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PCB streamEntrance: NEET UGMedicine (MBBS & specialisations)

Pathologist

Pathologists are the doctors behind the lab report. They study blood, tissue and biopsies to confirm diseases like cancer and infections.

Class 11–12 subjectsPhysics, Chemistry, Biology

Entrance / admissionNEET UG / NEET PG

DegreeMBBS + MD Pathology

DurationAbout 8.5 years after Class 12MBBS + MD / MS

Your route, step by step

1Class 11–12: take PCBCell biology, microbes and Chemistry lab work suit a career spent with the microscope. Prepare for boards and NEET UG together.
2NEET UG → MBBS · 5.5 years4.5 years of study plus a 1-year internship. Seats through MCC (all-India quota) and Tamil Nadu medical counselling.
3NEET PG → MD Pathology · 3 yearsThree years of lab, microscope and autopsy training.
4Report and lead labsSub-specialise in haematopathology, oncopathology or molecular pathology, or run your own lab.

What a pathologist does

Examine biopsies under the microscope
Report blood tests and bone marrow samples
Confirm cancer type and grade for treating doctors
Run hospital labs and blood banks

Entrance exams & admission

NEET UGFor the MBBS seat (conducted by NTA)
NEET PGMD / MS / DNB seats (conducted by NBEMS); 50% of government seats are all-India quota, 50% Tamil Nadu quota
INI-CETPG seats at AIIMS, JIPMER, PGIMER and NIMHANS

Where you may work

Hospital and private diagnostic labs, blood banks, cancer centres, medical colleges and research.

Well-known colleges in and near Tamil Nadu

Madras Medical College, Chennai
Stanley Medical College, Chennai
Christian Medical College, Vellore
JIPMER, Puducherry

Official links

Exam / admissionNEET UG (National Testing Agency) (opens in a new tab)neet.nta.nic.in
Exam / admissionNEET PG, NEET SS & NEET MDS (NBEMS) (opens in a new tab)natboard.edu.in
Exam / admissionINI-CET — AIIMS, JIPMER and other national institutes (opens in a new tab)aiimsexams.ac.in
Exam / admissionMedical Counselling Committee (MCC) — all-India counselling (opens in a new tab)mcc.nic.in
Exam / admissionTamil Nadu Medical Selection Committee (DME) (opens in a new tab)tnmedicalselection.net
Official bodyNational Medical Commission (opens in a new tab)nmc.org.in

Links checked: Oct 2026. Always confirm dates and rules on the official site.

Outlook

Every diagnosis relies on the lab. A good fit for doctors who prefer the lab to the ward, with regular working hours.

Specialise later

Histopathology
Haematopathology
Cytology
Molecular pathology
Blood bank (transfusion medicine)