Yes, there is a shortage of Histo techs too.  Yet the pay is still not there 
for most of them.  The reason is the employer is not forced to hire the 
existing ones but can take anyone and train them into techs.  So ultimatly 
there is a never ending supply of people willing to work for nothing.  Now 
the problem with this is that these people can never advance or do anything 
else.  The employer is doing a grave injustice to all these people.  The best 
way to change this is the education requirement that I mentioned.  
Unfortunatly the people attacking me don't get this.  Most of them that are 
attacking me are from other countries and maybe the pay structure is 
different there.  I believe most of them were from socialist countries so 
they already think everyone needs to be paid the same.

J.F.

SoCal


What a heated debate.  You must be careful when balancing supply of
histotechs and demand in the workplace when thinking about salary.  Nurses
tend to get paid well and is a degreed profession but as I have watched over
the last twenty years nursing salaries and supply run hand in hand.  With
every nursing shortage pay soars and as the nursing schools pump production
and supply overruns demand pay drops.  I am afraid demanding a degree to
quickly will slam a huge blow to an already critically manned field.
Remember just because ASCP requires something to become a registered
Histotechnician or technologist the hospitals and labs are not required by
regulation or law to hire only registered techs.  Salary will continue to
rise as long as good histology folks are hard to find.  Many employers I
have worked for will use a degree to up your starting salary and I
personally feel that everyone should pursue all the education they can get.
Jose, I did sense a lot of anger and frustration in your postings.  I am
sure that there are several anger management seminars in your area that you
could take advantage of.  Just look at it as adding to your already vast
education.  In the mean time just take a deep breath, count to 10 and stop
listening to the voices.  Act like the educated professional you claim to be
and offer constructive suggestions instead of inflammatory hollow words.

Charles R. Embrey Jr., BS, PA(AAPA), HT(ASCP)
Histology Supervisor
Carle Clinic
Urbana, IL