Diploma in Clinical Pathology in India

What is a diploma in Clinical Pathology?

A diploma in clinical pathology is a 2-year postgraduate program that has been designed to help you learn the practical aspects of clinical pathology which is associated with diagnosing diseases through clinical tests. During this course, you will learn a variety of diagnostic techniques such as histopathology, microbiology, biochemistry and transfusion medicine.

As part of this diploma, you will learn to conduct tests on human bodily fluids such as blood, urine, saliva, excreta. This is a full-time course that will require you to take part in practical classes and attend lectures on a regular basis. Practical training in conducting various tests and lab procedures is a significant part of this course and that’s the reason why it’s a full-time course.

Once you complete this course, you will be qualified to assist medical professionals at a variety of healthcare centres and institutions where clinical pathology is conducted. One great thing about this professional course is – it prepares you for the job market which means that you can straightaway start working and earning once you complete your diploma course in clinical pathology.

Highlights

Eligibility for Diploma in Clinical Pathology

Following is the eligibility criteria for a diploma in clinical pathology:

• This is a postgraduate course and you are required to have graduated with a degree in science such as MBBS, B.Sc. Biology, B.Sc. Biotechnology, B.Sc. Microbiology or a similar degree course to seek admission in a diploma in clinical pathology.

• Some educational institutions may need you to have achieved a minimum aggregate percentage at the bachelor’s degree level, for example, 60 percent.

• You may also need to pass the relevant entrance test to seek admission to the course as required by the educational institution where you seek admission. The entrance test may vary according to the college or university.

• This is often followed by an interview/ counselling session as the final step to decide whether or not to grant admission to a candidate.

Diploma in Clinical Pathology Admission

The admission process for a diploma in clinical pathology may vary from one educational institution to another. Certain private colleges and universities may have fewer eligibility requirements as compared to public colleges and universities. For example, private colleges may grant direct admission to students on the basis of their meritorious performance at the graduation level.

Admission process

• In general, as the first step, you will be required to check if you meet the eligibility criteria set by the college or university where you want to take admission in the diploma in clinical pathology course.

• If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be required to pass the relevant entrance test as required by the concerned college or university.

• Once you pass the entrance test, the next step is usually a personal interview or a counselling session. If you perform well in this final round, you will be granted admission to the course.

Top entrance exam

NEET PG: NEET PG is a test that permits MBBS graduates to apply for admission to a variety of diploma programmes provided by a variety of colleges. Students who meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Diploma in Clinical Pathology programme will be accepted.

Cutoff of top colleges

A cut-off score for the Diploma in Clinical Pathology is a set of criteria used to evaluate a student's merit or test performance. The cutoff for the Diploma in Clinical Pathology, which varies from college to college, is determined by qualifying examinations and the number of applicants who appear for the entrance examination.

Diploma in Clinical Pathology Skills Required

Clinical pathology is a field in medical science that requires you to have a higher degree of focus and attention to detail. In order to pursue a diploma in clinical pathology, you must possess or develop a number of skills. Some of the important skills are given below.

Analytical skills: You must have great analytical skills to be a successful clinical pathologist. After all, the profile requires you to examine things in detail and with extreme care to find the cause of various problems experienced by patients.

Communication skills: Communication is an important aspect of any course of study and job profile. You must be able to communicate effectively with your professors/ lecturers and fellow learners to ensure effective learning during the course and with colleagues, doctors and patients when you start working in the field of clinical pathology after completing the diploma.

Computer skills: As part of the profession, you will be required to use different types of computer software programmes to log sample data and prepare pathology reports for patients. This makes it important for you to be comfortable with using a variety of computer programmes which may vary from one organisation to others.

Hand-eye coordination: As you are required to handle samples from patients, you must have good hand-eye coordination. This is imperative to ensure that samples are preserved and are not spoiled. You must be able to perform all such actions with great care.

Observation skills: Observation is one of the most important skills you are required to have as a clinical pathologist. You must have great observation skills to be able to spot minute details and defects in samples.

Research skills: The profile requires you to be updated with what’s happening currently and prevalent health issues being experienced by people. This means you must have good research skills to enquire into the causes and effects of any new and existing diseases and disorders. Research skills are important for continuous development also.

Writing skills: An important part of working as a clinical pathologist is writing clinical reports. These reports must be clear and accurate to provide a clear picture of the tests conducted on a patient’s sample(s). You must be able to write comprehensible reports with correct and accurate data.

Diploma in Clinical Pathology Syllabus

Following are the primary subjects that you will study as a student of clinical pathology:

These are the main subjects that you will study in this course. You may find slight variations in the syllabus adopted by different educational institutions offering a diploma in clinical pathology.

Diploma in Clinical Pathology Fees Structure and Details:

The amount that you will have to pay as the fee for studying clinical pathology will depend a lot on the college or university you choose to study at.

The fee that you have to pay for this diploma in clinical pathology program can vary from Rs.10,000 to 1,00,000 per semester at a public college or university.

On the other hand, the fee charged by private colleges and universities for the course could be as high as Rs.5,00,000 to Rs.40,00,000 per semester.

Please note that these are just general estimates with there being possible variations in the actual fee charged by colleges and universities offering the diploma course.

Scope of Diploma in Clinical Pathology

The importance of a Diploma in Clinical Pathology in India's healthcare system is due to a number of factors, one of which is the country's large population. Diploma in Clinical Pathology is a popular and important medical biology course in India. Medical diagnosis and scientific research rely heavily on the Diploma in Clinical Pathology programme. New possibilities in the Diploma in Clinical Pathology sector have been developing due to rapid progress in the use of advanced equipment and techniques in the medical field.

Career option after Diploma in Clinical Pathology

Diagnostics is a field with great career scope and you can work in a variety of roles after you complete your diploma in clinical pathology.

Let us identify some of the roles:

Clinical Pathologist – In this role, you will conduct microscopic tests on blood, saliva, urine and other bodily fluids for diagnostic purposes. It includes checking the levels of certain substances and chemicals present in the samples.

Clinical Manager – As a clinical manager, your primary responsibility will be to ensure the smooth functioning of a medical facility. It includes performing administrative tasks and also managing the staff at a medical facility.

Consultant Pathologist – In the role of a consultant pathologist, you will be responsible for managing a testing laboratory. This includes the development and implementation of clinical policies and procedures. There may be additional responsibilities apart from conducting tests as per the organisation you choose to work with.

Cytotechnologist – In this role, your primary responsibility will be to conduct a study of cells and spot cellular anomalies such as cancerous or precancerous lesions, infectious agents or inflammatory processes. This involves the use of a microscope and related equipment.

Dermatopathologist – As a dermatopathologist, you will specialize in diagnosing disorders of the skin. Dermatopathology combines dermatology i.e. the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases and pathology i.e. identification of diseases.

Forensic Technician – A Forensic Technician's responsibilities include providing technical assistance in diagnosing trauma, disease, trauma apart from establishing the cause and manner of a person's death. It entails a variety of tasks during and after autopsy with the use of different techniques to preserve medico-legal evidence, establish positive identification and preserve the chain of custody. Additional responsibilities include – collecting, photographing, documenting, preserving and maintaining evidence and specimens.

Mortuary Assistant – Also known as Mortuary Technician, the role involves working under the directions of a funeral director or pathologist. This includes primary duties of moving bodies from hospital to funeral home, preparing bodies for funerals and the necessary documents.

Professor/Lecturer – You can use the knowledge gained from the course to teach at an educational institution as a professor or lecturer. However, you may be required to have certain years of practical experience working as a pathologist or a related role before qualifying as a professor or lecturer.

Based on the needs of employers and the evolving job market, you can fit into a variety of other roles as well.

Benefits of studying Diploma in Clinical Pathology

Diploma in Clinical Pathology students are in great demand and will continue to be in high demand in the healthcare profession. They can work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, laboratories, emergency rooms, research labs, medical schools, and universities.

Expected salary

The amount that you can earn after completing a diploma in clinical pathology will depend on the role that you take. However, you can earn a good amount of money because pathology is gaining importance as a critical service in the medical field and there is a good demand for pathologists.

As a qualified pathologist, you can even set up your own pathology lab for private practice.

Disclaimer: The salary figures mentioned anywhere in this article are just for reference purposes. Please treat them as such. Actual salaries may vary depending on respective candidates, employer, job location and numerous other factors.

List of top Diploma in Clinical Pathology colleges in India

In India, there are many educational institutes that provide Diploma in Clinical Pathology programmes. Entrance is based on prior academic achievements and admission test scores. The following are the top universities and institutes in India that provide a Diploma in Clinical Pathology:

Top private Diploma in Clinical Pathology colleges in India

A Diploma in Clinical Pathology is offered by a number of private institutes in India. A degree from a private institution is much more expensive than one from a public university. The following are some of the best private universities for a Diploma in Clinical Pathology:

Top government Diploma in Clinical Pathology colleges in India

It is less expensive to attend a government-run college than it is to attend a private college. These colleges are known throughout India for their high academic standards. Some of the greatest government universities that offer a Diploma in Clinical Pathology are listed below: