How to Become a Pathologist: Career Guide, Courses, After 12th, Eligibility, Colleges, Jobs, Scope, Salary 2023

Q: Will I get a job just after completing MD in Pathology?

Getting job is not easy in todays world. There are many people who have MD degree in Pathology and they are doing Part time job as Pathology because of lack of jobs in market.

Ahana Bhaduri

Senior Content Specialist

Pathologists are trained specialists who analyse body parts and body tissues. They are in charge of running lab tests. A pathologist is a crucial part of the treatment team who assists other medical professionals in making correct diagnosis. To become a Pathologist in India, aspirants need to complete at least a bachelor degree in Pathology. For further expertise, one can study master and phd courses in Pathology.

In order to become a Pathologist, professionals will need to research the cause and effects of illnesses and diseases on patients. Skilled Pathologists are in high demand in and outside India. To become a Pathologist, one needs to graduate with an MBBS degree and then pursue Diploma or MD in Pathology or other similar courses that have been recognised by the Medical Council of India, abbreviated as MCI.

Popular pathology courses in India include MBBS, DM pathology, PhD Pathology, etc. To become a pathologist after 12th, without going to medical schools, there are Certificate, diploma, and bachelor courses such as BSc Pathology available across top Pathology colleges in India.

Table of Contents

Pathologist: Quick Facts
About Pathologists
Eligibility to Become a Pathologist
Types of Pathologist

4.1 Medical Examiner

4.2 Mortuary Assistant

4.3 Cytotechnologist

4.4 Medical Lab Technician

4.5 Dermatopathologist

How to Become a Pathologist
Courses to Become a Pathologist

6.1 MBBS in Pathology

6.2 BSc in Pathology

6.3 PGD in Clinical Pathology

6.4 MD in Pathology

6.5 PhD in Pathology

How to Become a Pathologist in Abroad

7.1 Pathologist in UK

7.2 Pathologist in US

Benefits as a Pathologist
Pathologist Skills Required
Pathologist Salary

10.1 Average Salary

10.2 Specialization Wise Salary

10.3 Experience Wise Salary

How to Become a Pathologist: FAQs

How to Become a Pathologist: Quick Facts

Industry	Pathology clinic, Drug manufacturing factories, Govt. and Pvt. Hospitals, Pharmaceutical industries, Pathology clinic, Own clinic etc.
Eligibility	MBBS degree and Diploma or MSc and then MD in Pathology
Average starting salary	INR 6 lakh to 10 lakh
Job opportunity	AIIMS, Apollo, Tata Medical, NIP Delhi, etc.

Who is a Pathologist?

Pathology is related to the management of hospitals and clinical labs. The job of a pathologist is to culture medical specimens to determine and treat various illnesses and conditions. Though Pathologists directly don’t treat patients, they assist physicians in determining the actual cause and possible treatments for illness and conditions.

Every year approximately 1,500 students are admitted to pathology courses. At present, there are around 4,500 members in the Indian Association of Pathologist and Microbiologist.
There are around 180 Govt. and Private Pathology Colleges in India.
Average course fee for studying Pathology is INR 20,000 to INR 2,00,000.
After Pathology, you can apply in medical colleges, hospitals, clinics etc.
Report suggests that the diagnostic market may grow up to 27.5 per cent for the next five years.
Average salary of a pathologist ranges between INR 6,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 per annum.

Eligibility Criteria for Becoming a Pathologist

To become a pathologist, aspirants will need the right professional and academic credentials to get started with their career as a pathologist. To start your career as a professional pathologist, here are a few requirements you need to follow.

Academic Qualifications

MBBS degree followed by further specialization in pathology, such as Diploma in Clinical Pathology or MD in Pathology.

Professional Qualifications

Aspirants need to acquire the necessary license to practice as a pathologist across the medical establishment.

Types of Pathologist

There are different job profiles in the pathology field you can engage yourself after completing the Pathology course. Some of top Pathologist in India are as follow as:

Medical Examiner

Medical Examiners are responsible for performing autopsies and external examinations in hospitals and medicals. They examine the causes of death of a person. They have to complete the procedures after the death of a person, like, compiling a death certificate and all findings and then make a report on this.

Average Salary of Medical Examiner: INR 17 LPA

Mortuary Attendant

Mortuary Attendants are related to the process of post-mortem examination of a dead person. They have to assist the forensic pathologist to do examination of the body, and other than that maintaining mortuary rooms and equipment.

Average Salary of Mortuary Attendant: INR 3.62 LPA

Cytotechnologist

Cytotechnologists have to work with the pathologist to evaluate patients’ cell sample in order to notice subtle changes to detect infectious conditions.

Average Salary of Cytotechnologist: INR 5.26 LPA

Medical Lab Technician

Medical lab technicians work in a lab to test, examine and analyse collected samples. They have to do tests on body fluids and tissue to assist the physicians. And on the basis of this the physicians diagnose and treat the diseases of patients.

Average Salary of Medical Lab Technician: INR 2.42 LPA

Dermatopathologist

Dermatopathologist are specialists in skin related diseases. They use microscope to examine the skin, hair and nail to diagnose the diseases.

Average Salary of Dermatopathologist: INR 9 LPA

How to Become a Pathologist in India?

To become a Pathologist in India you first have to study MBBS or Diploma in medical science after passing 12th with 60% marks from a recognized board. And after that you can study the Pathology course from a known medical college and hospital.

School Level Preparation

Study hard and prepare well to seat for entrance exam in order to pursue MBBS degree
Do thorough study on the subjects, i.e., Physics, Chemistry and Biology for entrance exam
Remember try to score more than 50% to get admission in a good medical college

How to Become a Pathologist after 12th?

To study MBBS you need to study 12th with Physics, Chemistry and Biology/ Biotechnology as main subjects and English as core subject with 50% marks.

Under-Graduate Level Preparation

To become a pathologist after 12, first you need to graduate in MBBS
If you have finished your MBBS degree then you can study MSc or PG Diploma in Pathology courses
There shall be an entrance exam for taking admission in PG degree in Pathology
To become a pathologist without medical school, aspirants can opt for non medical courses such as BSc Pathology.

Post-Graduate Level Preparation

For the MD or Doctor of Medicine in Pathology, there will be an entrance exam
Medical examinations are tough hence, study hard to pursue the degree

Courses to Become Pathologist

The pathology courses are offered at different levels. You can pursue a higher degree in this course. Here are some pathology courses one can study.

MBBS

MBBS is a 41/2 year under-graduate degree program one can pursue after 12th grade in Science with 60% marks.

MBBS in Pathology Admission Process

Aspirants should be a student of science in their class 12 examination to be eligible for MBBS in Pathology Admission.
Entrance exam is a must to get admission in an MBBS degree.

Entrance Exam

NEET Exam is the only national level exam for admission in MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, Veterinary, etc courses in India. NEET will be conducted in 11 languages this year. All the important details like type of questions, pattern of exam, etc will be released with NEET official brochure. Also, with a reduction in the syllabus of board classes, the NEET question paper might have internal choices.

Check: NEET Exam Pattern

BSc in Pathology

BSc in Pathology is a 3 year degree course one can pursue after 12th grade in Science with 60% marks. BSc in Pathology is about biology research and medical practices. It studies and interprets the tissues, organs, body fluids, in a patient's body.

BSc in Pathology Admission Process

Admission to this course is based on merit. Students need to have CBM(Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics) as their primary subjects in their class 12. They should have completed their class 12 examination with a minimum 60% score in aggregate.

PG Diploma in Clinical Pathology

PG Diploma in Clinical Pathology is for 2 years and can be pursued after completing a UG degree or diploma in Pathology. PG Diploma in Clinical Pathology mainly focuses on clinical pathologies techniques.

PG Diploma in Clinical Pathology Admission Process

In most colleges admission into this course is done on the basis of merit
But in some other colleges, there shall be an entrance exam conducted by the college

PG Diploma in Clinical Pathology Entrance Exam

Entrance exams for the course are conducted by the college where one want to take admission

NEET-PG is an eligibility-cum-ranking examination prescribed as the single entrance examination to various MD/MS and PG Diploma Courses as per Section (10) of Indian Medical Council Act 1956.

Check: NEET PG Registration Details

MD Pathology

MD Pathology is a postgraduate degree and the duration is 3 year and mainly focused on study, examine, interpretation on organs, cells, tissue, autopsies etc. and diagnose of diseases.

MD Pathology Admission Process

The admission process to the course is based on entrance exam
After that there will be counseling process conducted by the colleges
The counseling process includes registration, biometric finger print verification, photo and signature verification, documents verification
And then the seat allotment process will be start

MD Pathology Entrance Exam

JIPMER PG Exam is conducted by Jawaharlal Institute of PostGraduate Medical Education & Research twice a year (January and July Session) to grant admission to candidates willing to pursue higher degree courses in MD/MS, DM/MCH, and other PG Programs in the medical stream.

Ph.D. in Pathology

PhD in Pathology is a doctoral level research course for 3 years. PhD in Pathology studies how to examine and analyze the sample test, what can be the reason for the diseases, diagnosis of the disease and treatment of the disease. It is mainly an in-depth study on a topic.

Ph.D. in Pathology Admission Process

Admission is based on merit and in some universities on the basis of marks secured in entrance exam

How to Become a Pathologist in Abroad

Becoming a Pathologist abroad is quite hard. You have to study for the degree as well as also have to earn the required licensed and fellowship program. So there you have continued your education along with maintaining certification for the course.

Pathologist in UK

Pathologists in the UK earn between £37,191 to £47,132 depending on their posts. To become a pathologist in UK, you will need to:

Earn a five-year degree in medicine from any university/institute recognised by the General Medical Council.
Get a 2-years general training foundation course.
Attend at least a 5-year pathology specialist training programme

Admission process:

Educational Requirement:

To become a Pathologist in UK, you have to complete a five years degree program in Medicine that is recognized by General Medicine Council
Then 2 year general training foundation course in Pathology
And after that specialist training program in Pathology for 5 to 6 years

Top Colleges for Pathologist in UK

Institute Name	Location
Imperial college (Medicine)	London, England
University of Westminster, London, School of life sciences	London, England
Queen Mary university of London, Institute of dentistry	London, England
Middlesex University, biomedical and biological sciences	England
The royal college of pathologist	London, UK

Pathology Courses Available in UK

MSc. in Molecular Biology and Pathology of Viruses
MSc. in Biomedical Science (Cellular Pathology)
Doctor of Philosophy in Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology
MSc. in Cancer and Molecular Pathology and Genomics

Pathologist in US

Pathologists in the US earn an average salary of $282,859 annually. To become a pathologist in US, one needs to:

Earn a bachelor's degree in Science,
A pathology degree from a medical school,
5 to 7 years internship as well as residency program

Admission process

Educational Requirement:

Bachelor degree in Medical Science for 4 years
Then an internship and residency program for 3 to 7 years

Top Colleges for Pathologist in US

Institute Name	Location
Harvard Medical School	Boston
Yale School of Medicine	New Haven, Connecticut
Keck School of Medicine	Los Angeles
Alpert Medical School, Brown University	Rhode Island
Duke University School of Medicine	Durham, North Carolina

Pathologist Courses Available in US

MSc. in Speech Language Pathology
Advanced Certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
PhD in Computational Cell Biology, Anatomy and Pathology

Benefits of Career as a Pathologist

There are a lot of benefits after becoming a Pathologist. This is a medical science course and hence there is a good opportunity available in this field. You don’t have to worry about getting a well settled job, because in this field after studying pathology you can open your own clinic and can do business.

Good Salary Package

Pathologists are one among the highly paid jobs. Medical students don’t have to wait after completing their course. Pathologists earn a good salary in medical industries. Their starting salary is INR 6 lakh.

Job Security

Pathologists have job security in this field. But there are a lot of students who are studying pathology courses, and hence the jobs are not available to give chances to all the pathologists.

Positive Impact of the Career

Pathologist jobs are challenging and rewarding. After finishing the course, one can get a job in medical, hospitals, clinics etc.

Unique Experience

Becoming a Pathologist is a unique experience. You can deal with different things in the medical sector. Every day there are a lot of patients who are admitted to hospitals, medical centers etc. And hence you have to do many things like, examining, analyzing, and maintaining equipment in a hospital.

Skills Required to Become a Pathologist

Good communication skill	High dexterity
Patience	Physical stamina to work for a long time
Problem solving skill	Detail oriented
Analyzing skill	Examining skill
Organizational skill	Leadership and good team work skill

Salary of Pathologist in India

Pathologists earn a good salary package in India. The average salary of Pathologists in India starts from 6 to 10 lakh. The salary package varies upon several factors such as experience, degree level, degree college, geographical location, and company’s business scale.

Average Annual Salary

Name of organization	Average annual salary
Govt.	INR 17,80,427
Private	INR 20,34,486

Specialization Wise Salary

Specializations	Salary
Cytotechnologist	INR 6,60,612
Mortuary Assistant	INR 4,59,870
Medical Lab Technician	INR 3,44,948
Medical Examiner	INR 20.35,068
Dermatopathologist	INR 12,00,000
Professors	INR 12,00,000

Experience Wise Salary

Experience	Salary
Fresher	INR 3 to 7 lakh
Experienced	INR 12 to 26 lakh

How to Become a Pathologist: FAQs

Ques. Is it hard to become a Pathologist in India?

Ans. To become a Pathologist in India is not so easy and also not so hard. There is high demand for this job in the medical sectors. But because of a lot of candidates the job market gets shrunk. But if you are eligible for the post, you will definitely get opportunities in this field.

Ques. Is it a highly paid job in India?

Ans. Yes. Pathologists are highly paid for their job. They earn 70 to 80 thousand in a month.

Ques. Can I become a Pathology Professor after completing MD in Pathology?

Ans. Yes. You can become. Because it is a doctoral degree course, so you are eligible for a Professor post in a medical institute or college and hospitals.

Ques. Can I do Diploma in Pathology?

Ans. Yes. You can do Diploma course in Pathology. But MBBS degree or MSc degree in Pathology is better than the Diploma program.

Ques. Will I get a job just after completing MD in Pathology?

Ans. Getting job is not easy in today’s world. There are many people who have MD degree in Pathology and they are doing Part time job as Pathology because of lack of jobs in market.

Ques. What quality one must have to become a Pathologist?

Ans. To become a Pathologist you have these qualities, namely, good communication, detail oriented, problem solving skill, analyzing skill.

Ques. How many types of Pathology we can become after pursuing the course?

Ans. There are mainly 3 types of Pathology, ie., Clinical Pathology, Molecular Pathology, and Anatomical Pathology.

Ques. Can I get job as Pathologist in Abroad?

Ans. Yes. You can be a Pathologist in Abroad. But you have to earn licensed and some necessary documents in order to practice Pathology in abroad.

Ques. What is the salary of Pathologist in USA?

Ans. Pathologist earns $282,859 (INR 20,782,471) per annum.

Ques. Is Pathology a good career choice after MBBS?

Ans. Yes. The course is good and also has a challenging environment where you have to deal with many things.