How Much Does it Cost to Become a Pathologist?
Pathologists are highly trained doctors that perform autopsies, analyze tissue samples, run tests on cells and fluids, and monitor the safety of vaccines. Pathologists provide diagnostic services, while at the same time they look for ways to improve patient care and establish better methods for handling the disease. Aspiring pathologists usually enroll in a four-year medical program.
How Much Does it Cost to Become a Pathologist?
When you’re considering a career in pathology, one of the first things you want to know is how much it costs.
The good news is that the cost of becoming a pathologist isn’t astronomical—in fact, it’s pretty reasonable. You can start out by going to community college and taking your general education courses there. Then, once you’ve completed those classes, transfer to a four-year school and take your premed requirements as well as your clinical rotations.
The answer to this question depends on many things. The most important factor is where you live, what type of medical school you attend, and how long you remain in school. If you are going to be attending medical school at a public university, then the cost of becoming a pathologist could be as little as $20000. But if you are going to be attending medical school at an ivy league institution such as Harvard or Yale, the cost could be as high as $400000+. Other costs associated with becoming a pathologist include textbooks (about $500), licensing fees ($500), and lab work/equipment (about $2000).
Although there are many factors that contribute to the final cost of becoming a pathologist, there are also many ways that you can reduce those costs. For example: by taking advantage of scholarships and grants offered by organizations like The Association for Women in Science (AWIS).
The cost also varies depending on your level of education, the program you choose, and how long it takes you to complete your degree.
Becoming a pathologist will likely cost around $100,000 for those who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree in another field. Students who are already enrolled in medical school can expect to pay about $200,000 for their pathology degree.
Students who are interested in pursuing a doctorate in pathology will pay even more than those who have only received an undergraduate degree. The average cost of earning a Ph.D. is approximately $280,000.
What do Pathologists do?
Ever questioned who analyzes lab results, including tissue samples, to assess a patient’s health? Medical professionals known as pathologists are experts in the study of tissue, body fluids, organs, and blood in order to comprehend and diagnose disease and illness. In collaboration with a care team, they collect samples, perform diagnostic tests, and then develop treatment recommendations based on their findings.
Pathologists are skilled problem-solvers who collaborate with primary care physicians to diagnose various patients. Despite not frequently working directly with patients, they are important members of their care team.
To determine the reason or causes of death, certain pathologists may also do autopsies, often known as post-mortem examinations. Others might conduct drug research or work as medical scientists to study diseases. For instance, pathologists might collaborate with a private pharmaceutical business to carry out research on the drug’s safety. Or, they collaborate with both governmental and private research institutions to create vaccinations to stop the spread of specific viruses, such as the flu or COVID-19.
How To Become a Pathologist
Undergraduate Degree
You should speak with your guidance counselor about your career goals if you’re still in high school and believe you’d like to be a pathologist. Check to see if you can add more science and math classes to your course schedule. Health-related classes might be offered in your high school as well.
Additionally, you can search for pertinent volunteer and internship opportunities in your neighborhood. You could offer to volunteer at a hospital to welcome patients or at a nursing home to teach senior residents how to paint. These kinds of jobs can strengthen your college applications while introducing you to the healthcare industry.
A bachelor’s degree is a requirement for all aspirant pathologists in order to be eligible to apply to medical school. Although they are not the only choice, pre-med programs are well-liked among students planning to attend medical school.
Pass the MCAT Exam
All aspiring students for medical schools are required to pass the MCAT. It’s normal to take the MCAT the year before you intend to enroll in medical school. There are around twenty exam dates per year, from January through September, however, this can vary from year to year.
The MCAT is a seven-and-a-half-hour exam that assesses your verbal reasoning, writing, and physical and biological science knowledge. The psychological, biological, and sociocultural influences on social interactions and human behavior are also covered in this section.
It’s best to prepare for the MCAT well in advance because it’s a difficult and demanding exam and getting a high score is required to get accepted into medical school. Even in your sophomore or even first year of college, you might want to start preparing for the MCAT. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) provides resources and guides for MCAT preparation.
Earn Your Medical Degree
You will pursue a further four years of education after passing the MCAT and being accepted to medical school. Pre-clinical training lasts for two years at the majority of medical schools, followed by clinical training for another two years. Pre-clinical training lasts one year and clinical training lasts three years in some institutions.
You will receive intense classroom and lab education in medical sciences during the pre-clinical stage. You’ll discover:
- Human anatomy and physiology
- The progression of diseases
- The application of treatments
- The basics of patient care and interactions (such as taking medical histories)
The clinical phase of your medical degree program involves completing a series of clinical rotations, each with a specialization focus. You will:
- Work at hospitals and clinics affiliated with your school
- Assist the medical residents
- Interact with patients
- Perform medical procedures
Clinical rotation examples include those in internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and psychiatry.
It’s not required to take solely clinical rotations related to your specific career goals at this point in your education. Clinical rotations instead aim to provide aspiring medical professionals with a broad basis of knowledge across various subfields. Before beginning a residency, you must first earn a medical license after graduating from medical school.
Obtain Your Medical License
After earning your medical degree, you must receive your medical license in order to work as a resident at a hospital or clinic. Find out what is required in the state where you intend to work. All states demand proof of medical education and the successful completion of a medical licensure exam, despite the fact that individual state criteria can differ.
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), a national test accepted by all states, is what you’ll need to pass. It comprises of three distinct tests that are taken in order as you graduate from medical school.
Complete Your Residency
The last step necessary to become a pathologist is to successfully finish a residency after becoming a doctor and receiving your medical license. The length of a residency can range from three to seven years. They normally last three to four years in the discipline of pathology.
You’ll need to decide between anatomic or clinical pathology residencies at this point in your career. A combined AP/CP residency is an alternative if you are sincerely passionate about both of these specializations. In comparison to either an AP or a CP residency, a combined residency could take an additional year or two.
Despite being licensed physicians, residents are not yet fully qualified to practice medicine. A residency’s goal is to provide hands-on training and practice for experiential learning. Working on as many instances as you can is the best method to expand your knowledge and abilities.
It’s crucial to keep in mind, too, that no one can conceivably acquire everything there is to know about pathology in a matter of years. You will continue to learn new things throughout your career, regardless of how lengthy it is. Be professional, have an open mind, and view every error as a teaching opportunity.
State Licensing
Every state requires state licensing for doctors. Candidates must have finished medical school and a residency program in order to be qualified to take a state licensing exam.
Continual license renewal and continuing education are common requirements while licensing rules and regulations differ from state to state.
Board Certification
The American Board of Pathology, a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties, requires pathologists to hold certification (ABMS). Candidates must have graduated from an approved medical school, received a medical license, finished a pathology residency, and passed both the written and practical certification exams in order to be qualified for the Board’s basic certification.
Candidates can work toward certification in either clinical pathology, anatomic pathology, or both. Eleven subspecialties are offered for additional certification.
Licensed pathologists must fulfill criteria in order to maintain their professional certifications. The American Board of Medical Specialties runs a Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program in response to this.
To make sure that doctors stay up-to-date on their medical education and knowledge of advancements in their field, the program includes continuing medical education, testing, and yearly performance assessments.
Admissions Requirements for Pathology Programs
Medical school and residency admissions standards are extremely strict and competitive. In order to prepare for applying to medical degree programs, students should be ready to put in a significant amount of time studying. Many students start laying the groundwork for a career in medicine as early as high school by doing exceptionally well in their biology and chemistry classes. In order to fully prepare for a career as a pathologist, many prospective students choose to major in pre-medicine, biology, human physiology, or chemistry throughout their undergraduate studies.
Students who want to pursue a career in medicine must pass the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) with a competitive score and finish their undergraduate studies with a strong GPA. The average GPA for new medical students is 3.71 overall, 3.64 in science courses, and 3.79 in non-science courses. For prospective medical students, a score of 510 to 511 on the MCAT is considered to be the average. The MCAT can yield a maximum score of 528. Other considerations, such as employment, and volunteer experience are also taken into account by admissions officers.
Conclusion
Cost is a big factor in deciding what field of medicine you’re interested in, because not everyone can afford to spend as much on medical school as others. It’s important to know that becoming a pathologist is an expensive commitment that will likely cost you well into six figures by the time you first set foot in a laboratory. But if it’s your dream career and you have the means, don’t let cost stop you from following your passion. With hard work and focus, anyone can make it happen.