Diploma in Clinical Pathology: Check Eligibility, Colleges, Fees, Syllabus, Career Scope etc.

Paramedical courses are usually job-oriented academic programs. There has been a sudden growth in the demand for paramedical courses in India because they are very useful and job-oriented. Diploma in Clinical pathology is also a paramedical course which can have a wide range of career prospect. This article will give you relevant and concise information about the DCP course in India. Hence, in this article, we have provided complete details about the Clinical Pathology Course Program, its eligibility, career scope and much more.

What is DCP course?

DCP stands for Diploma in Clinical Pathology, which is a 2-year Diploma course offered by both government and privately funded renowned medical colleges in India. Clinical pathology course is basically about training candidates in the subject of diagnosing the disease by lab testing of the body fluids. The students pursuing DCP course are trained in handling clinical pathology equipment. They are also taught about histopathology, biochemistry, microbiology, and transfusion of medicine samples with a proficient knowledge of general principles and methodology. Candidates are trained to interpret and correlate clinical and laboratory data so that the manifestations of the disease can be explained. The goal of this 2year Diploma program is to impart a thorough knowledge of clinical laboratory testings and pathology to detect diseases and diagnose them efficiently.

DCP Course Eligibility Criteria

DCP course can be pursued only after a successful completion of Graduation. The eligibility for the course in clinical pathology is:

• Graduation (MBBS/BSc. Biology) from any recognized college/university.
• The candidates should have completed the graduation with minimum qualifying marks to be eligible to apply for the course.
• Only those who are BSc. Graduates or MBBS degree holders are eligible to apply for the post.

DCP Course Admission Procedure

The admissions into Pathology Diploma course is done after conducting an entrance exam. A merit list is prepared after the results are declared and the eligible candidates are called for the counseling round to fulfill the admission criteria.

The pathology course fee in India ranges from 10,000 to 8 lakhs for a two-year diploma program. There are many renowned government medical colleges offering DCP course at very low fees but these colleges have a limited number of seats for the intake of the candidates. One should be proficient enough to qualify for admission into these medical institutions by scoring good marks in the entrance tests. The admission is done purely on the merit basis/ entrance exam results.

DCP Course Details

The syllabus of DCP course in India is decided by the Medical Council of India (MCI). The 2-year diploma program is carried out in 4 semesters. Each semester is followed by a theory examination as well as a practical exam in order to evaluate the learning and observatory skills of the candidate. The course is basically to make the candidates proficient in the laboratory clinical testings. Pathology is the study of the disease-causing pathogens and these clinical tests are done in order to identify such pathogens and diagnose the patients. The syllabus of Diploma in Clinical Pathology is prepared by the MCI. Here is the detailed list of syllabus

1. Clinical Biochemistry- teaches about the normal range of the values of the chemical content of body fluids and studying any deviation from the normal range which causes disease.

2. Microbiology– study about the microbes in the body through the process of culture.

3. Hematology- study about the blood and bone marrow changes in various hematologic disorders.

4. Transfusion Medicine– also known as blood banking is about the knowledge of various aspects of transfusion medicine such as :

• blood component therapy
• basic immunology
• infections transmitted in blood
• ABO and RH groups

Apart from the theoretical studies, diploma in pathology course also includes practical works and assignments. There are also internships in which the candidates are posted in various laboratories for a fixed period of time so that they can practice their knowledge in clinical pathology.

Colleges Offering Diploma in Clinical Pathology in India

There are many renowned medical pathology colleges in India. Both government and private funded colleges offer this two-year diploma course in clinical pathology. Admission to these institutions is done based on the merit list after conducting an entrance exam. Candidates need to apply for admission into this course and clear the entrance exam with a minimum cutoff.

Here are some of the top Pathology colleges in India

Career Prospects After Diploma in Clinical Pathology

There are multiple Clinical Pathology career prospects and the job of a pathologist is quite well paid. Candidates can work as pathology professionals in top leading medical institutions or clinical laboratories. Carrier in the field of pathology is one of the most promising and flourishing in today’s world. After completion of the DCP course from a reputed institution, one can work as an expert in any field under pathology. For instance, clinical pathology, surgical pathology, anatomical pathology, molecular pathology, forensic pathology, etc. A successful candidate with a DCP degree can work as a Medical Lab Technician, Forensic Technician, Mortuary Assistant, Cytotechnologist, Dermatopathologist, etc. Pathology salary in India varies from 3 to 3.5 lakhs per annum.

There are many reputed recruiting companies which hire candidates who have completed their studies in Clinical Pathology. Few of such renowned companies and institutions are-  All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Intelligence Bureau (IB), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Food and Drug Administration, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Apollo Hospitals, Dr. Lal Path Labs, National Institute of Health, etc. One can also pursue their carrier in the research and teaching field by doing a Ph.D. in Clinical Pathology.