Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath), London

Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (Histopathology and Haematology)

FRCPath by examination is a two-part qualification. In histopathology, Part 1 is a three-hour MCQ/EMQ paper and Part 2 is a two-day practical of six components; in haematology, Part 1 is an essay paper plus MCQ/EMQ paper and Part 2 is three written papers plus an oral over three days. Irish histopathology and haematology HST trainees sit the same RCPath exams as UK trainees; from autumn 2026 Part 1 papers are delivered at British Council test centres including Dublin, while Part 2 exams are held in the UK.

4
Parts
14
Dates listed

Awarded by: Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath), London

Cost: £2,325 for one attempt at Part 1 and Part 2 in either histopathology or haematology (£749 + £1,576), 2026 fees; travel to UK Part 2 centres extra.

Pass rates: Spring 2026 (RCPath performance reports, June 2026): Histopathology Part 1 75.6%, Histopathology Part 2 50.6%, Haematology Part 1 67.8%, Haematology Part 2 66.67%. Overall FRCPath Part 1 71.6% and Part 2 59.4%.

Who can sit it

Part 1 (either specialty): medical graduates in specialty training, normally after at least one year of the specialty (histopathology: in ST2/Stage B or Irish equivalent). Part 2: Part 1 passed in the same specialty plus the training time in the specialty regulations (histopathology about 3 years, at least 12 months after Part 1). Haematology candidates are expected to hold MRCP(UK) or equivalent (MRCPI) first. Each part may be attempted 4 times; the first Part 2 attempt should be within 7 years of Part 1. Applications, fees and results are handled through the RCPath online portal; sponsorship/educational supervisor sign-off is expected.

When NCHDs sit it

Irish histopathology training is a run-through HST entered after internship (or after other SHO posts). Trainees usually sit histopathology Part 1 in Year 2 and Part 2 around Year 4, leaving time for a resit before CSCST. Irish haematology HST is entered after BST in medicine with MRCPI; trainees typically take haematology Part 1 in Year 2 or 3 of HST and Part 2 in Year 4 or 5, and FRCPath (Haematology) is required for CSCST. Both parts run twice a year (application deadlines in early July for autumn and early January for spring), and Part 2 must be sat in the UK.

The parts

Histopathology Part 1£749 (2026 fee) · 2 (spring and autumn)/yr
125 single best answer and extended matching questions (some with images) covering histopathology, cytopathology, autopsy practice and underpinning basic science including molecular biology. Delivered on Risr software at British Council test centres from autumn 2026 (in-person invigilation, no online proctors). · 3 hours
Eligibility: normally at least 1 year of histopathology training and in ST2 or equivalent (UK trainees at Stage B with satisfactory Stage A ARCP). Maximum 4 attempts (further attempts only via Mitigating Circumstances Panel and Council). Dublin is a confirmed test centre for autumn 2026. Spring 2026 histopathology Part 1 pass rate 75.6%. Withdrawal with full refund up to 2 weeks after the closing date.
Histopathology Part 2£1,576 (2026 fee) · 2 (spring and autumn)/yr
Six components over 2 days: surgical histology (20 H&E cases in 10 pairs, 3 h 20 min written), non-gynaecological cytopathology (8 cases, written), 4 long cases (20 min stations, written), macroscopic pathology (4 photographed cases with 20-minute examiner discussion), 2 OSPEs (one face-to-face, one written) and frozen sections (6 cases then 20-minute discussion). Closed marking against pre-set criteria; failing 15-25% of cases in any section fails the exam. · 2 days
Eligibility: Part 1 passed, normally at least 12 months earlier, and about 3 years of histopathology training (UK Stage C); first Part 2 attempt expected within 7 years of Part 1. Maximum 4 attempts. Held in UK centres (candidates allocated outside their own deanery) plus selected overseas centres; Irish trainees travel to the UK. Autumn 2026: 13-14 October; Spring 2027: 13-14 April. Spring 2026 histopathology Part 2 pass rate 50.6%. Under the 2021 curriculum Part 2 no longer assesses autopsy or gynaecological cytology (separate CHAT and CHCCT certificates).
Haematology Part 1£749 (2026 fee) · 2 (spring and autumn)/yr
Two papers at one sitting, both must be passed: Paper 1 four compulsory essays (transfusion, general haematology including lab management, haemato-oncology, haemostasis and thrombosis) and Paper 2 of 125 MCQ/EMQ (50 best-of-five, 75 extended matching) with Angoff pass mark. Test-centre delivery from autumn 2026. · 2 x 3 hours
RCPath advises medical trainees to attempt Part 1 after at least one year of specialty training; MRCP(UK) or equivalent (MRCPI for Irish trainees) is expected before FRCPath and is mandatory for CCT in haematology. Maximum 4 attempts. Spring 2026 haematology Part 1 pass rate 67.8%.
Haematology Part 2£1,576 (2026 fee) · 2 (spring and autumn)/yr
Three written papers plus oral over 3 days at UK centres: morphology short answer questions (up to 12 slide/flow-based questions, 1 h 30 min), morphology long cases (3 cases, 1 h 30 min), transfusion (up to 10 questions, 2 h), coagulation (8 questions, 2 h) and two 30-minute oral examinations covering 8 topics. All papers and the oral must be passed at a single sitting. · 3 days
Eligibility: haematology Part 1 passed and required years of training per specialty regulations; first attempt expected within 7 years of Part 1. Maximum 4 attempts. UK centres only. Autumn 2026: 30 September to 2 October; Spring 2027 dates TBC at time of checking. Spring 2026 haematology Part 2 pass rate 66.67%.

Dates

  • 30 Sept 2026SittingHaematology Part 2 (30 September to 2 October) (Haematology Part 2)
  • 13 Oct 2026SittingHistopathology Part 2 (13-14 October) (Histopathology Part 2)
  • 20 Nov 2026ResultsAutumn 2026 results (All parts)
  • 27 Nov 2026Apply bySpring 2027 applications open (All parts)
  • 4 Jan 2027Apply bySpring 2027 applications close (All parts)
  • 18 Jan 2027Apply bySpring 2027 withdrawal deadline (All parts)
  • 22 Mar 2027SittingSpring 2027 exam period starts (Part 1 papers week commencing 22 March; exact dates TBC) (Histopathology Part 1 / Haematology Part 1)
  • 13 Apr 2027SittingHistopathology Part 2 (13-14 April) (Histopathology Part 2)
  • 21 May 2027ResultsSpring 2027 results (All parts)
5 past dates
  • 22 May 2026ResultsSpring 2026 Part 1 and Part 2 results (emailed) (All parts)
  • 29 May 2026Apply byAutumn 2026 applications open (All parts)
  • 3 Jul 2026Apply byAutumn 2026 applications close (All parts)
  • 17 Jul 2026Apply byAutumn 2026 withdrawal / reasonable adjustments deadline (All parts)
  • 21 Sept 2026SittingAutumn 2026 exam period starts (Part 1 papers in first week; exact Part 1 dates TBC) (Histopathology Part 1 / Haematology Part 1)

Needed for

Histopathology TrainingHST Haematology

Preparation resources

Resources for each exam part, with access details, costs and suggested priorities.

S
  • RCPath examination pages, regulations and sample questions (Histopathology)College resourceFreeHistopathology Part 1, Histopathology Part 2

    Part 1 sample MCQ and EMQs, the six-component Part 2 structure and regulations; also links to RCPath datasets, which the Part 2 macro and reporting stations are marked against.

  • RCPath Haematology exam page and Part 1 past papersCollege resourceFreeHaematology Part 1, Haematology Part 2

    Past essay papers and the exam structure for the two-paper Part 1 and three-day Part 2; essay practice against these is the core of Part 1 prep.

  • British Society for Haematology guidelinesNotesFreeHaematology Part 1, Haematology Part 2

    Trainee consensus is that the BSH guidelines are compulsory reading for both haematology parts and that bold recommendations are examined directly.

  • PathologyOutlines.comNotesFreeHistopathology Part 1, Histopathology Part 2

    Free peer-reviewed surgical pathology textbook used daily by histopathology trainees for entities, immunoprofiles and differentials across both parts.

A
B
C
  • ExpertPath (Elsevier)NotesUS$899 per year individualHistopathology Part 2

    Diagnostic decision support with images and immunoprofiles; valuable but expensive, so mostly used through institutional access.

Tiers are editorial: S = essential and closely mapped to the exam, A = strong, B = useful supplement, C = optional. No affiliate links; prices are indicative and change.

Preparing

Part 1 is a knowledge test mapped to the RCPath curriculum. Sample questions for histopathology and haematology are on rcpath.org; most trainees combine a core text (Robbins/Rosai for histopathology; Hoffbrand and Provan plus BSH guidelines for haematology) with a question bank and departmental teaching. Haematology Part 1 also needs timed essay practice across the four domains, since both papers must be passed at one sitting.

Part 2 is a practical, case-based exam that rewards day-to-day reporting experience. Histopathology candidates should report cases against the clock, practise gross specimen block selection with the RCPath datasets, and rehearse frozen-section and OSPE discussions with consultants; RCPath runs a Part 2 histopathology webinar. Haematology candidates should practise morphology, transfusion and coagulation data interpretation and mock vivas. Apply early (deadlines are the first Friday of January and July) and note the 4-attempt limit per part.

Last verified 2026-08-18. Sources: https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/examinations/examinations-by-specialty/histopathology.html https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/examinations/examinations-by-specialty/haematology.html https://www.rcpath.org/resourceLibrary/histopathology---regulations-and-guidelines.html https://www.rcpath.org/resourceLibrary/rcpath-fees-for-examinations-2026.html https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/examinations/exam-apply-and-pay-online.html https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/examinations/examinations-latest-news-and-calendar.html https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/examinations/examinations-latest-news-and-calendar/autumn-2026-examination-dates.html https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/examinations/examinations-latest-news-and-calendar/spring-2026-examination-dates.html (page now carries Spring 2027 dates) https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/examinations/regulations-and-guidelines/frequently-asked-questions.html https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/examinations/examination-results.html https://www.rcpath.org/resourceLibrary/examination-performance-report-part-1-spring-2026.html https://www.rcpath.org/resourceLibrary/examination-performance-report-part-2-spring-2026.html

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