Overview
Physician assistants and midwives provide primary health care and treatment in conjunction with physicians and in collaboration with other health professionals. Physician assistants provide a range of health services to patients delivering preventive and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. Midwives provide full-course care to women and their babies during the pre- and post-natal period. This unit group also includes professionals, such as genetic counsellors, orthoptists and pathologists’ assistants, who work in collaboration with primary health occupations. Genetic counsellors assess individual or family risk of genetic conditions, and provide information to individuals, families and healthcare providers to promote informed choice. Orthoptists diagnose and treat binocular disorders. Pathologists’ assistants assist at autopsies and examinations of surgical specimens, or perform autopsies under a pathologist’s supervision. Physician assistants usually work under physicians in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals and clinics. Midwives are employed in hospitals, clinics, birthing centres or in private practice. Genetic counsellors usually work in private practice, hospitals, clinics and research institutes. Orthoptists work under an ophthalmologist, particularly in private practices or clinics. Pathologists’ assistants are usually employed in hospitals and universities.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Pathologists' assistants
Prepare for autopsies by obtaining patients' medical records and arranging for radiographic examinations
Prepare, assist with or perform autopsies and surgical specimen examinations under pathologists' supervision
Assist with preparation of provisional autopsy report
Dissect, examine, weigh, photograph and X-ray organs and specimens, collect tissue samples for chemical analysis and record findings
Discard specimens according to established safety procedures
Clean and maintain instruments, equipment and supplies
Develop and maintain processes for laboratory quality control
May prepare bodies for release to funeral homes following completion of autopsies
May supervise and train junior resident pathologists and morgue attendants.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$100,476
$144,330
$182,862
Usual Hours Worked Weekly: 62.63
Job openings
Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.
Strong job outlook
British Columbia
72expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
Pathologists' assistants
Pathologists' assistants usually require completion of a master's degree in a pathologists' assistant program.
Certification by the Canadian Certification Council of Pathologists' Assistants, the American Society for Clinical Pathology - Board of Certification, or Pathologists' Assistant Certification Examination is usually required by employers.
Membership in the national association, Canadian Association of Pathologists, is voluntary, but may be required by some employers.
Additional information
There is no mobility between these occupations without further training.
Certification requirements
Optional: The following certification are optional to practice as Pathologists' assistants in B.C.
- Certification by the Canadian Certification Council of Pathologists’ Assistants
Certification by the Canadian Certification Council of Pathologists’ Assistants
Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.
To work as a pathologist's assistant in B.C., you may choose to earn certification with the Canadian Council of Pathologists' Assistants. Eligibility is achieved through completion of a recognized post-secondary program and requisite work experience.
Post-secondary programs in B.C.
No programs available in B.C.
There are currently no programs offered at public post-secondary institutions in BC that will qualify you for this career. Please see the Canadian Pathologists' Assistants website for other options.