How to Become a Genetic 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

No information available.

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 genetic pathology
4 years
At least, of the 5
Before Part I
24 months
Of accredited laboratory training, with Part I not before the third year

Throughout training

In any one laboratory: 4 years; At most, so you train at 2 sites at least
Short-term rotation: 2 months; At least, consecutive
Outside the College's sphere: 2 years; At most, such as overseas, approved before it starts

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
In biochemical genetics, brief periods in other laboratories may be needed, for lysosomal enzyme, fatty acid oxidation and newborn screening work

Stage by stage

Stage 1 of 2

Training to Part I

At least 24 months

Laboratory training in medical genomics or biochemical genetics, to the Part I examination, usually in the third year.

Competencies

Analysing, interpreting and integrating genomic data in a clinical context, writing and reviewing diagnostic reports, and explaining clinically important or complex results to the clinicians who ordered them
Overall supervision of the laboratory, and in particular patient safety and the quality of the genetic testing it provides
Two specialisations
Medical genomics and biochemical genetics, each its own five-year program
The results are used for diagnosis of an inherited disorder, predictive testing for relatives who have no symptoms, and reproductive carrier screening

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 Part II
- Applications to sit the examinations close 28 February each year, and late applications are not accepted
Genetic Pathology Part I
After 24 months of accredited laboratory training, in the third year

Dual training

Dual training with
Clinical Genetics
Both Fellowships
8 years
As little as, counting Basic Physician Training
Laboratory training
30 months
Supervised, across at least two accredited pathology services
Second service
12 months
Of the 30 months
Research
A third
At most, of the 30 months
What it is
A reciprocal arrangement of the two colleges, with Advanced Training in Clinical Genetics done concurrently rather than afterwards.
Assessments
Sitting Part I and Part II during a laboratory year is strongly recommended.
Research
Approved in advance, and judged on how closely it bears on genetic pathology practice.
Fellowship
Each Fellowship can be awarded on its own, so the RACP Fellowship can come before the pathology training finishes.
Rules and conditions
- The 8 years assume every rotation is available and every assessment is passed first time.
- Up to 4 of the 12 months in the second service can be conceded on the final year training plan.

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. Selection follows the College's national selection policy, run by an appointments working party of the participating laboratories
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.

Postgraduate years 1 and 2

Ask whether a position offers biochemical genetics as your specialisation or as the Post-Fellowship Certificate, since it is both a specialisation inside genetic pathology training and a certificate taken after Fellowship.

Basic Training

Decide about the reciprocal route before physician training ends, since it is closed to anyone who already holds Fellowship of the RACP, and the application goes to the RCPA during the first year of Advanced Training in Clinical Genetics.

Prior learning

Apply for recognition of earlier training in another RCPA discipline, or of an RACP Fellowship in clinical genetics (general or cancer for medical genomics, metabolic medicine for biochemical genetics), since either can be credited toward the 5 years after an individual assessment.

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

None available.

Genetic Pathology