[Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training

[Roy, Lisa]

I currently have 3 open tech positions and don't have any qualified applicants applying for the job.  I have recently taken a lab aide that showed interest and aptitude and began OJT.  With less than 30 schools in the country actually teaching histology, this is one day going to be the way.  Already having a bachelors in biology, my aide qualifies to sit for the ASCP exam once he has completed one full year of tech work and has a pathologist willing to review his work and sign off on the ASCP paperwork.  Without going through a traditional program, one must have an associates or bachelor's degree with a  certain amount of Chemistry and Science credits.  As far as the training, I started with embedding and moved on from there to cutting and then special staining.  All along way, working on troubleshooting and documenting EVERYTHING.  Some places will hire someone with only a high school diploma as long as they have previous HT experience.  I think the specifics of what each institution would deem a qualified trainee will vary from place to place.  Smaller hospitals or labs may be okay training someone with aptitude that doesn't necessarily fit the ASCP exam qualifications, but large corporations might really insist that the trainee be certifiable at some point.

Frankly, I think taking someone that shows an interest and has the knowledge to be a great tech is better than hiring someone that you may not know what you are getting.  Doing OJT ensures that you are teaching the candidate exactly how you want things done and not having to accept the bad habits of someone that has been doing it a long time and set in their own ways.

Good luck
Lisa    

-----Original Message-----
From: Dessoye, Michael [mailto:mjdessoye at commonwealthhealth.net] 
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2015 7:44 AM
To: histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training

Hello Histonet,

I'm curious how people are dealing with on-the-job-trained histotechs.  Many people are seeing a shortage in techs, and in my opinion OJT will become more common than it already is.  Does anyone have an 'official' training program?  Requirements to pass the exam?  Qualifications to be able to be trained on-the-job?  I'd like to consider having some kind of plan in place when I don't have an HT/HTL applicant but have folks who, if they get the experience, are otherwise qualified to sit for the exam.  If anyone has a similar situation or experience to share I would appreciate it!

Thanks,
Mike

Michael J. Dessoye, M.S. | Histology/Toxicology/RIA Supervisor | Wilkes-Barre General Hospital | An Affiliate of Commonwealth Health | mjdessoye at commonwealthhealth.net<mailto:mjdessoye at commonwealthhealth.net> | 575 N. River Street | Wilkes Barre, PA 18764 | Tel: 570-552-1432 | Fax: 570-552-1486



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