Specialist training in nervous-system tissue diagnosis, reached through Histopathology. The standard route combines two Histopathology HST years with three in Neuropathology.
How the length works
The standard five-year HST figure includes two Histopathology HST years and three Neuropathology years; add only the two-year Histopathology BST. The alternative completed-Histopathology-HST route plus at least two Neuropathology years is longer.
Duration: Standard route: 5 years of HST in total (2 Histopathology + 3 Neuropathology), after Histopathology BST. Alternative: completed Histopathology HST followed by at least 2 years of Neuropathology.
Applications: July 2027 intake: applications opened 1 October 2026 at noon and close 29 October 2026 at 5pm, Irish time. In-person interview: 11 February 2027.
Entry: Progression through Histopathology training: the standard curriculum route requires 24 months of Histopathology HST and FRCPath Part I before the 36-month Neuropathology component. A separate route follows completed Histopathology HST and FRCPath Parts I and II. Confirm individual eligibility with RCPI.
Exams: Standard route: FRCPath Part I before the Neuropathology component and FRCPath Neuropathology Part II by completion. The curriculum exempts those who have completed Histopathology HST and passed Histopathology Part II from the additional Neuropathology Part II requirement.
Required pass. The standard route uses Histopathology Part I and Neuropathology Part II. Entrants who completed Histopathology HST and its examinations follow a different route described in the guide.
Neuropathologists diagnose disease in nervous-system tissue, including surgical biopsies and postmortem examinations. Training covers brain and spinal cord pathology, nerve and muscle biopsy, cerebrospinal-fluid cytology and molecular diagnosis, with close links to neurology, neurosurgery and neuroradiology.
Entry and stages
This pathway develops from Histopathology training. It is not a direct step from internship or General Internal Medicine BST.
The 2026/2027 curriculum describes two routes. The standard five-year HST route contains 24 months of Histopathology HST with FRCPath Part I, followed by 36 months of Neuropathology and FRCPath Neuropathology Part II. Histopathology BST comes before those five years.
Alternatively, a doctor who completes Histopathology HST and passes FRCPath Histopathology Parts I and II can undertake at least 24 months of specialist Neuropathology training. That route takes longer overall. The curriculum does not require an additional Neuropathology Part II examination for these trainees.
Completion
FRCPath requirements depend on the route. Both routes also require supervised diagnostic experience, workplace assessments, teaching, an ePortfolio and satisfactory reviews. Confirm the agreed training plan and credit with RCPI rather than assuming previous service automatically shortens training.
Applying
July 2027 applications close at 5pm on 29 October 2026; interviews are listed for 11 February 2027. Check eligibility with the Faculty, then use the Neuropathology Structured CV and portal linked from RCPI's recruitment guidance.
Clinical work
Neuropathologists diagnose disease affecting the nervous system through tissue and related investigations. They work closely with neurology and neurosurgery, and contribute to understanding brain tumours, neurodegenerative disease and causes of death.
How selection is scored
Interview – July 2027max 100
CV and qualifications20
Research, audit and teaching20
Suitability60
RCPI publishes a 100-mark interview table. Entry path 1 requires FRCPath Part I in Histopathology; path 2 requires Parts I and II. Completion of the Certificate of Higher Autopsy Training (CHAT) is desirable for both routes. The current page does not publish a numerical shortlisting table.
Where you train
Approved Neuropathology training posts, with Histopathology experience and the clinical/laboratory attachments required by the curriculum.
Where this leads
Satisfactory completion of the programme and its assessments leads to CSCST and eligibility to apply for specialist registration. Registration and appointment to a consultant post are separate processes.
Entry and selection guidance checked 26 October 2026.
Facts last verified 2026-10-25. Content updated 2026-10-26.
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