Careers in laboratory medicine

What is a clinical scientist? 

A clinical scientist as a professional who ‘oversees specialist tests for diagnosing and managing disease. They advise doctors on tests and interpreting data, and carry out research to understand diseases.’  The title of ‘clinical scientist’ is protected by law; professionals must be registered to use the title. The registration body is the Health and Care Professions Council (HPCP).
 

What is a pathologist? 

A pathologist specialises in diagnosing and studying diseases by examining human tissues, cells, and body fluids under a microscope or through laboratory tests. They are medically or scientifically qualified and work in hospitals and laboratories with other doctors and healthcare professionals.

There are many different specialities within pathology, such as:

• Histopathology (cellular pathology): The largest pathology specialty, focusing on diagnosing disease by examining tissues and cells. It plays a major role in cancer staging and grading, and includes sub-specialties like cytopathology (studying individual cells), diagnostic neuropathology (nervous system diseases), forensic histopathology, and paediatric and perinatal pathology (diseases affecting the unborn, infants, and children). Histopathologists are also the doctors who perform autopsies.
• Haematology: The study of blood and bone marrow disorders, such as leukaemia, anaemia, and haemophilia. Haematologists often have patient-facing clinical roles and manage hospital blood stocks and transfusions.
• Chemical pathology (clinical biochemistry): The study of chemical and biochemical components in blood and bodily fluids (such as hormones, lipids, and electrolytes) to help diagnose and manage conditions like diabetes and bone disease.
• Medical microbiology and virology: The study of infectious agents—including bacteria, fungi, parasites (microbiology), and viruses like influenza or HIV (virology). Pathologists in this field advise on treatments and lead hospital and public health infection control.
• Immunology: The study and diagnosis of immune system disorders, allergies, and immunodeficiencies, supporting patients through clinical consultations and trials.

How LabMed supports your career 

Membership of LabMed is beneficial for clinical scientists at all stages of their career. We also welcome resident and consultant clinicians specialising in laboratory medicine disciplines.  

We provide support and facilitate professional development opportunities for trainees from pre-HCPC registration through to and beyond completion of the Royal College of Pathologist exams. Alongside offering educational and networking events focused on developing specialist and professional knowledge, LabMed partners with national bodies to represent the best interests of our trainee and training officer membership.  

Examples of how LabMed provides support for trainees and training officers include:  

• We run and support a wide range of CPD-accredited meetings and courses, from large national conferences run by the National Meetings Committee to small one day single topic meetings run by the local regional committees [hyperlink to events page]
• We offer a mentoring programme designed for laboratory medicine specialists to advance professional development and build confidence
• We provide support for regional tutors and education representatives, including biochemistry regional tutors and national education representatives for immunology and microbiology.
• We support a trainees’ representative and committee, including national pre-reg representatives for immunology and microbiology and regional reps for biochemistry.
• Our Education & Training Committee work in partnership with
  • National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS)
  • Association of Clinical Scientists (ACS)
  • Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS)
  • The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath)

We provide support for healthcare professionals who wish to undertake equivalence to become an HCPC-registered clinical scientist.  
 

Registration and equivalence

The current routes to HCPC registration as a clinical scientist are: 

• The formal Scientist Training Programme (STP) – which has an exit assessment by the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) for onwards CS registration
• The Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) Certificate of Equivalence to STP - Equivalence Guidance - The Academy For Healthcare Science – for those who have not completed STP but can demonstrate the same outcomes as those completing STP
• The Association of Clinical Scientists (ACS) Certificate of Attainment RouteTWO - Application Documents – Association of Clinical Scientists – for those who have not completed STP, nor can necessarily demonstrate the same outcomes as those completing STP, but can demonstrate the ACS competencies in the context of their modality broadly speaking (it is probably fair to say this route provides a little more flexibility for individuals than would otherwise be the case)
• The Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) Certificate of Attainment for Clinical Scientist registration experiential route – IBMS Certificate of Attainment - Clinical Scientist
• The Health & Care Professions Council-UK (HCPC) International route – for those considered fully trained, qualified and practicing to the equivalent of a clinical scientist but outside the UK – International applications | The HCPC