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Pathologist

Healthcare

Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.

ScienceAllied Health

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
  2. 2Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
  3. 3Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.
  4. 4Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.
  5. 5Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.
  6. 6Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.
  7. 7Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.
  8. 8Analyze and interpret results from tests, such as microbial or parasite tests, urine analyses, hormonal assays, fine needle aspirations (FNAs), and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).
  9. 9Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.
  10. 10Manage medical laboratories.
  11. 11Diagnose infections, such as Hepatitis B and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), by conducting tests to detect the antibodies that patients' immune systems make to fight such infections.
  12. 12Obtain specimens by performing procedures, such as biopsies or fine needle aspirations (FNAs) of superficial nodules.
  13. 13Conduct genetic analyses of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or chromosomes to diagnose small biopsies and cell samples.
  14. 14Develop or adopt new tests or instruments to improve diagnosis of diseases.
  15. 15Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions, such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.
  16. 16Plan and supervise the work of the pathology staff, residents, or visiting pathologists.
  17. 17Conduct research and present scientific findings.
  18. 18Perform autopsies to determine causes of deaths.
  19. 19Testify in depositions or trials as an expert witness.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Physician
  • Cytologist
  • Pathologist
  • DO Physician
  • Cytopathologist
  • Histopathologist
  • Neuropathologist
  • Oral Pathologist
  • Hematopathologist
  • Immunopathologist

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. Typical entry

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationPost-doctoral training

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

BiologyDraws directly on Medicine and Dentistry — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
ChemistryDraws directly on Medicine and Dentistry — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional ScienceDraws directly on Biology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
BusinessDraws directly on Administration and Management — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Medicine and Dentistry97%

    BiologyChemistry

  • Biology90%

    BiologyAdditional Science

  • English Language85%

    English

  • Education and Training68%
  • Customer and Personal Service68%
  • Chemistry63%

    Chemistry

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicNot at all
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Time spent sittingAlmost all the time
  • Time spent standingA little

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

6%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Matriculation

One or two years, heavily subsidised with allowance. Competitive, quota-based entry.

12–24 months

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Physicians, Pathologists

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org