MD Pathology (Doctorate of Medicine in Pathology)- Course details, Colleges, Eligibility Fees, Scope, Jobs and Salary

Updated October 18, 2022

MD Pathology full form Doctorate of Medicine in Pathology is a three-year postgraduate program in medicine and diagnostics after completing an MBBS degree. The course focuses on three major components: causes of illness, mechanism of origin, and results of changes. During the program, candidates learn to identify diseases by examining organs, tissues, bodily fluids, and whole bodies.

Candidates aspiring to pursue this course must have completed an MBBS Degree from an institution recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI) with minimum aggregate marks per the institute’s requirement. Admission to the program is entranced based, so candidates are selected for the courses based on their performance in the relevant entrance examination, followed by a PI in some cases.

Top colleges that offer MD Pathology courses are Jamia Hamdard University, Christian Medical College, AIIMS, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ramaiah Medical College, JSS Medical College and Hospital etc. The average fee expense of MD Pathology program in India ranges from INR 50K to 10 Lakh Per Annum, depending on the institution candidates have selected for admission.

MD Pathology Course Details

Here we have tabulated the major highlights of Doctorate of Medicine in Pathology to provide the aspirants an overview of this postgraduate course.

Course NameMD Pathology
Course LevelPost Graduate
Full form          Doctorate of Medicine in Pathology
Course DurationThree years
Examination Pattern        Semester-wise
Minimum EligibilityMBBS degree from institution recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI) with minimum aggregate marks per the institute’s requirement.
Admission ProcessEntranced-based
Average Course FeeINR 50K to 10 LPA
Average Initial SalaryINR 5 to 12 LPA
Top Employment Sectors    Pathology Labs, Academic Institutions, Government and Private Hospitals, Drug Manufacturing Industries, Pharmaceutical Companies etc.
Top Recruiting FirmApollo Hospitals, Path Kind Lab, Thyrocare, Accu Health Diagnostic, Pioneer Healthcare, Lab Point, Dr. Lal Path Lab, Serum Group, National Institute of Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Top Job PositionsChemical Pathologists, Medical Pathologists, Veterinary Clinical Pathologist, Forensic Pathologist, Professor, Lab Technician, etc.

MD Pathology Admission Process

Admissions granted to the MD Pathology program are strictly based on Entrance Tests. Institutions select candidates for the program based on their scores in the relevant entrance examination, followed by a round of Personal Interviews in some cases. While some colleges/university conduct their own entrance exams, such as AIIMS PG, JIPMER, etc., some consider the score of the common entrance exam, such as NEET PG, whose score is acceptable in every institute.

MD Pathology Eligibility Criteria

Candidates seeking admission to the MD Pathology course need to fulfill the required eligibility criteria. Mention below are the eligibility criteria that must meet by the students to get admitted in the course of MD Pathology.

  • Candidates must have completed MBBS degree from an institution recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI).
  • They should have also secured the minimum aggregate 50% marks in their MBBS degree.
  • Relaxation of 5% in minimum required percentage is also given to the Candidates of reserved categories.
  • Candidates should have also completed a mandatory internship of one year.
  • They must have cleared the standard entrance examination with good scores to get admission in a reputed institution.

MD Pathology Entrance Exams

Since admission to the MD Pathology is mainly entrances based so, one must have to appear and qualify for the relevant entrance exams after completing MBBS and the one-year internship. The entrance test for providing admission to the program can be both common or university entrance test. Below we have provided the list of the M.D Pathology entrance exams that one must qualify to get admission to MD Pathology.

  • RUET
  • UPSEE
  • JIPMER 
  • IPU CET
  • NEET SS
  • PGIMER
  • DNB CET                            
  • AIAPGET
  • NEET PG
  • AIIMS PG

Top M.D. in Pathology Colleges

Numerous colleges/universities in India and abroad offer MD Pathology courses to students interested in learning applications related to science. Here is the list of some very best colleges for M.D. Pathology colleges in India.

  • Christian Medical College, Vellore
  • Stanley Medical College, Tamil Nadu
  • St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore
  • Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi    
  • Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal
  • All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi
  • Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Uttar Pradesh
  • Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (AVV), Coimbatore
  • Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh     
  • Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Uttar Pradesh               
  • Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry

Syllabus for M.D. Pathology Course

MD Pathology is a postgraduate degree spanning six semesters or three years of study. The course syllabus incorporates various topics and subjects, including General Pathology, Systemic Pathology, Cytopathology, Hematology, Immunopathology, Histopathology, etc. The table below presents the semester-wise break-up of the MD Pathology course syllabus, which is almost the same in all the universities and colleges in India offering the program.

Particulars of MD Pathology Syllabus

SemestersSyllabus
Semester IBasic Sciences
Biomedical Ethics
Biostatistics-P & S.M
Orientation to service departments by a clinical and paraclinical
doctor
Semester IIHematology
General pathology
Systemic pathology
Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine
Semester IIIPathology
Cytopathology, Histopathology
Bio-Waste disposal- Microbiology
General Pathology, Clinical Pathology
Semester IVCytopathology
Clinical Pathology
Systemic Pathology
Hematology, Immunopathology
Semester VClinical Pathology
Immunopathology
Clinical Biochemistry
Organization of laboratory including quality control
Semester VIHistopathology
Anatomical pathology
Medical autopsy: Techniques and interpretation

Career Scope of M.D. in Pathology

MD Pathology promises career scope in abundance as Pathology has many different subspecialties that bring postgraduates a wide range of career opportunities. They can choose to specialize in histology, cytopathology, clinical pathology, or immuno-histochemical techniques and work under the direction of some top pathologists.

Post pursuing the program, graduates can find job opportunities in various employment sectors like Pathology Clinics, Medical laboratories, Academic Institutions, Government and Private Hospitals, Drug Manufacturing Industries, Pharmaceutical Companies etc. They can be hired for various reputable job positions with lucrative salary packages. Pathologists are paid between INR 60 and 80,000 per month and are highly sought-after to work in private or corporate healthcare clinics. They may even set up their own private clinics, often referred to as diagnostic laboratories.

M.D. Pathology graduates also have the scope for higher education. Students can pursue higher education with medicine as the core focus or select a different medical stream. Some of the higher studies options available to the students include PhD pathology, PhD Radiology, PhD Medicine PhD Obstetrics and Gynaecology, DM Pediatrics, DM Anatomy, DM Forensic Medicine, etc.

MD Pathology Jobs & Career Options

After completing MD Pathology, graduates have a wide range of job opportunities on both senior and junior level in India and abroad. They can find job opportunities in both private and government work forces. MD Pathology graduates are highly sought-after in employment sectors like Pathology Clinics, Medical laboratories, Academic Institutions, Government and Private Hospitals, Drug Manufacturing Industries, Pharmaceutical Companies, etc., for various job roles with handsome salary packages. Here we have listed some top profiles that candidates can aspire to after graduating with MD Pathology degree.

  • Cytopathologist
  • Histopathologist
  • Clinical Pathologist
  • Hematopathologist
  • Immunopathologist
  • Medical Pathologist
  • Pathology Professor
  • Forensic Pathologist
  • Chemical Pathologist     
  • Anatomical Pathologist
  • Veterinary Clinical Pathologist   

Graduates in MD Pathology Salary

The salary of the MD Pathology graduates varies according to their knowledge and skills. Other factors that change the average salary figure of graduates are their job profiles and work organization. The Fresher graduates of M.D. pathology might be offered an average salary package between 5 to 12 lakh per annum, but once they gain experience, it increases to a certain amount. Here is the list of Some popular job profiles in MD Pathology with an average salary trend.

  • Clinical Pathologist:- INR 9 Lakh Per Annum
  • Forensic Pathologist:- INR 8 Lakh Per Annum
  • Pathology Professor:- INR 7.5 Lakh Per Annum
  • Medical Pathologists:- INR 10 Lakh Per Annum
  • Veterinary Clinical Pathologist:- INR 8 Lakh Per Annum

FAQs on Doctorate of Medicine in Pathology

Q. Is Pathologist a Doctor?

Ans:- Yes, Clinical pathologists are medical professionals who focuses on diagnosis and treat patients based on the results of research and laboratory tests.

Q. What can I do after MD pathology?

Ans:- Popular career option after obtaining MD/DNB degree in Pathology are as follows:
·        Start your own diagnostic lab
·        Get associated in a medical college
·        Get employed in pathology lab either part-time or full time
·        Furthermore, you can pursue a fellowship or doctorate in molecular genetics, cytology, oncopathology, etc.

Q. How long is MD in pathology?

Ans:- MD Pathology full form Doctorate of Medicine in Pathology is a three-year postgraduate program in medicine and diagnostics after completing an MBBS degree.

Q. What is a pathologist salary?

Ans:- The salary of the MD Pathology graduates varies according to their knowledge and skills. Other factors that change the average salary figure of graduates are their job profiles and work organization. The Fresher graduates of MD pathology might be offered an average salary package between 5 to 12 lakh per annum, but once they gain experience, it increases to a certain amount.

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