LABORATORY SCIENCES
Pathologists’ Assistant
To be a successful Pathologists’ Assistant you should...
have integrity; be able to apply a large body of medical and scientific knowledge to continually varying situations; be able to recognize their unique role in medical care; be constantly aware of the limitations imposed on the profession.
What will my job be like?
Pathologists’ assistants make and record measurements, gross features, and type and extent of disease. They then dissect the specimen and select portions to be examined microscopically by the pathologist. In autopsy pathology, pathologists’ assistants perform post-mortem examinations under the supervision of a pathologist. They perform the external examination, evisceration, and dissection of the body, followed by recording of measurements, weights, and other findings, culminating in the dictation of a gross description. Pathologists’ assistants work with pathologists to create lists of pathologic findings and correlate the findings with the clinical history. Finally, they select material for microscopic examination by the pathologist.
Where could I work?
A majority of pathologists’ assistants work in community hospitals, with others working in government hospitals, reference laboratories, the medical examiners system, and academic centers, such as medical schools or university hospitals.
Average Annual Salary
$130,020 per year
What is the future of this career?
Employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 28 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 12,900 openings for physician assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Type of Education/Training
A four-year degree in a biological science. Laboratory experience is a plus.
Where could I get the education/training?
- Quinnipiac University
Licensing/Certification
Licensure is not required in the state of Connecticut.
More Information
American Association of Pathologists' Assistants (AAPA)
529 14th Street, NW, Suite 1280
Washington, DC 20045
202-591-2478
American Society for Clinical Pathology
33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603
