Cytotechnologist Jobs for OPT Students
Cytotechnologist jobs on OPT require ASCP certification in most states, which F-1 students should prioritize securing before or during their OPT period. Most roles fall under STEM OPT-eligible SOC codes, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization in clinical labs, hospital pathology departments, and diagnostic centers.
See All Cytotechnologist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 66+ Cytotechnologist jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 66+ Cytotechnologist jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Cytotechnologist roles.
Get Access To All JobsPay Range:
$34.21 - $51.31
A successful candidate's actual pay rate will be based on several factors including relevant experience, skills, training, certifications and education.
ABOUT THE JOB
HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital is seeking a Cytotechnologist to microscopically screen slides for disease conditions, including malignant or premalignant cells, to assist pathologists in making an accurate diagnosis as to the cause of symptoms or disease.
Position Specifics:
- Department: Lab
- Core Function: Laboratory
- Schedule: Full Time, 40 hours per week, Day shift
- Facility: St. Mary's Hospital
- Location: Green Bay, WI
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Genetics, Cytotechnology or relevant field required.
Graduation from a Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) Accredited School of Cytotechnology.
Before September 1, 1992 - have completed a Baccalaureate degree with appropriate coursework in mathematics and science and registry by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists as Cytotechnologist or eligible.
Experience
No Experience Required
CERTIFICATIONS LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS
Certified Cytotechnologist required (CT(ASCP))
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40
Throughout communities in Illinois and Wisconsin, 13 hospitals, numerous community-based health centers and clinics, our 13,000+ colleagues have built a culture based on our solid core values of respect, care, competence, and joy. These are the ideals we believe in, work by, and live each day.
Built upon more than 145 years of service to the communities we serve, we now look to the future and our place in it as a health care system that strives to continually improve processes, procedures, and outcomes with the latest and most advanced technologies and treatments.
Regardless of how far our passion for excellence carries us, our focus will always remain on the most important person in our entire organization: The patient.
BENEFITS:
HSHS provides a benefits package designed to support the overall well-being of our colleagues including their physical, emotional, financial, spiritual, and work health. Colleagues budgeted to work at least 32 hours per pay period are eligible for HSHS benefits.
- Comprehensive and affordable health coverage includes medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage for full-time and part-time colleagues.
- Paid Time Off (PTO) combines vacation, sick, and personal days into one balance to allow you the flexibility to use your time off as you need.
- Retirement benefits including HSHS contributions.
- Education Assistance benefits include up to $5,250 of educational assistance each calendar year and tuition discounts to select colleges with no waiting period.
- Adoption Assistance provides financial support up to $7,500 for colleagues growing their families through adoption to reimburse application and legal fees, transportation, and more!
- Other benefits include: Wellness program with incentives, employer-paid life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, employee assistance program, ID theft coverage, colleague rewards and recognition program, discount program, and more!
HSHS and affiliates is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).
HSHS is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce.
Pay Range:
$34.21 - $51.31
A successful candidate's actual pay rate will be based on several factors including relevant experience, skills, training, certifications and education.
ABOUT THE JOB
HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital is seeking a Cytotechnologist to microscopically screen slides for disease conditions, including malignant or premalignant cells, to assist pathologists in making an accurate diagnosis as to the cause of symptoms or disease.
Position Specifics:
- Department: Lab
- Core Function: Laboratory
- Schedule: Full Time, 40 hours per week, Day shift
- Facility: St. Mary's Hospital
- Location: Green Bay, WI
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Genetics, Cytotechnology or relevant field required.
Graduation from a Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) Accredited School of Cytotechnology.
Before September 1, 1992 - have completed a Baccalaureate degree with appropriate coursework in mathematics and science and registry by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists as Cytotechnologist or eligible.
Experience
No Experience Required
CERTIFICATIONS LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS
Certified Cytotechnologist required (CT(ASCP))
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40
Throughout communities in Illinois and Wisconsin, 13 hospitals, numerous community-based health centers and clinics, our 13,000+ colleagues have built a culture based on our solid core values of respect, care, competence, and joy. These are the ideals we believe in, work by, and live each day.
Built upon more than 145 years of service to the communities we serve, we now look to the future and our place in it as a health care system that strives to continually improve processes, procedures, and outcomes with the latest and most advanced technologies and treatments.
Regardless of how far our passion for excellence carries us, our focus will always remain on the most important person in our entire organization: The patient.
BENEFITS:
HSHS provides a benefits package designed to support the overall well-being of our colleagues including their physical, emotional, financial, spiritual, and work health. Colleagues budgeted to work at least 32 hours per pay period are eligible for HSHS benefits.
- Comprehensive and affordable health coverage includes medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage for full-time and part-time colleagues.
- Paid Time Off (PTO) combines vacation, sick, and personal days into one balance to allow you the flexibility to use your time off as you need.
- Retirement benefits including HSHS contributions.
- Education Assistance benefits include up to $5,250 of educational assistance each calendar year and tuition discounts to select colleges with no waiting period.
- Adoption Assistance provides financial support up to $7,500 for colleagues growing their families through adoption to reimburse application and legal fees, transportation, and more!
- Other benefits include: Wellness program with incentives, employer-paid life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, employee assistance program, ID theft coverage, colleague rewards and recognition program, discount program, and more!
HSHS and affiliates is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).
HSHS is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Cytotechnologist
Get ASCP certified before your OPT starts
Most hospital systems and clinical labs require CT(ASCP) certification for hire. Sitting for the board exam while still in school removes a barrier employers use to screen out candidates, especially when evaluating OPT applicants who need authorization to start quickly.
Target STEM OPT-eligible employers early
Cytotechnology roles typically qualify for STEM OPT extension under SOC code 19-1029. Confirm this with your DSO before applying and prioritize employers enrolled in E-Verify, since STEM OPT extension requires an E-Verify employer by law.
Focus on large health systems over small private labs
Large hospital networks and academic medical centers have established HR processes for sponsoring work visas after OPT. Smaller private labs often lack the infrastructure to file H-1B petitions, making them riskier long-term bets for international students on time-limited authorization.
Highlight your OPT timeline clearly in applications
Hiring managers sometimes misread OPT as a liability. State your authorization end date and mention STEM extension eligibility directly in your cover letter. Specific timelines reduce uncertainty and show you understand your own work authorization, which builds employer confidence.
Build clinical volume and subspecialty exposure during OPT
Employers evaluating H-1B sponsorship want to see productivity and subspecialty depth. Use your OPT period to accumulate case volume in gynecologic, non-gynecologic, and FNA cytology. Subspecialty competence gives employers a concrete reason to invest in sponsorship.
Connect with pathology department leads directly
Cytotechnology hiring decisions often involve the pathology director, not just HR. Reaching out directly to department leads or lab managers, especially at academic medical centers, can surface roles before they are posted publicly and move you past initial sponsorship hesitation.
Cytotechnologist jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Cytotechnologist JobsSee all 66+ Cytotechnologist jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Cytotechnologist roles.
Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Cytotechnologist jobs qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Cytotechnology roles typically qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension because the occupation falls under science-related SOC codes. Your degree must be from an accredited program on the STEM designated degree list, and your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. Confirm the SOC code classification with your DSO before applying, since the specific code on your job offer must align with your degree.
How do I find Cytotechnologist employers willing to sponsor OPT students?
Large academic medical centers, hospital-based pathology departments, and national diagnostic lab networks are the most consistent sponsors for cytotechnology roles. Migrate Mate is designed specifically for OPT and visa-sponsored job searches, so browsing Cytotechnologist listings there surfaces employers already open to international candidates rather than requiring you to filter manually.
Is ASCP certification required to work as a Cytotechnologist on OPT?
CT(ASCP) certification is required by most states for independent practice and by most employers as a condition of hire. Without it, many job postings are inaccessible regardless of your OPT status. Some employers will hire a candidate under direct pathologist supervision while awaiting board results, but this is increasingly rare. Completing certification before your OPT start date maximizes your eligible employer pool.
Can I start a Cytotechnologist job before my EAD card arrives?
No. You cannot begin work until you physically have your Employment Authorization Document in hand. Your EAD is your legal work authorization document, and starting before it arrives violates your F-1 status. Apply for your EAD at least 90 days before your intended start date to account for USCIS processing times and any delays.
What happens to my OPT if my Cytotechnologist role is terminated?
You have a cumulative 90-day unemployment allowance during standard OPT and 150 days during the STEM extension period. If your position ends, report the change to your DSO immediately and begin your job search. Exceeding the unemployment limit violates your F-1 status. Staying in a cytotechnology-adjacent role, such as histotechnology or laboratory quality, may preserve authorization continuity depending on how your DSO interprets the relatedness requirement.
See which Cytotechnologist employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Cytotechnologist Jobs