FRCPath Examination Guide for Histopathologists

The FRCPath (Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists) is a prestigious qualification for doctors specialising in histopathology. Whether you're a UK trainee or an international medical graduate (IMG), completing the FRCPath is a key step in becoming a Consultant Histopathologist in the UK or achieving GMC Specialist Registration via the CESR route.

In this guide, we’ll take you through a step-by-step overview of the FRCPath exam, its structure, costs, preparation materials, and timelines.

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What is the FRCPath?

The FRCPath is awarded by the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) and is designed to test both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in histopathology. It consists of two parts:

• FRCPath Part 1 – tests theoretical understanding and disease mechanisms

• FRCPath Part 2 – evaluates diagnostic skill and reporting ability through practical assessments.

Upon successful completion of both parts, you’re eligible to use the post-nominals FRCPath and can proceed toward consultant roles or specialist registration.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Completing the FRCPath

Confirm Eligibility

To sit Part 1, you should have:

• A recognised medical degree

• Some experience (usually 1–2 years) in pathology or histopathology

To sit Part 2, you must:

• Have passed Part 1

• Have completed at least 3 years of structured histopathology training or equivalent experience.

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Exam Structure: What’s Included?

Part 1: FRCPath Histopathology

Format:

• Two papers (3 hours each), held on the same day

• Paper 1: MCQs and EMQs (extended matching questions)

• Paper 2: Short-answer questions

Topics Covered:

• Cell injury, inflammation, and neoplasia

• Immunopathology, microbiology, haematopathology

• Systemic pathology and general histology

• Laboratory techniques and governance

• Molecular pathology, genetics, and digital pathology

Exam Centres:

• UK (London and other locations)

• International centres (e.g. India, Egypt, UAE – subject to availability)

Part 2: FRCPath Histopathology

Format:

• Held over 3–4 days in-person in the UK (usually at the RCPath HQ in London)

Consists of:

• Microscopy Stations: Diagnosing 20 histology/cytology slides

• Macro Station: Gross pathology and specimen descriptions

• Frozen Sections

• Cytology Slide Review

• Written Tasks: Reporting and communicating pathology findings

• Oral Examination: Structured viva with examiners

This part tests your real-world diagnostic ability, time management, report writing, and communication with clinicians—exactly what’s expected of a consultant.

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How Long Does it Take to Complete the FRCPath?

• Typical Duration: 3–5 years (aligned with UK specialty training pathway ST1–ST5)

• For IMGs: Variable depending on prior histopathology experience and preparation time. Often 2–4 years if exams are taken consecutively and passed first time.

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Recommended Revision Materials

For Part 1:

• “Basic Pathology” by Kumar, Abbas & Aster (Robbins)

• “Underwood’s Pathology” – concise and exam-focused

• MCQ/EMQ books: e.g., FRCPath Part 1: Examination Preparation Guide

• Online question banks:

• FRCPath1.com

• PathologyOutlines.com for topic review

• British Division of the IAP for online webinars and courses

For Part 2:

• Histopathology Reporting Series by David Lowe – useful for report formatting

• Atlas of Histopathology and slide banks from:

• UK NEQAS Digital Slide Archive

• Leeds Virtual Pathology

  
  

• Practice with slides: Clinical labs or digital platforms like PathPresenter or Aperio

• Mock exams and online coaching courses

• Join RCPath webinars, Facebook study groups, and Telegram discussion forums

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Preparation Tips

For Part 1:

• Start revising 3–6 months in advance

• Mix textbook reading with practice questions daily

• Focus on mechanisms of disease, terminology, and clinical-pathological correlation

For Part 2:

• Review 1000+ slides if possible (cytology, biopsies, macros)

• Practise timed reporting and case write-ups

• Simulate the exam environment: timed viva prep with colleagues

• Review frozen section protocols, grossing technique, and reporting structure

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For the approximate cost of completing the examination, please click here