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Jenika
Student
Grafton, Ohio
2
Questions
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What's it like being a pathologists' assistant?
I'm interested in becoming a pathologists' assistant but I wanted to get some insight into what the career is like. What are the hours and working conditions? What are the drawbacks? What advice would you give to someone looking into this career?
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Sal Mignano
Pathologist
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Seattle, Washington
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Sal’s Answer
I’m not a pathologist assistant, but I have worked with a few over the years as a pathologist. PAs (or PathAs) are masters level professionals. There are not many PA programs in North America, roughly 10, and their admission requirements are similar to medical school (science prerequisite courses, shadowing, +/- standardized tests). For admission standards, best to look at the individual schools’ websites.
The main functions of a PA: gross (macroscopic) examination of surgical specimens, assisting in autopsies, and helping to determine how patient tissue is allocated for various clinical or research studies. A lot of the work is dissection, tissue sampling, and careful description of findings. It takes a while to really master. Nevertheless, the job is pretty good: regular, usually shift-like hours, and good pay. Weekend work and call schedules vary by practice but usually isn’t too bad. Most work in standalone pathology labs or hospital pathology departments, but some might work for medical examiner offices/coroners, tissue biobanks, or organ harvesting services.
The drawbacks aren’t many, but here are a few that come to mind. It requires lots of standing or sitting in one place for many hours. High specimen volumes can be draining. Often the expectation is to get through many cases quickly and effectively. Sometimes, the work can become tedious or monotonous, like anything else. It is usually very solitary work. It can be difficult if the pathologists are unreasonable to deal with ;-)
Overall, it’s a nice gig. Since it is a master’s level degree, it requires a bachelor’s (~4 years) and then a 2-year PA program. There’s also a certification exam and continuing education requirements. By contrast, a pathologist has to do medical school (~4 years) after a bachelors, then residency (3-4 years), and then (usually) a fellowship or 2 (1-3 years). Plus, licensing exams, board exams, and continuing education. So the PA route is more straightforward in some ways.
Some PAs can get into the field by meeting certain educational and experience requirements, without an official credential. This is less common nowadays, but still seen occasionally. I’m not sure how that works, honestly.
For more detailed info on programs, requirements, and the job itself, check out their association website: https://www.pathassist.org/
And the folks who write the test/prep materials: https://www.ascp.org/boc/explore-credentials/areas-of-interest/pathologists-assistant?srsltid=AfmBOoo097QYy6ub9CxL2QbDVtdoGNlg8RoKxjz2CjoFmH4YTtALF0Ai
Good luck!
The main functions of a PA: gross (macroscopic) examination of surgical specimens, assisting in autopsies, and helping to determine how patient tissue is allocated for various clinical or research studies. A lot of the work is dissection, tissue sampling, and careful description of findings. It takes a while to really master. Nevertheless, the job is pretty good: regular, usually shift-like hours, and good pay. Weekend work and call schedules vary by practice but usually isn’t too bad. Most work in standalone pathology labs or hospital pathology departments, but some might work for medical examiner offices/coroners, tissue biobanks, or organ harvesting services.
The drawbacks aren’t many, but here are a few that come to mind. It requires lots of standing or sitting in one place for many hours. High specimen volumes can be draining. Often the expectation is to get through many cases quickly and effectively. Sometimes, the work can become tedious or monotonous, like anything else. It is usually very solitary work. It can be difficult if the pathologists are unreasonable to deal with ;-)
Overall, it’s a nice gig. Since it is a master’s level degree, it requires a bachelor’s (~4 years) and then a 2-year PA program. There’s also a certification exam and continuing education requirements. By contrast, a pathologist has to do medical school (~4 years) after a bachelors, then residency (3-4 years), and then (usually) a fellowship or 2 (1-3 years). Plus, licensing exams, board exams, and continuing education. So the PA route is more straightforward in some ways.
Some PAs can get into the field by meeting certain educational and experience requirements, without an official credential. This is less common nowadays, but still seen occasionally. I’m not sure how that works, honestly.
For more detailed info on programs, requirements, and the job itself, check out their association website: https://www.pathassist.org/
And the folks who write the test/prep materials: https://www.ascp.org/boc/explore-credentials/areas-of-interest/pathologists-assistant?srsltid=AfmBOoo097QYy6ub9CxL2QbDVtdoGNlg8RoKxjz2CjoFmH4YTtALF0Ai
Good luck!