mpath

Pathologists' Assistant

MPATH Program Information

This is a course-based professional master’s degree that can lead to direct employment within a pathology laboratory as a Pathologists’ Assistant. Our program is NAACLS accredited, which allows our graduates to qualify for the ASCP and CCCPA examinations required to apply for jobs across North America. Through hands on experience in high paced medical laboratories students learn to perform tasks, such as the dissection of surgical specimens and autopsies, under the direct supervision of a Pathologist. Attention to detail, problem solving and collaborative skills are essential to successful completion of the course-based program.

This program is affiliated directly with the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

Course-based Program Details

Please see Academic Calendar for information on program and course requirements.

MPATH Program Details

Student Handbook

Please refer to the program handbook as it contains policies, general rules and guidelines for this program.

MPATH Handbook

Program Milestones

Course Requirements

Please see the course requirements page for information on how to register in courses. 

Course Requirements Page

Medical Terminology

Understanding medical terminology is critical for the clinical practicum rotations in the second year of the MDPA program. Students must complete a medical terminology course within two years of starting the MDPA program or within the first year of the program. 

Research Integrity Day

Please use the link below to register to attend the Research Integrity Day. This is a requirement to complete your degree.

Research Integrity Day Page

Sex and Gender Modules

Please complete the modules and send a copy to your Graduate Program Administrator.

Sex and Gender Modules

Lino John
Graduate Program Administrator 
mpath@ucalgary.ca


 

Travis Ogilvie, Associate Professor
NAACLS - Medical Director
University of Calgary - Graduate Program Director

Bill Gorday, Clinical Assistant Professor
NAACLS - Program Director
University of Calgary - Assistant Graduate Program Director

Program Specific Information

History

The University of Calgary launched a new Pathologists' Assistant (PA) M.Sc. training program as a specialization within the Medical Sciences Graduate Program starting July 2012.  In 2015 the Master of Pathologists' Assistant program was fully approved through the University of Calgary and Alberta Government to start taking students in September 2016.

Accrediting Body

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), an American agency that accredits training programs of allied health professionals who work in anatomic pathology or clinical pathology laboratories, has approved the program.  NAACLS approval is based upon a formal evaluation process demonstrating that the program appears to meet all requirements for formal accreditation, which the program has obtained. Our program is currently accredited by NAACLS.

NAACLS  5600 N. River Rd, Suite 720 Rosemont IL  60018-5119;
ph: 773.714.8880; fx: 773.714.8886;
info@naacls.org

Career Prospects

After graduation, students are eligible to sit the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) PA board-certification examination and the Canadian Council of Pathologists' Assistant (CCCPA) PA certification examination.  To maximize job options on both sides of the border, we strongly recommend that graduates sit both examinations.

Program Success Statistics

University of Calgary Pathologists’ Assistant Program Data

Graduation Year202120222023202420252026
Graduation Rate100%100%100%100%100%          100%
Attrition Rate                                                                         0%                             0%                   0%                     0%                 0%                        0%
CCCPA-CCCAP Exam Pass Rate100%100%83%100%100%Pending**
ASCP-BOC Exam Pass Rate                               N/A*100%100%100%100%Pending**
Employment Placement Rate                 100%100%100%88%***  100%          100%
 

 

CCCPA-CCCAP- Canadian Certification Council of Pathologists. Data is based on first time test takers writing the test within one year of graduation.

ASCP-BOC- American Society for Clinical Pathology-Board of Certification. Data is based on first time test takers writing the test within one year of graduation.

***One graduate did not find employment immediately after graduation but is waiting for a position in a very specific geographical area.

Pending** - Data is based on first time test takers writing the test within one year of graduation. Students complete the program at the end of June and this field will be updated periodically until one year after graduation. At this time there is no data to report.

* Graduates in this cohort chose not to write either the CCCPA-CCCAP or ASCP-BOC exam within one year of graduation. In Canada, PA certification is not yet required by many institutions to work as a Pathologists’ Assistant so graduates can work without writing the exams.