Histotechnician

Program Highlights

• SUNY Cobleskill offers the only accredited degree-granting Histotechnician program in the state of New York.
• Hands-on experience during the required Clinical Rotation in an Affiliated Hospital
• Instruction by highly professional faculty members, including those with national certification in Histotechnology
• Use of a dedicated state-of-the-art Histotechnology lab
• 95% pass rate on national certification exam (2024-2026)
• Graduates are eligible for national certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and for New York State Licensure

Degree Options

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

• 61 Credit Hours (2 Years)
• Upon graduating, students have the option to begin their career or continue their education with a four-year program
• Graduates are immediately eligible for national certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology and for New York State Licensure
• Read more details in the College Catalog >>
• Professional Licensure Information >>

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Histotechnician Certificate

• 30 Credit Hours (1 Year)
• Designed for individuals with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree and prerequisite courses to complete specialized coursework and clinical experience
• Includes a 400-hour summer clinical rotation in an approved hospital, pharmaceutical, reference, or veterinarian histology lab
• Graduates are eligible for national certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology and for New York State Licensure
• Learn More >>
• Professional Licensure Information >>

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Overview

Histotechnology focuses on the preservation of tissue and the preparation of microscopic slides for use by pathologists for patient diagnosis and treatment.

Tissues may be obtained from an operating room, clinic, doctor's office, emergency room, veterinary office, or a postmortem examination. Histotechnicians may also prepare frozen tissue sections that enable rapid diagnosis while a patient is still undergoing surgery.

Cobleskill's Histotechnician AAS program is a two-year, 61-credit curriculum that provides students with the academic and technical skills necessary for entry-level employment in the field of Histotechnology.

Course Offerings

This program covers the major areas of histotechnology, including the grossing, fixation, processing, embedding, sectioning and staining of tissues. Specialized subject areas such as bone decalcification and immunohistochemistry are also discussed and are practiced in the laboratory.

Sample courses include:

Career Outlook

Because there is currently a national shortage of trained Histotechnicians, excellent employment opportunities exist throughout the United States. Students in the Histotechnology program have seen a 100% job and continuing education placement (2022-2026).

Some of the job settings in which graduates find placements are:

• Hospital laboratories
• Private physician offices
• Medical or veterinary schools
• Pharmaceutical companies

As in many other professions, histotechnicians’ salaries increase as they attain certification, state Licensure, additional education and/or extensive experience. With these further credentials, graduates’ career options often include:

• Scientist of Histotechnology
• Pathologist assistant (Master's level)
• Immunohistochemistry specialist
• Cytotechnology preparatory technician
• Cytotechnology technician (Master’s level)
• Molecular pathologist
• Forensic medicine technician
• Medical or veterinary school staff

Affiliate Hospitals

Affiliations include:

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Cobleskill Ag & Tech Histotechnology program is to teach students to work cooperatively and ethically as an essential member of a healthcare team in the preparation of tissues for diagnosis by the Pathologist. In a student centered environment, with an emphasis on respect and responsibility, students acquire the knowledge and develop the technical skills necessary for entry level competence in Histotechnology.

Meet Our Faculty

Marissa Supp HT, HTL(ASCP)
Program Director
518-255-5137
suppma@cobleskill.edu

Marissa Supp has a B.S. in Human Biology from SUNY Oneonta and an A.A.S. in Histotechnology from Cobleskill Ag & Tech, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Marissa has spent most of her career working in clinical laboratories in New York and New Hampshire. She is a Nationally and New York State certified Histotechnician and Scientist of Histotechnology. She is a current member of the National Society of Histotechnology and the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Taylor Meacham HT (ASCP) 

Histotechnology IST
meachat91hg@cobleskill.edu

Taylor Meacham is a SUNY Cobleskill alum where she studied Histology, Animal Science and Therapeutic Horsemanship. Taylor is a certified Histotechnician in New York State, and a current member of the National Society of Histotechnology alongside the American Society for Clinical Pathology. She has experienced working as an autopsy technician, information technologist, and histotechnician in NYS labs.