition and demonstrate your dedication to your career. Students who get a science degree in a discipline other than histology technology must additionally complete a comprehensive histology technician certificate program to acquire the requirements necessary to work as a professional histology technician. Because many employers demand it, certification is strongly advised. Certification can be obtained from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA), or the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Obtaining certifications earns histology technologists the title Certified Histology technologist (CHTL). Histology technicians have to complete a Certification Maintenance Program (CMP) every three years. Some ways that histology technicians can earn CMP certifications are through continuing education programs, professional development courses, and workshops.
Where to Work as a Histology Technician
Histology technicians can work in places such as hospitals, clinical pathology labs, private science technology labs, pharmaceutical companies, R&D centres, hospital laboratories, reference laboratories, physician office laboratories, state health departments, fertility clinics, marine biology laboratories, biotechnology laboratories, veterinary laboratories, forensic laboratories, and government agencies. They typically work full time, and some of them may work evenings and over weekends. They usually work overtime when there’s an emergency or a deadline to meet.
Histology Technician Salary Scale
The salary of histology technicians usually varies depending on various determinants such as level of education, years of experience, etc. The average histology technician salary in the US is $58,248 per year. The salary scale typically ranges from $52,240 to $64,057 per year. The average histology technician salary in the UK is £35,336 per year. The salary scale typically ranges from £27,761 to £47,634 per year.
The average histology technician salary in Canada is $68,292 per year. The salary scale typically ranges from $49,605 to $83,856 per year. The average histology technician salary in Australia is $85,501 per year. The salary scale typically ranges from $62,206 to $105,158 per year. The average histology technician salary in Nigeria is 4,981,700 NGN per year. The salary scale typically ranges from 2,290,300 NGN to 7,919,400 NGN per year.
