Now that you’ve gotten a solid start into your education or career as a histotechnologist or histotechnician, have you begun to ask yourself, “What’s next?” Congrats on reaching this step! By now, you probably have a great understanding of your field.
Becoming a certified histotechnologist or certified histotechnician is an excellent way to showcase your knowledge, experience, and commitment to this profession. First, let’s review what these specialized lab professionals do.
- Both histotechnologists and histotechnicians do the meticulous and important work of preparing blood and other tissue samples onto microscopic slides. These slides are then used to make medical diagnoses.
- Histotechnologists and histotechnicians play a critical role in the understanding of illness and disease. Their work makes medical research, diagnosis, and treatment possible!
Both histotechnologists and histotechnicians can be referred to as histologists. Let’s learn more about histology certification and explore the two most common certifications: the HT certification for histotechnicians and the HTL certification for histotechnologists.
Why Certification Matters in Histology: Benefits and Advantages
Histology certification demonstrates that you have additional knowledge and skills that set you apart from others in your field. This matters! The benefits of certification will take you and your career far. First, let’s start with a quick review of the similarities and differences of these two laboratory professionals.
Differences Between a Histotechnologist and Histotechnician
Histotechnicians and histotechnologists often perform many similar tasks. However, histotechnologists have more education and training than histotechnicians. Histotechnologists can prepare samples that require more advanced skills and specialized techniques. Additionally, histotechnologists are able to move into educational, administrative, and leadership roles more easily.
Advantages of Being a Certified Histotechnologist or Histotechnician
Whether you are a histotechnologist or histotechnician, certification in your field is a great way to show off your knowledge, skills, and experience. But the benefits of certification don’t end there. Did you know that:
- Certification makes you stand out from other job applicants.
- Certification increases your chances of getting hired for competitive jobs and lucrative locations.
- Certification can often lead to increased pay.
- Certification can lead to leadership, management, and career advancement opportunities.
- Certification may be required for specific histology jobs.
- Your employer may reimburse you for obtaining and maintaining your certification.
General Requirements to Become a Histotechnologist
Are you wondering how to become a histotechnologist? Before becoming certified, you will need to get started in this career path. The following requirements apply to histotechnologists in all 50 states:
General requirements for becoming a histotechnologist that are not state-specific
- Bachelor’s degree in histotechnology.
- Your degree will include classes in chemistry, statistics, microbiology, and clinical experience working with an instructor in a lab.
- Once you have your degree or certificate, you will be ready for entry-level histotechnologist jobs in most states.
General Requirements to Become a Histotechnician
What about how to become a histotechnician? There are a few things to do before becoming certified in this field. These requirements apply to histotechnicians in all 50 states.
General requirements for becoming a histotechnician that are not state-specific
- Associate degree in histology, or
- Certificate in histology
- Your degree or certificate program will include science and microbiology classes, as well as hands-on clinical experience.
- Once you have your degree or certificate, you will be ready for entry-level histotechnician jobs in most states.
Histotechnologist/Histotechnician Certification Types
Once you complete a degree or certificate program in histology, your next step is certification. Certification is not a requirement for all histology jobs, but many employers, including Trusted, require it. The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) offers two types of histology certifications:
The HTL certification for histotechnologists.
- The HTL exam costs $250. This exam is 100 questions long, and you will have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete it.
- Before taking the HTL exam, you must have a bachelor's degree and have completed a NAACLS-accredited Histotechnician or Histotechnologist program within the last five years. You must also have recent histotechnology lab experience to be eligible to take the exam.
The HT certification for histotechnicians.
- The HT exam costs $225. This exam is also 100 questions long, and you will have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete it.
- Before taking the HT exam, you must have completed a NAACLS-accredited Histotechnician program within the last five years. You must also have recent histotechnology lab experience to be eligible to take the exam.
Upon completion and passing of your exam, you will be certified as either a histotechnologist or histotechnician! Be sure to take pride in and congratulate yourself on this accomplishment. Don’t forget to renew your certification every three years.
Histotechnologist & Histotechnician Licensure Requirements by State
Not every state requires licensure to work as a histotechnologist or histotechnician, but some states do. The following four states currently require an additional histology license to work as a histotechnician or histotechnologist:
Florida Histology Licensure
Florida Histotechnologist
You can more information on Florida histotechnology licenses at the Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel website.
- Temporary/Limited Permit: No/No
- Initial Licensing Fee: $100
- Renewal: $95, every two years
Florida Histotechnician
You can more information on Florida histotechnician licenses at the Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel website.
- Temporary/Limited Permit: No/No
- Initial Licensing Fee: $55
- Renewal: $55, Every two years
Nevada Histology Licensure
You can more information on Nevada histotechnologist and histotechnician licenses at the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services website.
- Temporary/Limited Permit: No/No
- Initial Licensing Fee: See website for more information
- Renewal: See website for more information
New York Histology Licensure
New York Histotechnologist
You can more information on New York histotechnology licenses at the New York State Office of the Professions website.
- Temporary/Limited Permit: No/Yes
- Initial Licensing Fee: $345
- Renewal: $170, every two years
New York Histotechnician
You can more information on New York histotechnician licenses at the New York State Office of the Professions website.
- Temporary/Limited Permit: No/Yes
- Initial Licensing Fee: $245
- Renewal: $120, every two years
West Virginia Histology Licensure
You can more information on West Virginia histotechnologist & histotechnician licenses at the West Virginia Department of Health website.
- Temporary/Limited Permit: No/No
- Initial Licensing Fee: $25
- Renewal: $25, annually
Conclusion
Certification is a great way to set yourself apart as a histotechnologist or histotechnician, and at Trusted, we require that our histology travelers have either an HT or HTL certification.
Start your histology job search with Trusted Health today! We offer the most transparent pay packages, top-tier benefits, incredible locations, and unparalleled support. We’re here for you every step of your journey.
Take a look at our current histotechnologist & histotechnician job openings today!
