How to Become an Anatomical Pathologist in Australia

Prerequisites

Registration: general medical registration before specialist training starts
Clinical experience: at least 2 years of postgraduate clinical experience after your medical degree. In exceptional circumstances, alternative relevant experience of a similar level is considered
Training position: a position at an RCPA-accredited laboratory, won through its selection. An observer post earns no training time
- Coordinated appointment: where your state runs a coordinated appointment process for your discipline, your position must come through it, or the College may not accredit your training

Applications

Timeline

Next year

Interview

Interviews, mid to late SeptemberOffers follow about a week after the interviews, with 24 hours to respond

No information available on offer dates.

When to apply

Apply in postgraduate year 2 at the earliest, to start training in postgraduate year 3.

Selection format

Referee report
Panel interview

Competition

Moderate

Places are limited by the training positions accredited laboratories offer each year. Trainees already in training who progress well are offered continuing posts before new trainees are appointed.

Program structure

Total training
5 years
Full-time equivalent, in accredited laboratories
In anatomical pathology
4 years
At least, of the 5
Fellowship
Year 5
Once Part II and the portfolio are complete

Throughout training

In any one institution: 4 years; At most, so you train at 2 sites at least
Cytopathology: 3 months; Full time at least, gynaecological and non-gynaecological
Short-term rotation: 2 months; At least, consecutive

Rules and conditions

At least one aggregate year of the 5 can be in other branches of pathology
Staying longer than 4 years in one laboratory needs dispensation, granted only in exceptional circumstances and applied for at the start of training
Experience in exfoliative and fluid-based cytology, fine needle aspiration, coronial autopsies, molecular pathology, neuropathology, gynaecological and obstetric pathology, and perinatal and paediatric pathology
Autopsy training is not required. The RCPA Autopsy Module offers it, and any autopsy you take part in is recorded in your logbook

Stage by stage

Stage 1 of 2

Training to Part I

Usually the first 3 years

Histopathology and cytology at accredited laboratories, to the Part I examination in the third year.

Competencies

The work is histopathology, the examination of tissue taken as a biopsy or resection specimen, and cytology, the examination of individual cells aspirated or taken from body tissues
Examining surgical and cytology specimens, since a tissue diagnosis comes before surgery, medication or radiation
Training includes ancillary techniques such as immunohistochemistry and molecular pathology
Part I and Part II both require enough knowledge of the other branches of pathology to use and interpret their basic services intelligently

Examinations

Basic Pathological Sciences examination
Not needed to apply, and you can sit it before training, as a medical, science or dental student, an intern or a resident
- A pass or an exemption is needed before any part of Part II
- Applications to sit the examinations close 28 February each year, and late applications are not accepted
Anatomical Pathology Part I
First sat in the third year, after at least 24 months of training

Selection criteria

Score your portfolio

Clinical experience

Breadth of clinical experience: clinical experience relevant to pathology. Success in another college's postgraduate examination, such as Part 1 of the dermatology, physician or surgical Fellowship examination, also counts
Pathology experience: work experience in pathology, and a pass in the Basic Pathological Sciences or a similar examination

First Nations

Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori applicants who meet the registration and clinical experience criteria are all interviewed

Academic

Higher degrees: a master's degree, a doctorate or another postgraduate degree
Teaching: teaching you have given, such as to medical students, junior doctors or laboratory staff

Publications & research

Publications: papers published in peer-reviewed journals
Presentations: presentations you gave at hospital meetings, or at external meetings and symposia
Research, including projects involving scientific enquiry

Academic achievement

Honours, awards and scholarships

Referees

At least two, each sent a standard report form. Their reports count toward professionalism and ethics, and communication. Where reports conflict, more references may be sought, or you may be asked to answer an adverse comment

Interview

Selection interview: a structured interview with a panel of department heads and an RCPA representative
- Commitment to pathology: your interest in pathology, what you know of it, and why you are applying
- Enquiring mind: analytical and clinical reasoning, tested with scenario questions
- Professionalism and ethics: tested with scenario questions
- Communication: your verbal communication at interview. Your written communication is assessed in the application
- Flexibility: willingness to work in every area of the rotation, including outer metropolitan and regional sites, and the hours the workplace needs

Scoring

Strong weighting is recommended for professionalism and communication
- Feedback: if you are not appointable, you are told soon after the interviews, and the panel chair gives feedback if you ask. You can appeal, with a review outside the panel

Application process

1. Apply for a training position through your state's selection for your discipline. Each state's process is on the RCPA's training positions page. Apply to Royal Darwin Hospital directly, at any time
2. The selection panel draws up a shortlist from the applications and referee reports
3. The panel interviews the shortlisted applicants
4. The panel ranks the applicants and offers positions in rank order, matched to each laboratory's needs and your preferences. An appointable applicant not placed may be offered a position that comes free later
5. Register with the RCPA within 2 months of starting, with a training program your supervisor has signed, and register again by 28 February each year

Practise this interview with each station timed. Interview practice

Entry tips

Medical school

Sit the Basic Pathological Sciences examination as a medical student, since students sit it at a reduced price, and you need a pass or an exemption before Part II.

What the college has changed

2025-01
Trainees starting from 2025 register, record training changes and submit supervisor reports through the online training portal.

Training posts

Who runs itDirect application to Medical Recruitment, Royal Darwin Hospital
ApplyingApplications accepted any time. Positions become available in late January.
InterviewAt the Department of Pathology, Royal Darwin Hospital. Phone interviews are offered, and attending in person is strongly encouraged. Applicants are notified at least a week beforehand.
The panelThe Director of Anatomical Pathology, another anatomical pathologist, the head of department or a delegate, and an independent member

Available Anatomical Pathology training positions

Show these kinds of site

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Official resources

Official links

Requirements, application windows and criteria change every year. Verify with RCPA before making career decisions. Report an error on this page.

Anatomical Pathology