Medical

You can get into this job through an apprenticeship or a trainee position.

Apprenticeship

You could do a mortuary technician advanced apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

For more information

• guide to apprenticeships
• equivalent entry requirements

Other routes

You'll need to complete a 2 year traineeship. Training and education in pathology combines learning on the job and in the classroom.

To begin with, you'll observe a pathologist in a mortuary to watch how it's done. Then you'll do some of the work yourself with the help of senior staff and pathologists.

You'll also attend classes for a level 3 diploma awarded by the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH).

To become a trainee you'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs or equivalent at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English, maths and a science - usually biology
• to be sensitive to the issues facing families dealing with the death of a loved one
• an awareness and respect for different religious beliefs about death

More information

Career tips

You might find it easier to apply for trainee positions if you have experience of record keeping or dealing with legal issues.

Professional and industry bodies

Once you have your diploma, you can apply to join the Royal Society of Public Health and the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming an anatomical pathology technician from Health Careers and the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology.

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With experience, you could get a senior position and perform specialised techniques. You could work in specific areas such as forensic pathology.

You could also move into mortuary management.