Pathology Career Pathways

PathNet Northern Ireland Career Pathways:

• Careers for Doctors:
  • The complete guide to becoming a pathology doctor
• Careers for Healthcare Scientists:
  • Clinical Scientist
  • Biomedical Scientist
  • Healthcare Scientist Assistant and Associates.

Both Career Pathways are detailed below:

NI Career Pathway for Doctors:

NI Career Pathway for Scientists:

Biomedical Scientist (BMS) recruitment

The Northern Ireland Pathology Network hold an annual recruitment process in the Spring of each year for Biomedical Scientists.  A waiting list is created from which vacancies are filled. Details of the process and the criteria for each role will be advertised during the recruitment process on the HSC Jobs website.

Top up Modules

The IBMS can advise on the modules required to top-up a current or future degree to a standard equivalent to a BSc in Biomedical Sciences acceptable for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Biomedical Scientist.  Ulster University offers Biomedical Science GradCert to support the degree top up. A full list of universities offering top up modules can be found on the IBMS web pag

IBMS Accredited Degrees

There are different types of IBMS accredited degrees:

• IBMS Accredited Integrated Degree Programme
• Students choosing an IBMS accredited Integrated degree programme, (which includes a pre-arranged placement within an accredited NHS training laboratory), will be able to complete an IBMS Registration Training Portfolioduring their laboratory placement.
• On completing their IBMS accredited integrated degree programme students will be awarded an IBMS Certificate of Competenceand will be able to apply for HCPC registration as a biomedical scientist.
• Ulster University has a long-standing partnership with Northern Ireland pathology laboratories in the provision of an integrated degree program. A full list of Accredited Integrated Degree Programme (Coterminous) degrees can be viewed on the HCPC website.
• IBMS accredited degree
  • Accredited degree courses, meet the academic requirements to become registered as a Biomedical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Students should be aware that to obtain HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist they will still need  complete the  IBMS Registration Training Portfolio leading to the award of the IBMS Certificate of Competence.
  • To be able to complete the registration portfolio, Graduates will need to obtain a trainee BMS post or arrange a placement within an accredited training laboratory.
  • IBMS accredited degrees are provided by both Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast. You can view the full list of accredited degrees on the IBMS website.

The IBMS Clinical Scientist Certificate of Attainment

This programme is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the statutory regulator for Clinical Scientists. It is offered by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) as a route by which those who are working in the UK in healthcare science who have an MSc degree or an equivalent-level qualification and who can demonstrate through a combination of their education, training and professional experience that they meet the minimum level of practice required for registration as a Clinical Scientist with the HCPC. The award is currently offered in four specialist areas of practice:  Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Immunology, Clinical Microbiology and Haematology.

Scientist Training Programme

Each year in Northern Ireland we have a number of funded three-year, fixed term posts, which include an integrated training programme of workplace-based learning and a Master’s degree in their chosen specialism. These are usually advertised annually, each Spring on the HSC Jobs website.  Full details of the entry requirements and the recruitment process in other UK regions can be found on the The National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) website.

FRCPath Examinations

Consultant Healthcare Scientists train to the same level as medically qualified Pathologists. Combining years of scientific expertise with training in patient care, they oversee the diagnosis of disease, lead services and guide a wide range of healthcare staff. Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) is an essential requirement for both Laboratory Doctors and Consultant Healthcare Scientist posts. Fellowship can be obtained by:

• Fellowship by examination: Fellows will have passed Part 1 (Diploma) exam and progressed and completed the Part 2 (Fellow) exams.