How To Become A Cytotechnologist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a cytotechnologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

A cytotechnologist is a health professional that specializes in cytotechnology - the study, analysis, and interpretation of cells and cell anomalies. They prepare slides and examine human cells under a microscope to check for anomalies such as cancerous lesions, precancerous lesions, infections, and other diseases.

They also collect, prepare, and interpret specimens for other types of tissue testing. A cytotechnologist can work in a hospital lab, research facility, commercial lab, or even universities.

Cytotechnologists usually work independently but very closely with pathologists. They report their findings to the pathologist, who can then give a diagnosis and a treatment plan. With the advancement in technology, cytotechnologists continue to play a very important role in the proper diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Thanks to their work, diseases can be detected and treated in their early stages.

ScoreCytotechnologistUS Average

Salary

3.9

Avg. Salary $49,566

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

9.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.80%

Asian 11.89%

Black or African American 11.15%

Hispanic or Latino 17.66%

Unknown 5.14%

White 53.36%

Gender

female 71.31%

male 28.69%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

6.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.8

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a cytotechnologist

Explore cytotechnologist education requirements

Most common cytotechnologist degrees

Bachelor's

72.4 %

Master's

8.7 %

Associate

8.7 %

Start to develop specific cytotechnologist skills

Skills	Percentages
ASCP	17.58%
Patients	12.86%
Proficiency Testing	5.04%
Test Results	4.93%
CLIA	4.85%

Research cytotechnologist duties and responsibilities

Identify, verify and maintain an appropriate stock of control blocks for use in IHC staining.
Process approximately 1,200 GYN , 400 non-GYN, and 400 FNA samples per year.
Perform routine maintenance and quality control documentation for IHC staining equipment.
Process cell samples using microtomy wet tissue trimming and immunohistochemistry staining techniques.

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