Histopathology (doctor)
Histopathologists study organs, tissues, cells and genetics to help provide a diagnosis.
You'll examine patients' organs and tissues by eye and look at cellular samples under a microscope. You'll also undertake studies to provide diagnostic and prognostic information or determine the cause of death.
Life as a histopathology doctor
Most of your time will be spent in a laboratory, working as part of a multidisciplinary team that will include laboratory scientists and doctors from other medical specialties.
You’ll need an in-depth knowledge of both clinical and pathological aspects of diseases. You’ll assess specimens from patients with cancer and play an integral role in planning their treatment by staging and grading their tumour.
Generally, you will handle specimens in the lab or perform autopsies in the mortuary rather than see patients face to face.
You’ll also have responsibility for reporting cancer screening biopsies.
Common procedures include:
- examination and dissection of surgical resection specimens, to select the most appropriate samples for microscope slides
- microscopic examination of tissues, with subsequent construction of clinical reports
- carrying out autopsies
How much can I earn?
You’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training after medical school. Find out details of current salary ranges for foundation and specialty training, SAS doctors and consultants on the 'Pay for doctors' page.How about the benefits?
- make a difference
- flexible and part-time working
- high income early in your career
- work anywhere in the world
- excellent pension scheme
- good holiday entitlement
- NHS discounts in shops and restaurants
Must-have skills
- excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues
- emotional resilience, a calm temperament and the ability to work well under pressure
- teamwork and the capacity to lead multidisciplinary teams, which includes communication and discussion of findings
- problem-solving and diagnostic skills
- organisational ability and effective decision-making skills
- first-class time and resource management for the benefit of patients
Entry requirements
Your first step is medical school. Typically, you’ll need excellent GCSEs and three A or A* passes at A level including chemistry for a five-year undergraduate degree in medicine. Many medical schools also ask for biology and others may require maths or physics.If you already have a degree, you could study for a four-year postgraduate degree in medicine.
You’ll need to pass an interview and admissions test. You’ll be asked to show how you demonstrate the NHS values such as compassion and respect.Some medical schools look to recruit a mix of students from different backgrounds and geographical areas, so your educational and economic background and family circumstances could be considered as part of your application.
What are my chances of starting a career in histopathology?
There are approximately 1,253 histopathologists working in the NHS in England. In 2020, there were 261 applications for 97 specialty training places.How to become a histopathologist
After medical school, you’ll join the paid two-year foundation programme where you’ll work in six placements in different settings.After your foundation programme, you can apply for paid specialty training to become a histopathologist which will take five years.
You may be able to train part-time, for example for health reasons or if you have family or caring responsibilities.Where a career as a doctor in histopathology can take you
After two years of integrated cellular pathology training, you will either decide to continue in histopathology specialty training or apply for training in one of the three other cellular pathology specialties through a national recruitment process:- diagnostic neuropathology
- forensic histopathology
- paediatric and perinatal pathology
In the subspecialty of cytopathology, you could develop additional skills in the cellular analysis of body fluids, for example from cervical smears or elsewhere in the body.
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Consultant in Histopathology
Bedford, MK42 9DJ
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Locum Consultant in Histopathology
Harrow, HA1 3UJ
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
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Secretarial Manager- Histopathology
BIRMINGHAM, B4 6DH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant in Cardiothoracic Histopathology
Cambridge Bio Medical Campus, CB2 0AY
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Dermatology Doctor
Swindon, SN3 3RB
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
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Dermatology Doctor
Wandsworth, SW18 4WW
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
ENT Doctor
Worthing, BN11 3BN
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
ENT Doctor
Canterbury, CT1 1BN
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Dermatology Doctor
Slough, SL1 2EJ
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Dermatology Doctor
Leicester, LE1 2BU
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Speciality Doctor
Lichfield, WS14 9LH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- St Giles Hospice
-
Specialty Doctor
Hounslow, TW3 1SE
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- West London NHS Trust
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Specialty Doctor
London, SE5 8UH
- Salary :
- £59175.00 to £95400.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
-
Dermatology Doctor
Canterbury, CT1 1BN
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Speciality Doctor
Workington, CA14 2AL
- Salary :
- £105000.00 to £115000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Humankind Charity
-
Dermatology Doctor
Worthing, BN11 3BN
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Specialty Doctor
Brunel Road, , RG7 4AB
- Salary :
- £59175.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Sue Ryder
-
Specialty Doctor in Ophthalmology
Warrington, WA5 1QG
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT
-
Specialty Doctor in Ophthalmology
Huddersfield, HD3 3EA
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialist Doctor in Dermatology
Truro, TR1 3LJ
- Salary :
- £96990.00 to £107155.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Psychotherapy
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 4QD
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Dermatology
Northampton, NN1 5BD
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Northampton General Hospital
-
Specialty Doctor in Forensic Psychiatry
Gloucester, GL1 3WL
- Salary :
- £59175.00 to £95400.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Speciality Doctor in Rehabilitation Medicine
Burslem, ST6 7AG
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
-
Speciality Doctor in Oral Surgery
Crumpsall, M8 5RB
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Forensic Psychiatry
Middlesbrough, TS4 3AF
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Liaison Psychiatry
Harrogate, HG27SX
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
-
Speciality Doctor in Paediatrics- Developmental
BANGOR, LL57 2PW
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
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Bank Doctor in Emergency Department
Victoria Road, Macclesfield, SK10 3BL
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- East Cheshire NHS Trust
-
Trust Doctor in Anaesthetics (ST3)
Canterbury, CT1 3NG
- Salary :
- £65048.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Palliative Medicine
Bridgend, CF31 1RQ
- Salary :
- £62117.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
-
Specialty Doctor in Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Ormskirk, L39 2AZ
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Specialist Doctor in Medical Microbiology
Carlisle, CA2 7HY
- Salary :
- £100870.00 to £111441.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Emergency Medicine
Burton-On-Trent, DE13 0RB
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Emergency Medicine
Guildford, GU2 7XX
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Respiratory Medicine
Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 6SE
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
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Specialty Doctor - CAMHS
Stafford, ST19 9QT
- Salary :
- £90000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Active Care Group
-
Specialty Doctor - Paediatrics
Chesterfield, S44 5BL
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Respiratory Speciality Doctor
Ashton-under-Lyne, OL69RW
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor - Orthodontics
Southend, SS0 0RY
- Salary :
- £61542.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor - Cardiology
Scarborough, YO12 6QL
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor - Anaesthetics
Harrogate, HG2 7SX
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Research Doctor
Cambridge, CB24 3BA
- Salary :
- £45000.00 to £60000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Optimum Patient Care
-
Specialty Doctor in Anaesthetics and ICU
Yeovil, BA21 4AT
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
-
Locum Specialty Doctor in Stroke Medicine
Cwmbran, NP44 8YN
- Salary :
- £62117.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
-
Speciality Doctor in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Walsall, WS2 9PS
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
-
Senior Locally Employed Doctor in Microbiology
Manchester, M13 9WL
- Salary :
- £65048.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Speciality Doctor in Special Care Dentistry
London, WC1E 6DG
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Research Doctor in Pelvic Exenteration
Chelsea, SW3 6JJ
- Salary :
- £52656.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Oral Maxillofacial Surgery
London, E9 6SR
- Salary :
- £59175.00 to £95400.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Psychiatry Lewes & Eastbourne
Eastbourne, BN21 3UU
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Community Child Health
Ham, TW10 7NF
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialist Doctor in Oncology and NSS
Barnstaple, EX31 4JB
- Salary :
- £100870.00 to £111441.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
ST1 Paediatric Bank Doctor
Warrington, WA5 1QG
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT
-
Senior Locally Employed Doctor
Manchester, M8 5RB
- Salary :
- £65048.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Trauma & Orthopaedic Specialty Doctor
York, YO31 8HE
- Salary :
- £59175.00 to £95400.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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These organisations have further information about being a histopathologist, particularly as your career progresses. Take a look.
Association for Clinical Genetic Science
British Academy of Forensic Sciences
The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland
And hear from people working as a doctor in histopathology: