Pathology

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Jun 21, 2023 16:53PM IST

What is Pathology Course?

Pathology is the medical science that supplies patients and physicians with diagnostic information. It has an influence on practically every element of patient care, from cancer diagnosis to chronic illness management via precise laboratory testing. The duration of pathology courses ranges from 3 months to 5 years, depending on the academic level.  Pathology course is offered at diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The minimum eligibility criteria to study Pathology courses is to pass higher secondary with at least 45% to 50% marks in aggregate. Physics, Chemistry, and Biology must be the core subjects of Pathology course aspirants. Aspirants can also pursue a Certificate course in Pathology after finishing their secondary education. 

Admission process for Pathology courses is done on the basis of the marks secured by applicants in university-level entrance exams. Some colleges also ask for entrance exam scores like NEET, AIIMS, JIPMER, NPAT, and more. Some of the best colleges to study pathology in India are the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Christian Medical College, Banaras Hindu University, Armed Forces Medical College, and more. The average fee for studying pathology courses is somewhere around INR 30,000 - INR 2 lakhs. The fees can be higher if it is a private college. The return on investment in this field in terms of starting salary is also great as freshers can expect to earn INR 2.5-6 lakhs annually. Read further to know and understand the field of pathology, the various pathology courses, syllabus, scope, career opportunities, and much more.

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Pathology Courses Highlights

Mentioned below are some of the important highlights of Pathology courses for aspirants to look at:

Course 

Pathology 

Degree Level

Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD

Duration 

6 months-4 years (depending upon the level of the pathology programme)

Exam Type 

Semester based 

Minimum Qualification Requirement

10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as mandatory subjects 

Average Starting Salary 

INR 9 lakhs per year 

Average Fees Incurred 

INR 30,000-INR 5,00,000 or more

Selection Process 

Entrance + Merit-based 

Popular Entrance Exams 

NEET PG, AIIMS PG, JIPMER PG, COMEDK PGET

Top Diploma in Nursing Courses Specialisation 

General Pathology, Clinical Pathology, Anatomical Pathology, Systemic Pathology, Cytopathology, Haematology, Immunopathology, Histopathology

Minimum Aggregate Percentage Required for Admission 

50%-60% in 10+2

Top Recruiters 

SRL Diagnostics, AIIMS, Oncquest Laboratories Ltd, Medall Healthcare Pvt Ltd, Lucid Diagnostics, Dr Lal Pathlabs, other medical universities, hospitals and health centres 

Career Prospects 

Clinical Pathologist, Anatomic Pathologist, Forensic Pathologist, Medical Lab Technician, Laboratory Technician

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Why Choose Pathology?

Pathology is the bedrock of clinical medicine, including all aspects of patient care, diagnostic tests, and treatment strategies. Here are some of the best perks to learn before pursuing a career in pathology:

  • A Diverse Industry with the Most Recent Advancements: Pathology is a fast-paced medical area that equips healthcare practitioners with the most up-to-date clinical procedures and diagnostic tools. They will have the chance to become acquainted with cutting-edge laboratory techniques and clinical procedures for analysing bodily fluids. 

  • A Wide Range of Career Opportunities: Pathology as a medical speciality will equip aspirants for a variety of intriguing job opportunities. Pathologists are in great demand and will continue to be so in the field of healthcare. There are several employment opportunities in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, laboratories, emergency clinics, research labs, medical schools, and universities.

  • Pathologists Play an Important Role in the Medical Field: Pathologists may make a significant impact on the lives of patients by discovering the origin of their sickness and keeping their lives free of infection. Pathologists understand the biology of each form of illness and ensure that each patient receives appropriate therapy.

  • Dynamic Responsibilities: Pathologists are in charge of researching the type of sickness or infection, its causes, and its consequences. They provide services in practically every facet of clinical medicine. Furthermore, they assist doctors in developing an appropriate treatment plan for patients by monitoring and maintaining their continuing health.
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How Many Courses are There in Pathology?

As stated above, pathology is a broad medical field of study, hence aspirants can find a plethora of different pathology courses to study in India at different levels of study. Some of these courses are mentioned below: 

Programme/Study Level 

Popular Pathology Courses 

Certificate 

  • Certification in Pathology 

  • Post MD Certificate course in Immunopathology

  • PDCC in Blood Component Therapy and Apheresis

  • PDCC in Hematopathology

  • PDCC in Renal Pathology

  • Post MD Certificate course in Cytopathology

  • PDCC in Blood Banking and Immunohaematology

  • Certificate in Pathology Collection

  • Pathology CMLT 

Diploma

  • Diploma in Pathology

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Pathology

  • Diploma in Clinical Pathology

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Pathology

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Human Genetics and Pathological Techniques

  • Diploma in Medical Lab Technology 

Undergraduate 

  • BSc in Pathology 

  • Bachelor of Audiology Speech and Language Pathology

PG Diploma 

  • MSc in Pathology

  • Master of Dental Surgery in Oral Pathology

Postgraduate 

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pathology

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Speech Pathology and Audiology

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Pathology Entrance Exams

Passing entrance exams with minimum qualifying marks is one of the major admission or eligibility criteria that aspirants have to meet to study pathology courses in India. Here are a few prominent entrance exams that are used by top universities and institutes to select eligible applicants for their pathology courses:

Programme/Study Level 

Entrance Exams 

Undergraduate 

  • NEET

  • AIIMS 

  • JIPMER 

  • JET

  • NPAT

  • BHU UET

  • SUAT

  • CUET

Postgraduate 

  • NEET-PG

  • AIIMS-PG

  • JIPMER-PG

  • INI CET

  • COMEDK PGET

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Pathology Courses Eligibility Criteria

The table below highlights the general admission eligibility for aspirants to study pathology courses in India: 

Programme/Study Level 

Basic Eligibility Criteria 

Certificate 

Different levels of certification courses have different eligibility criteria. For a Post Doctoral Certificate Course (PDCC), students must have a master’s degree in pathology or any other relevant field of study. 

Diploma

Students must have cleared class 12th at least 55% marks with mandatory subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Biology

Undergraduate 

Students must have cleared class 12th with at least 55% marks with mandatory subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Biology and must have passed competitive exams with minimum qualifying marks. 

PG Diploma 

Students must hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (MBBS, BSc in Biology, Biotechnology, etc.) with minimum qualifying marks. 

Postgraduate 

Students must have a bachelor’s degree in pathology or any other relevant field of study from a recognised university with at least 50%-60% aggregate marks and competitive exam qualifying scores. 

Doctorate 

Students must have a master’s degree in pathology or any other relevant field of study from a recognised university with at least 60% aggregate marks and competitive exam qualifying scores. 

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How to Get Admission to a Pathology Course?

Admission to pathology courses is strictly based on excellence in the 12th grade and marks obtained in the entrance exam. Admission to most pathology courses begins in May and ends in late June or early July. Candidates can submit their applications both online and in person.

  • To fill out the application form online, students must go to the university's or college's website and accurately fill out all of the required data in the application form. After successfully registering, you must wait for any necessary correspondence from the college/university.

  • Following online registration, you must attend the institution in person with all essential documents, including the Class 12 mark sheet, Class 10 mark sheet and certificate, ID verification, and photographs.

  • Candidates who prefer to apply offline must purchase an application form along with a brochure from the college campus and submit it after filling out the form correctly.

  • Students will be admitted to the colleges/universities listed above based on their Class 12 grades. Entrance will be granted only to those students who fulfil the other admission conditions and clear the cut-off marks set by the various colleges. Admission will be given only based on the student's achievement in the class 12th exam.

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Popular Pathology Colleges in India

Some of the most popular and well-known colleges in India that offer pathology courses are as follows: 

Name of the College/Institute 

Location 

Bharti Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College

Pune 

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University 

Uttar Pradesh 

Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences

Karnataka 

Dr B.R. Ambedkar Medical College

Delhi 

All India Institute of Medical Sciences

Delhi 

Christian Medical College

Tamil Nadu 

Banaras Hindu University

Uttar Pradesh 

Kasturba Medical College

Karnataka 

King George's Medical University

Uttar Pradesh 

Maulana Azad Medical College

Delhi 

Hamdard Institute of Medical Science and Research

Delhi 

Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research

Pondicherry

Armed Forces Medical College

Pune 

Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research

Kerela 

MS Ramaiah Medical College 

Karnataka 

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Study Pathology Abroad

Here is a list of some of the most renowned colleges abroad to study pathology courses:

Name of the College/Institute 

Location 

University of Southern Mississippi

United States

California State University

United States

University of South Alabama

United States

Ulster University

United Kingdom

Queen Mary University of London

United Kingdom

McGill University

Canada 

Queen's University

Canada 

University of Canberra 

Australia 

University of New South Wales 

Australia 

The University of Queensland 

Australia 

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What is Pathology Course Fees?

The following are the average pathology course fees in India for various levels of study:

Programme/Study Level 

Average Annual Estimated Fee Range in INR 

Certificate 

2,000-30,000

Diploma

10,000-80,000

Undergraduate 

20,000-1,50,000

PG Diploma 

30,000-2,00,000

Postgraduate 

40,000-12,30,000

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Pathology Course Syllabus

Enlisted below are core subjects that aspirants will study while pursuing pathology courses in India:

Diploma 

Morbid Anatomy and Histopathology

Haematology and Blood banking

Clinical and Chemical Pathology

Microbiology and Serology

Theory and Practical Training

-

Undergraduate 

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Frontiers in Human Disease

An Advanced Investigation of Human Disease

Experimental Pathology

Mechanism of Human Disease

Techniques for Investigation of Disease

Postgraduate

Haematology

Immunopathology

Histopathology

Plant Pathology

Molecular Pathology

Surgical Pathology 

Clinical Pathology

Anatomical Pathology

Forensic Pathology

Veterinary Pathology

General Pathology

Systemic Pathology

Cytopathology

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Pathology Courses Scope in India – Career and Job Prospects

Pathologists can find work in a variety of government and commercial facilities, including AIIMS, the National Institute of Health, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, and others. Pathologists can also work in agriculture, public health, law enforcement, and a variety of other disciplines. 

Some of the more well-known employment opportunities available to pathology graduates include:

  • Clinical Pathologist

  • Anatomic Pathologist

  • Forensic Pathologist

  • Medical Lab Technician

  • Laboratory Technician

  • Data Analyst 

  • Research Analyst 

  • Research Scientist

  • Biochemist 

  • Forensic Pathologist 

  • Professor 

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What is Pathology Salary?

Check out the average beginning yearly income of several pathology job profiles listed below.

Job Profile 

Annual Average Pay (INR) 

Lab Technician

2-4 lakhs 

Data Analyst

3-5 lakhs 

Biochemist

3-6 lakhs 

Research Scientist

4-7 lakhs 

Research Analyst

3-6 lakhs 

Pathologist

4-8 lakhs 

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Skills That Make You The Best Pathologist

The aspirant's abilities and expertise in the sector will aid in their job search. Many firms require such talents for their employees. Check out the pathological skill set criteria listed below:

  • To be meticulous and detail-oriented

  • To be skilled in the operation of a computer and the major software programmes

  • Thinking and reasoning abilities

  • Understanding of medicine and dentistry

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills

  • Complex problem-solving skills 

  • Analytical thinking skills

  • Acceptance of criticism and ability to perform well under pressure

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FAQs about Pathology

Can I become a pathologist without MBBS?

Yes, you can become a pathologist without MBBS and instead, pursuing a course in pathology. Aspirants can obtain a bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry, Pathology, or any other suitable 5-year medical degree. Post that, a foundation programme for general training lasting two years and 3 to 7 years in a Pathology internship or speciality training programme. 

Is NEET required for Pathology?

The NEET exam is taken into consideration as an eligibility criterion by many universities in India and abroad as well. Furthermore, candidates who desire to register for a pathology programme at any level of study (UG or PG) must take the NEET exam in order to be admitted to a reputable college. Candidates must have a licence to practise in various medical facilities, which is obtained through the NEET test.

Can I do MSc Pathology after BSc Chemistry?

Yes, you can pursue an MSc Pathology degree after completing your degree in BCs in Chemistry from a recognised/renowned university. Having said that, you have to meet other eligibility criteria as set by the university like securing at least 55% aggregate marks in your bachelor’s programme or completing the cut-off marks of the entrance exam.

What is the average salary of UG and PG Pathology course graduates in India?

The average salary of a UG pathology course graduate is around INR 2.5-7 lakhs per annum whereas, for a PG graduate, it is INR 3-9 lakhs per annum. Also, a mid-career pathologist with 4-9 years of experience makes INR 10.6 lakhs per year on average, while an experienced Pathologist with 10-20 years of experience gets INR 14.7 lakhs per year on average.

What challenges do pathology graduates face in their field?

Some of the most trending problems that pathology graduates face are new and fast-changing technologies, such as molecular diagnostics; laboratory testing outsourcing; the capacity to instantly transport digital pictures throughout the world; and medical choices based on economics, sometimes with little involvement from pathologists.

What are the prominent job roles and responsibilities of a Pathology course graduate?

The prominent roles and responsibilities of a pathologist are: to perform autopsies and function as an ME to identify the cause of death by examining genetic modifications; perform a variety of tests to determine the effectiveness of new treatments or medicines on the market; make reports or deductions that will be used as proof of disease or deformity that the doctor will treat and interpret laboratory data to answer certain unresolved medical mysteries.

Name some of the top recruiters of Pathology course graduates in India.

Pathologists are often hired at government or private hospitals, health centres, institutes, or testing laboratories. Some of them are as follows: 

  • Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

  • All India Institute of Medical Sciences

  • Apollo Hospital

  • National Institute of Health

  • Institute of Brain and Spine 

  • Food and Drug Administration

  • Dr Lal Path Labs

  • Intelligence Bureau

  • Central Bureau of Investigation

  • Asian Institute of Medical Sciences

What are the upcoming trends in the field of pathology?

Technological improvements in this discipline are assisting pathologists in finding essential information, processing it, and analysing it in a timely manner in today's society. Some of the breakthroughs and impending developments that would benefit pathologists include:

  • The proliferation of biomedical data

  • Immunoquery and Expertpath

  • Precision medicine is on the increase.

  • AI applications in healthcare

Where can graduates work after studying pathology?

Pathologists or pathology course graduates are in great demand and will continue to be so in the field of healthcare. There are several job opportunities in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, laboratories, emergency clinics, research labs, medical schools, investigation departments, universities and more.

Is pathology a good career?

Yes, pathology is a good career. Pathologists use their substantial medical expertise every day to discover and diagnose disease processes that assist determine patient management and treatment. Pathology also offers a broad spectrum of practice and a healthy work-life balance.

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