Veterinary Pathology Training

Welcome to the Veterinary Pathology Training part of the website, which has been taken over from the former web site of that name. This area aims to be a 'one-stop-shop' for veterinary pathologists in training with information about the different examination systems and recommended books, DVDs and CD-ROMs.

Links to all of the major veterinary pathology websites and latest CPD events are present elsewhere on the site.

There are bound to be some differences from the previous site but we have tried to integrate it as best as possible and keep the same feel.

Membership of the Royal College of Pathologists

Membership of the Royal College of Pathologists is widely recognised as the definitive professional qualification for pathologists trained in the United Kingdom. Examinations take place at end of September/early October (written) and October/ November/December (Practical) every year. The format of the exams is due to change soon and it is likely that there will be Part 1 (a test of theory) and Part 2 (test of practical and applied knowledge).

The examinations can be taken in Anatomic Pathology or Clinical Pathology.

Look at Core Training in order to get an idea of the overall aim, the objectives of a training programme, the responsibilities of the sponsor and what is expected of candidates in the different species groups. This document will probably be replaced by a curriculum in the near future.

Look at Exam Papers to see the most recent examination papers.

Candidates must be holders of a recognised veterinary degree in order to sit the examinations in veterinary pathology but there is also an option for Toxicology with Histopathology as an area of specialisation for non-veterinarians.

Prospective candidates are advised to register with the Royal College of Pathologists as a trainee and to check that their training programme will satisfy the College.
Candidates are advised to follow at least 2 or 3 years training in veterinary pathology (depending on their background) before they sit the Part 1 examination.
Candidates should have a supervisor who will guide them in their training and a mentor who can give an external opinion of their progress. Contact the College's Specialty Adviser.
Part 1 examination currently consists of written papers, practical examinations and an oral assessment. The written papers comprise two 3-hour papers.
The first paper covers general aspects of veterinary pathology with 4 essay type or short note answers from a choice of 6 questions. The second paper concerns the candidate’s own speciality and offers a choice of 4 questions out of 5. They may cover a single topic or require the candidate to write short notes on several topics.
Practical examinations are usually set over 2 days and include necropsies and macroscopic pathology samples [specimens in jars etc.] (3 hours), approximately 20 microscopic slides [may include some EM micrographs] (3 hours), data handling questions and oral assessment by two examiners (up to 1 hour).
Part 2 consists of: a practical examination and an oral examination (up to 1 hour). A further 2 years or more experience in veterinary pathology is generally advised before the Part 2 examination is attempted.
Candidates may submit a relevant dissertation, a casebook (of 5 relevant cases), a set of published papers or a doctoral thesis (PhD conducted during the training period). If candidates submit one of the above options, the examination will only consist of a oral examination (without a practical).
The oral examination will assess ability of the candidate to discuss problem cases, pinpoint salient features of differential diagnoses, discuss inter-species extrapolation and to discuss the relative importance of lesions in the appropriate clinical, toxicological or epidemiological context. The oral examination will also cover topical issues in the field chosen, recent developments and classifications of pathological lesions.

Candidates must choose a species group from the following for both Part 1 and 2 examinations:

small domestic animals (dog, cat)
large domestic animals (farmed ruminants and either horse or pig as an option)
laboratory animals (rabbit, rat, mouse, guinea pig, hamster, dog, non-human primate)
birds (poultry, game birds, cage birds, wild birds)
fish (wild and farmed)

The European College of Veterinary Pathologists

The examination of the European College of Veterinary Pathologists is held in February of each year.

Requirements:

Eligibility to sit the examination is determined by the Council in the preceding early October.
Requires signature of sponsor (i.e. Supervisor of training period).
Candidate must be qualified to practice veterinary medicine in Europe.
Must complete at least 3 years training directed by Diplomate of ECVP.
If supervisor is not Diplomate of ECVP, then 5 years training of which one year must be spent under supervision of Diplomate of ECVP.
Must have published, as first author, at least 1 original paper in an internationally recognised journal in the field of veterinary pathology.

The examination consists of 5 parts over 19 hours.

General pathology. The 4 hour molecular and cellular pathology section consists of 40 multiple choice questions and short answer questions worth 5 marks each.
Macroscopic pathology. 60 images for which candidates have 2 minutes to respond to questions worth 3 marks.
Histopathology. Evaluation of a defined number of histopathology slides. Will include electron microscopy and cytology specimens (one or two). 4.5 hours. 18 histologic slides.
Veterinary Pathology. 4.5 hours, includes 30 multiple choice and short answer questions derived from two parts A and B.
Candidate can select 1 of 3 parts. A. 1. Small and large domestic animals 2. laboratory animals and toxicological pathology 3. Wildlife, exotic/zoologic animals, poultry and fish.
Part B, one of 7 areas chosen: 1. Large domestic animals 2. Small domestic animals. 3. Laboratory animals. 4 Exotic/zoologic animals. 5. Poultry. 6. Fish. 7. Toxicologic pathology.
Comprehensive pathology. 4-hour, 5 question paper requires problem solving abilities to interpret and analyse data, interpret results of a toxicologic study, review an abstract, provide a second opinion, perform clinical investigation or interpret a forensic pathology situation.

The American College of Veterinary Pathologists

Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists Takes place in September in Ames, Iowa, United States every year.

Requirements:

3 or more years of intensive training and preparation in veterinary anatomic or clinical pathology.
Candidates must be well-versed in necropsy and surgical pathology, descriptive and diagnostic aspects of basic pathogenetic mechanisms (i.e. general pathology) and to a lesser extent, clinical pathology.
Examination consists of multiple choice questions (100) on general pathology.
Gross pathology sections involves 35mm transparencies of gross lesions.
Microscopic section involves evaluation of histopathologic, cytologic, haematologic and ultrastructural lesions and formulation of good descriptive paragraphs and morphologic conclusions.
Electron microsopy, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization are a limited part of the certifying exam.