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Pathology covers Genetic Pathology, so this is the parent specialty entry.
RCPA
When Genetic Pathology applications run, and what the round looks like.
Eligibility requires current general (AHPRA) medical registration and at least two years of clinical experience after the primary medical degree — so typically PGY3+ at commencement. In exceptional circumstances, applicants without two years may be considered if they can show alternative relevant experience of a similar level; Overseas Trained Specialists assessed by the College as requiring no more than two years of additional assessment/training may also apply.
Moderate
How Genetic Pathology training is structured.
5 years
Competencies
To complete
Basic Pathological Sciences examination
Open to medical, science and dental students, interns and resident medical officers as well as registered trainees, and cheaper as a student. A pass or an exemption is required of everyone. Not a prerequisite for Part I, but required before sitting any component of Part II.
Before training starts, or early in it
Genetic Pathology Part I
Two components, a written paper and a dry practical, both sat online from home or a venue of your choice.
After 24 months of accredited laboratory training
Genetic Pathology Part II
Written, practical and oral components. Neither the at home list nor the local venue list carries a Part II component for this discipline, so the practical and the oral are the August examinations, with venue and day emailed two weeks beforehand.
After a pass in Part I, ordinarily the final year
Both Fellowships in 8 years
A reciprocal arrangement of the two colleges, with Advanced Training in Clinical Genetics done concurrently rather than afterwards, and both Fellowships in 8 years. The pathology side is 30 months of supervised laboratory training across at least two accredited pathology services, 12 months of it in the second, and up to 4 months of that 12 can be conceded on the final year training plan. Research counts for up to a third of the 30 months, approved in advance and judged on how closely it bears on genetic pathology practice. Each Fellowship can be awarded on its own, so FRACP can come before the pathology training finishes.
Queensland
One set of categories across every specialty, so two can be compared. Only those with criteria recorded for this specialty are shown.
Rotations, logbooks, procedures, and exposure
Selection points and pathways for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Māori applicants
Exams, qualifications, courses, and teaching
Papers, impact factor, audits, and QI
Who is asked to report on you, and what they are asked
Registration mechanics and logistics not covered above
Timed steps, grouped by when each one is worth doing.
Before applying
Before the examinations
During training
Queensland Health is the only state department publishing these figures so far.
A centrally coordinated Queensland Health pathway or network
Queensland pathway
Swipe to see every column
| Discipline | Selected | Specialists, Queensland and Australia | Trainees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomical pathology (2026) | 23 of 117 | 200 / 961 | 58 |
| Chemical pathology (2026) | 1 of 2 |
14 posts across 14 hospitals in Australia. Each circle counts hospitals.
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Select a region to see the hospitals inside it.
Hospital locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. State boundaries from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Published by RCPA and the Medical Board unless stated.
Connected to this specialty by the Medical Board’s specialty structure, by college, or by a shared training pathway.
Requirements, windows, and criteria change annually. Verify with RCPA before making career decisions. Report an error on this page.
| 15 / 93 |
| 5 |
| Forensic pathology (2026) | 2 of 5 | 14 / 63 | 1 |
|---|
| General pathology (2026) | 0 of 0 | 15 / 60 | 1 |
|---|
| Genetic pathology (2026) | 2 of 6 | 3 / 25 | 2 |
|---|
| Haematology (laboratory) (2025) | 11 of 11 | 115 / 685 | 37 |
|---|
| Immunopathology (2026) | 2 of 4 | 13 / 118 | 2 |
|---|
| Microbiology (2026) | 3 of 8 | 55 / 267 | 12 |
|---|
Appointments to the Queensland Pathology Training Programs are coordinated by the Medical Support Unit, Pathology Queensland (Health Support Queensland), working with the State Directors and the Coordinators of Education and Training of Pathology Queensland. Recruitment is centralised by discipline or sub-specialty rather than by facility, so you apply to a discipline state-wide, not to a hospital
Sequencing matters — you must be employed in a training position at an accredited site before you register with the college, so the job comes first and college registration follows
Anatomical pathology is by far the largest intake in the Queensland source — 117 eligible applicants and 23 selected, more eligible applicants than every other discipline combined
General pathology ran no effective round in 2026 — no eligible applicants and none selected
The laboratory haematology figures above are for 2025; every other discipline is 2026. They are shown in their own published year rather than restated as a single round
Figures are not summed or averaged across the disciplines, because they cover different years and different programs — a combined total would describe no real selection round
Queensland Health, medi-nav, 31 July 2026. Selection numbers are for first-year entry and vary year to year.