MCQs includes SBAs (Single Best Answers) but there are also the extending matching questions for cellular pathology.

Some exams will remain online especially the Part 1 exams and then for the Part 2 exams, depending on the specialty, this will be held in centres around the country and internationally, where appropriate. The format of the various examinations can be found on the College website.

No, the College does not run courses. Some Deaneries may run such courses, but we do not have any information about these, nor do we endorse them. Trainees should ask their peers and senior trainees for recommendations on specific resource.

No, but there are sample papers or some specialties available on the website. The College cannot recommend trainees to any question banks but there are materials available if trainees conduct a search as it is known that there are many MCQ booklets which have been published that provide good examples as exam-type questions.

The timing of the exams will be adjusted accordingly by the Deanery to the percentage of time in which the trainee is working.

Most exams are held twice a year with the spring session in April and the autumn session in October. Further information is available on the College website.

Digital pathology is being introduced into the curriculum and therefore the relevant committee at the College is consider how best to do assess digital pathology. Further information will be avaliable in due course. The College would need to run pilot exams and candidates will be given sufficient notice of any changes.

There are indicative times for the different specialties on the College website however it is unlikely that trainees would sit the Part 1 exam within the first year unless a trainee is coming into the specialty having already completed training and experience in that specialty.

Each specialty exam has its requirement for entry into the exam for the Part 1 as well as the Part 2 and indicative times are provided as a guide to when trainees should sit either exam. However, it is very important that trainees discuss any plans to sit the exams with their educational supervisor. The time limit for trainees to pass the Part 2 exam for all specialities is seven years. If trainees feel that they would require more time than the standard seven years to pass the exam then they should contact the College, and this will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Several pathology organisations provide bursaries for trainees including BDIAP who provide discounts for its members to attend all BDIAP, IAP and joint BDIAP/PathSoc meetings. The RCPath also gives trainees tax exemptions for membership fees and the examinations. Further information is available at: https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/cost-of-training1/tax-deductibility.html

The list of contacts for the TAC are available on the College website.

This would depend on the location a trainee is based as different Deaneries have different arrangements. In London it is expected that most teaching will remain online but there might be occasional training days which might be face-to-face. In Scotland it has been more convenient to hold training events online, but once restrictions begin to lift more events will be held in person, but this would be a gradual step.

Any member of the BDIAP Council is happy for trainees to email them regarding this. Trainees are advised to send in their CVs to any member of the BDIAP Council who will second their application. Further information on the list of contacts is available on the BDIAP website. Trainees can ask consultants in their local departments to support applications as many will be members of the BDIAP, ACP etc.

The research module has not been included in the new curriculum, so it no longer exists. Trainees wishing to undertake independent research are advised to undertake an OOPR. There are also opportunities available include the BRC Molecular Pathology Starter Programme which is ran annually and offers histopathology specialty registrars training in fundamental aspects of molecular pathology.

There are no additional training or modules within the curriculum however Dermatopathology is a module trainees could choose to complete. There are unofficial training modules trainees can choose to undertake if they are interested in a particular sub-specialty and also the occasional post CCT fellowships available. Trainees can also undertake OOPR experience should they wish to do so.

Educational supervisors and training programme directors (TPDs) should be providing trainees with sufficient opportunities to spend time in all the specialties. Around 6 weeks in each of Paediatric Pathology, Diagnostic Neuropathology and Forensic Histopathology is recommended during ICPT.

The College is responsible for recommending trainees to the GMC for entry onto the specialist register so need to ensure that everything is in place as well as recalculating a trainee’s provisional CCT date.

You do not need to re-apply if you stay in histopathology.

The TAC has a forensic pathology representative who can be contacted directly. The list of contacts is available on the College website.

The pathology portal does contain a number of weird, wonderful and rare things but it would be in the context of getting to know the other elements as well. It will be aimed at mimicking a normal training environment where a trainee has seen the odd weird and wonderful thing but in the context of a routine type case-mix. It is progressive so trainees would not be required to know what that weird and wonderful thing was initially. It is anticipated that the portal will launch in September 2021.

Yes, all trainees will have access to the portal and can contribute at any stage of training. There will also be a bulk upload shortly and a single sign-on from the College website.

The pathology portal is for trainees to learn but does not have formative assessments.

The regional Infection training days are organised by the local HEE. Trainees are informed by their local deanery/TPD via email. Trainees are encouraged to get in contact with their local Infection trainee representative and TPDs.

Yes, it will be available to all pathology disciplines.

London, Southampton, Bristol, Birmingham, Oxford, Cambridge, Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Cardiff. There are none in Belfast at the moment. There are other centres with paediatric and perinatal pathologists but have yet to set up a training post in paediatric pathology with the local Deanery.

Trainees should apply for these sub-specialties ideally towards the end of ST2 as this is when the applications for those training programmes open. Trainees will complete 2.5 years of  ICPT and start their new training programme from ST2.5 onwards.

Trainees are advised to speak to current trainees who are undertaking PhDs at the moment for advice. Ideally trainees should pursue their PhDs between ST2 and ST3 year.

Yes, unless a trainee resigns before they have been appointed to a specialty programme they will continue in Histopathology. If a trainee is successfully appointed to a programme in paediatrics, forensics or neuropathology then it is at that point that they should submit resignation from their current programme at a time to dovetail with the start of their new programme. Check how much notice is required for your current post.

One of the current requirements for the Part 2 exam is for trainees to compete a project which can include a PhD. The College has made an application to the GMC to get the PhD removed as a requirement and to assess the research skills of trainees through the WPBAs instead. There are no plans to make the PhD compulsory.

The Molecular Pathology Starter Programme is a six-month post with trainees required to take time out of training as an OOPR to undertake at the ICR where they will be taught theoretical and practical elements of molecular pathology. Trainees will be based in the labs and will complete specialised tests as well as being allocated a small research project which they will do alongside the starter programme to give them hands-on teaching. The applications will re-open in February 2022.

There has been a vast amount of investment in digital pathology in the last year and there will be further investment in next twelve months. The College has been advocating and working with the NHS to ensure that digitisation is utilised.

The new curricula require trainees to adopt a reflective learning stylewhich is exemplified in the new style SLEs. When trainees complete an SLE, it requires a look back and discussion with their supervising consultant to review learning points. When trainees submit a logbook of cases for their ARCP then the trainee should review the cases and make some comments on what case types they have been exposed to, the level of complexity and what it is that they have learnt. By using the logbook in this way, mapping to the indicative syllabus and curriculum, the trainee is able to gain insight into their progress and where their training needs lie for the subsequent year.

No, the LEPT system is for trainees who are specialising in the chemical pathology and cellular pathology specialties. Trainees specialising in microbiology, virology and ID will be given access to the ePortfolio maintained by the JRCPTB.

Yes, you can, and the relevant forms are available on the College website. Trainees can fill in the paper-based copies and then transfer the content to the online forms when the new LEPT system is available.

Forms that are not available on the LEPT system can be loaded as resources and be linked to the relevant ARCP. Some Deaneries and LETBs have their own templates/forms that trainees can complete and upload onto the LEPT system as resources – for example, these may be 121, mid-year review or appraisal forms etc.The LEPT system has a built-in educational supervisor structured report (ESSR). This report is a snapshot of the year’s training and forms part of the ARCP documentation.