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Histology technician working with tissue sample

Histotechnology training at Mayo Clinic

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Program description

100%

first-time board exam pass rate (2020-2023)

100%

find employment or continue their education within one year of graduation (2020-2023)

The Histology Technician Program at Mayo Clinic offers one of the best histology technician training options in the nation. Within just nine months, your training will walk you through the technique and artistry of how to embed, cut, stain, and prepare a tissue sample for review under a microscope.

Program highlights:

  • A flexible program with an online, blended curriculum combined with in-person training lab sessions and clinical rotations.
  • Training experiences at one of the largest lab systems in the world, yet exposure to a variety of smaller, more specialized labs.
  • A program that focuses on hands-on training where you’ll work with thousands of samples before you even graduate!

Our training is focused on developing Mayo Clinic's future workforce — meaning that after graduation, if students are the right candidates and positions are available, many graduates go on to work at Mayo Clinic directly out of training. However, you can be confident you’ll be fully prepared for your first day on the job, wherever that may be.

"I love working with the tissues"

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"I love working with the tissues"

Art and Science

We don't see patients face-to-face; we see pieces of patients that come through the lab in the form of tissue that will be used to provide a diagnosis and guide treatment options for the patient.

Michelle Nelsen, M.S., Histology Technician Program Director

Our goal is to provide a robust learning experience in the field of histotechnology with a clinical portion that is second to none. We educate patient-focused individuals who have the potential to be future leaders in our profession. Our comprehensive program in a diverse learning environment gives students opportunities to create high-quality histologic slides in a timely and professional manner. We even have a little bit of fun while we are doing it!

Michelle A. Nelsen, M.S., HT/HTL(ASCP)CM
Histology Technician Program Director

Jessica Craft

Student stories

Choosing a career in histology has given me the ability to help patients behind the scenes, be part of a team, and develop my skills and creativity. The Histology Technician Program prepared me for my profession by providing me with in-depth information, encouraging critical thinking, and offering clinical rotations with different instructors who each gave insight into the field. The supportive environment created by the instructors and staff made me feel confident transitioning to an employee.

Jess Craft, HTL(ASCP)
Jess was able to apply her desire to help patients behind the scenes into a career and is now a histotechnician in the Mayo Clinic Histology Lab (AZ)

Mayo Clinic campus in Phoenix, Arizona.
Campus and community

Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ

Mayo Clinic campus in Jacksonville, Florida.
Campus and community

Jacksonville, FL

Mayo Clinic campus in Rochester, Minnesota.
Campus and community

Rochester, MN
Behind the scenes: Histotechnologist

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Behind the scenes: Histotechnologist

Explore what a histology technician does

Histology technicians are responsible for preparing microscope slides for a pathologist to review. Using a variety of techniques and equipment, they prepare thin slices of human, animal, or plant tissue to make abnormalities visible with a microscope. The identification and understanding of diseases such as cancer would not be possible without their role in health care.

Accreditation information

The Histology Technician Program is an accredited training program.

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