Histotechnologists and histologic technicians prepare body tissues to be examined by a pathologists. To prepare tissues for analysis, histotechnologists might section and stain tissues, embed them in paraffin or plastic and prepare frozen sections received from the operating room.

Most histotechnologists have undergraduate training in chemistry, biology or histology, as well as graduate training in histotechnology. Histotechnologists need clinical training that is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Programs teach students the five-step laboratory process of analyzing tissue samples, including grossing and fixation, processing, embedding, sectioning and staining. Program graduates may need licensing and/or certification to work as a Histotechnologists.