Best institutions to study Histologic Technician
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of histotechnologists and other clinical laboratory scientists, to prepare and process tissue samples and perform routine histologic procedures and tests.
19 U.S. institutions graduated 243 Histologic Technician students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.1008, a specialization of Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (CIP 51.10), and leads most directly to the Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1071).
About Histologic Technician programs
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of histotechnologists and other clinical laboratory scientists, to prepare and process tissue samples and perform routine histologic procedures and tests. Includes instruction in fixation, dehydration, embedding, sectioning, decalcification, microincineration, mounting, routine and special steaming, laboratory mathematics, laboratory procedures and safety, instrumentation and microscopy, computer applications, preparation of museum specimens, and recording and administrative procedures.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Histologic Technician program prepares individuals to work in clinical and medical laboratory settings, focusing on the preparation and processing of tissue samples. Under the supervision of histotechnologists and other clinical laboratory scientists, students gain hands-on experience in routine histologic procedures and tests. This program is ideal for those interested in advancing their careers in health professions and related fields.
Students in the Histologic Technician program learn essential skills such as fixation, dehydration, embedding, sectioning, and laboratory safety. The curriculum also covers instrumentation, microscopy, and administrative procedures, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to excel in laboratory environments.
Credentials awarded
What Histologic Technician graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree126 graduates / yr · 15 institutions52%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year67 graduates / yr · 5 institutions28%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years42 graduates / yr · 4 institutions17%
- Bachelor's degree8 graduates / yr · 1 institution3.3%
Graduates over time
Histologic Technician completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 156 |
| 2013 | 231 |
| 2014 | 228 |
| 2015 | 168 |
| 2016 | 267 |
| 2017 | 221 |
| 2018 | 260 |
| 2019 | 252 |
| 2020 | 203 |
| 2021 | 243 |
| 2022 | 245 |
| 2023 | 253 |
| 2024 | 260 |
| 2025 | 243 |
Top 19 institutions for Histologic Technician, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 45 | 54% | — | $58,316 |
| 2 | SUNY Broome Community College Binghamton, NYPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 45 | 23% | — | $53,886 |
| 3 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FLPublicAssociate's | 19 | 37% | — | $58,346 |
| 4 | Tarleton State University Stephenville, TXPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 17 | 48% | — | $51,327 |
| 5 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester, MNPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | — | — | $70,333 |
| 6 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill Cobleskill, NYPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 12 | 42% | — | — |
| 7 | Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 11 | 61% | $35,483 | $47,884 |
| 8 | Elgin Community College Elgin, ILPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 11 | 41% | — | — |
| 9 | Jefferson State Community College Birmingham, ALPublicAssociate's | 10 | 26% | — | — |
| 10 | Miami Dade College Miami, FLPublicAssociate's | 10 | 46% | — | $25,923 |
| 11 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 9 | 41% | — | $45,022 |
| 12 | Anne Arundel Community College Arnold, MDPublicAssociate's | 8 | 31% | — | — |
| 13 | Houston City College Houston, TXPublicAssociate's | 7 | 17% | — | $48,172 |
| 14 | Central Texas College Killeen, TXPublicAssociate's | 5 | 11% | — | — |
| 15 | Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Johnstown, PAPublicAssociate's | 5 | 38% | — | — |
| 16 | Community College of Rhode Island Warwick, RIPublicAssociate's | 4 | 26% | — | $54,495 |
| 17 | Clover Park Technical College Lakewood, WAPublicAssociate's | 4 | 43% | — | $42,066 |
| 18 | Albany State University Albany, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 31% | — | $50,815 |
| 19 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 40% | — | $74,147 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions field (CIP 51.10) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 13 states
Where Histologic Technician graduates come from. Each state links to all Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 2 | 57 | SUNY Broome Community College45 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 45 | Indiana University - Indianapolis45 / yr |
| Florida | 3 | 40 | Florida State College at Jacksonville19 / yr |
| Texas | 3 | 29 | Tarleton State University17 / yr |
| Minnesota | 2 | 18 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science15 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 11 | Elgin Community College11 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 10 | Jefferson State Community College10 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 9 | Sinclair Community College9 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 8 | Anne Arundel Community College8 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 5 | Pennsylvania Highlands Community College5 / yr |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 4 | Community College of Rhode Island4 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 4 | Clover Park Technical College4 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 3 | Albany State University3 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1071, Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Histologic Technician program can pursue careers as Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians or Health Specialties Teachers at the postsecondary level. With a projected job growth rate of 17.3% and approximately 27,400 annual openings, this field offers a promising outlook. The median wage for professionals in this area is $105,620, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.1008
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians SOC 29-2012 | — | — | — | — |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Histologic Technician programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Supervise laboratory sessions.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Tools and technology used
Other Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions specializations
The 12 other 6-digit CIP codes under Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (CIP 51.10).
- Phlebotomy Technician/CIP 51.1009
Phlebotomist 10,645 graduates / yr335 institutions - Clinical Laboratory Science/CIP 51.1005
Medical Technology/ Technologist 4,160 graduates / yr233 institutions - Clinical/CIP 51.1004
Medical Laboratory Technician 3,375 graduates / yr262 institutions - Sterile Processing Technology/CIP 51.1012
Technician 2,477 graduates / yr105 institutions - Clinical/CIP 51.1099
Medical Laboratory Science and Allied Professions 806 graduates / yr35 institutions - Blood Bank Technology SpecialistCIP 51.1001227 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Cytotechnology/CIP 51.1002
Cytotechnologist 137 graduates / yr16 institutions - Histologic Technology/CIP 51.1007
Histotechnologist 98 graduates / yr16 institutions - Hematology Technology/CIP 51.1003
Technician partial data84 graduates / yr3 institutions - Renal/CIP 51.1011
Dialysis Technologist/ Technician partial data77 graduates / yr8 institutions - Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/CIP 51.1006
Technician partial data72 graduates / yr3 institutions - Cytogenetics/CIP 51.1010
Genetics/ Clinical Genetics Technology/ Technologist limited data33 graduates / yr2 institutions
See all Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions programs →
Common questions
What degree do I earn in this program?+
Students typically earn an Associate's degree.
How long does the program take?+
The program duration varies, with options for awards ranging from 12 weeks to 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in laboratory procedures, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What are the job prospects after graduation?+
Job prospects are strong, with a growth rate of 17.3% and many annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Histologic Technician?+
Histologic Technician is CIP 51.1008 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (CIP 51.10). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of histotechnologists and other clinical laboratory scientists, to prepare and process tissue samples and perform routine histologic procedures and tests. Includes instruction in fixation, dehydration, embedding, sectioning, decalcification, microincineration, mounting, routine and special steaming, laboratory mathematics, laboratory procedures and safety, instrumentation and microscopy, computer applications, preparation of museum specimens, and recording and administrative procedures.
How many institutions offer Histologic Technician programs?+
19 U.S. institutions reported Histologic Technician graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 13 states, awarding 243 credentials in the year. That is 1.1% of all Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions graduates.
How much do Histologic Technician graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which Histologic Technician most directly leads to, pays a median of $107,310 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions field report median earnings of $51,327 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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