What is trainee membership?
Trainee membership at the Royal College of Pathologists is designed for those in various stages of pathology-related training, including medical, clinical scientist, and veterinary trainees. This membership provides tailored resources, fostering professional growth, supporting exam preparation, and offering guidance throughout the training journey. It’s a platform to gain insights into the diverse field of pathology, connecting trainees with the College’s wider professional network.
Who is eligible?
The Royal College of Pathologists undertakes a mandatory registration process for all StRs appointed to either a run-through training programme with a National Training Number (NTN) or a Locum Appointment for Training (LAT) in the following specialties:
- Chemical pathology
- Diagnostic neuropathology
- Forensic histopathology
- Histopathology
- Medical microbiology
- Medical virology
- Paediatric and perinatal pathology.
Dual trainees
As part of an agreement between the JRCPTB and the Royal College of Pathologists, all dual trainees in medical microbiology and infectious diseases and medical virology and infectious diseases need to enrol with both Colleges. This is in order that dual trainees can also take advantage of the benefits this College offers to its own registered trainees.
Benefits of trainee membership
As a trainee of the College, you can access a wealth of resources designed to support you throughout your training.
- Learning Environment for Pathology Trainees (LEPT) system: This is the College’s bespoke eLearning portfolio to record workplace-based assessment (WPBA) and multi-source feedback (MSF). LEPT also allows you to record additional information to support the ARCP process.
- Guidance and advice throughout your training, including:
- Setting a provisional CCT date
- Out of Programme Activities, including Training (OOPT), Experience (OOPE) and Research (OOPR)
- College examinations, results and appeals
- Less than full-time training and curriculum transition (if required)
- Specialist Registration: Upon passing your exams, the College with make a recommendation to the General Medical Council (GMC) to award the CCT/CESR(CP) and grant Specialist Registration.
- Access to College guidance: This includes clinical guidelines, best practice recommendations, cross-specialty and specialty-specific publications. Members can also access documentation such as draft consultations, Council and other College committee minutes.
- College publications: Trainee members can access current and past editions of the College’s quarterly journal the Bulletin, the monthly President’s Newsletter and all other College mailings.
- Access to the Pathology Portal: A new, award-winning educational resource for trainees, practising pathologists, scientists and those in pathology-linked roles. The Pathology Portal delivers a range of online and interactive resources, including sub-specialist training material that is not widely available.
- Events and webinars: Alongside the New Trainee Welcome Days, trainees can attend a range of College-led events and webinars at reduced rates., as well as access to a calendar of relevant external events across all 17 pathology specialties.
- Awards and bursaries: Trainees have the opportunity to apply for various College grants and prizes.
- Discounts: These include a number of pathology publications and journals.
- TOTUM PRO: Trainees are eligible to buy a TOTUM PRO card, which offers discounts across a range of over 200 retailers.
- Access to the Members' Handbook: This includes details of fellows and diplomates registered with the College. As a registered trainee, your details will not be listed.
How to register as a trainee
To register as a trainee you must complete our registration process.
You will need to provide information on your current training programme, any previous training positions, your existing qualifications and the details of your educational supervisor or training programme director.
You will also be requested to upload a signed copy of your supervisor form. You can save the online form at any time by click 'Save for later' – your saved form will be accessible from this page.
More information can be found on our trainee pages.
