Choosing to enroll in histology classes may come with some level of trepidation.  Often, these classes will involve a combination of classroom instruction, laboratory work, and clinical learning.  Exact curriculum varies from school to school, but a number of basic principles will be covered throughout the duration of any histology program.  A wide variety of health care facilities, diagnostic laboratories, and research centers are actively seeking histology technicians to assist in their laboratories.  Students who successfully complete a histology course from a quality university will possess the skills and knowledge that are required to succeed in this growing industry.  

At its simplest core, histology is the study of human cellular tissue.  The field specializes in understanding how organs and human tissue are formed by cells, and how to identify disease through the study of said cells.  The basic areas of study that students will experience over the course of their education cover the proper methods for obtaining and preparing tissue and fluid samples for examination by a physician or pathologist.  Through lab experience and classroom time, the skills learned will transfer easily into any clinical setting, making graduates highly employable in a number of fields.

During an education in histology, students acquire a solid background in histology and also learn all of the different histological techniques that are applied in laboratories and research facilities.  Basic histological procedures are covered, including maintaining lab equipment.  Classes will cover the process of tissue extraction and fixation, as well as tissue processing and storage.  Several classes give students the skills needed to complete complicated and simple tissue identification, and determine the differences between plant and animal tissue.  Basic clinical practices are learned over the course of the program, ensuring that students understand proper procedures in professional atmospheres.  The proper staining of samples is also covered, as the process is vital to the examination of cellular tissue.

Basic histology technician certificate programs can often be taken online, and eliminate the lab work and classroom time of campus based programs.  While these internet courses cannot provide higher degrees such as associate's or bachelor's degrees, they can still deliver all the requirements for gaining certification in the field.  A high school diploma or GED and classes in biochemistry and anatomy are usually prerequisites for theses classes.  The certification classes cover most of the same areas that their campus based counterparts do, albeit without the hands on training that a lab provides.  Whatever form of education a student decides on, they will be ready to seek immediate employment in the field of histology.

Finally, for those students who have earned their histology technician certification, several continuing education opportunities exist.  Earning a bachelor's degree or associate's degree in the histology field can be gained by enrolling in campus based programs.  To become a fully licensed histology technician, an Associate's in Science of Histology is a necessity.  A bachelor's degree earned with thirty hours or more of chemistry and biology credits is the main requirement for advancing to a histology technologist.  Each of these degrees can help to advance a student's professional career, but hands on training at a university campus will be required to earn them.