Anatomical pathology technologist

Anatomical pathology technologists assist with post-mortem exams and ensure that the families of the deceased receive the highest level of support

You'll work in hospital or public mortuaries, supporting pathologists during post-mortem examinations to help determine the cause of death.

You'll collect samples of tissue and fluids for further analysis, which will help you understand disease processes as well as establish the cause of death. You'll also reconstruct and clean the body afterwards to the highest standard, so it can be viewed by loved ones.

A significant part of the job involves arranging visits and supporting families who wish to see their relatives.

You'll also undertake administrative tasks such as admitting the deceased, checking their identity and processing their paperwork. You'll also liaise with funeral directors and release bodies into their care.

APTs are also sometimes referred to as anatomical pathology technicians.

Responsibilities

As an APT, you may need to:

• receive the deceased and place them into refrigerated storage
• accurately record the identity of the deceased
• take care of the deceased's personal belongings
• take samples and specimens, weigh organs as they're removed and make a record of findings during the post-mortem examination
• ensure specimens are labelled, handled and disposed of correctly
• ensure equipment, instruments and rooms are clean and appropriately kept
• sterilise instruments and make sure they're ready for use
• ensure stock levels are maintained and conduct regular audits
• liaise with coroners (Northern Ireland, England and Wales) or procurator fiscal services (Scotland) where the cause of death is suspicious or unknown
• clean the deceased and reconstruct after examination ready for release to the undertaker
• administer the day-to-day running of a mortuary
• arrange, prepare and conduct viewings for relatives in the mortuary quiet room
• provide information and advice to relatives on issues such as death certificates and funeral arrangements
• undertake continuing professional development (CPD) to further develop skills and knowledge.

Experienced APTs may also:

• take a lead on the day-to-day running of the mortuary
• deliver training on mortuary policies and procedures to other healthcare professionals such as medical students, resident doctors, nurses and paramedics
• mentor trainee APTs.

Salary

• Salaries for trainee APTs working in the NHS typically start at £24,625 (Band 3 of the Agenda for Change - pay rates).
• Once qualified, you can typically earn between £26,530 and £29,114 (Band 4).
• Senior APTs with additional duties, such as training and management, can earn between £29,970 and £44,962 (Bands 5 and 6).

Salaries vary across the country with trainee salaries ranging from Band 3 to Band 5, for example, and hospitals will set their own salary levels.

Other factors that can affect salaries include your experience, level of training, location, professional registration and the exact nature of the role.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

You'll generally work 37 to 40 hours per week, which includes additional overtime and on-call work. You may need to work a shift pattern, be on-call and go into work out of hours.

There may also be opportunities for part-time or short-term locum work.

What to expect

• You'll liaise with a range of professionals, including pathologists, funeral directors, police officers, coroners' officers, nursing staff and bereavement care teams, ensuring a respectful and seamless process from exam to funeral care.
• When working in the post-mortem room, you'll need to wear protective clothing, such as gloves, a theatre gown, visor and boots.
• You should be prepared for an emotionally, as well as physically, challenging working environment. A large part of the job involves responding to unexpected situations, so you'll have to be flexible and prepared to switch tasks at short notice.
• You will need to have a professional appearance and manner, as well as an awareness of the impact your own behaviour has on others.
• Rituals around death form a central part in many religious practices and you'll need to be open and, where possible, accommodating to relatives of varying religious beliefs.
• You may need to travel across sites to provide cover.

Qualifications

You'll typically need five GCSEs or equivalent, including science (preferably biology), maths and English, to train to become an APT. Although you don't need a degree, you may find that a degree in anatomy or a related science will prove useful at later stages of your career.

There are two training routes available to become an APT:

• secure a trainee APT post at a hospital or public mortuary and work towards the RSPH Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Science (Anatomical Pathology Technology), awarded by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH). This is the minimum qualification required to work as an APT.
• take the Level 3 Mortuary Technician apprenticeship (APT route) at a hospital or public mortuary and also work towards the RSPH Level 3 Diploma, which is integrated into the apprenticeship programme.

Training is carried out on the job, combining theory and practical work. The Level 3 Diploma provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to assist with a standard post-mortem examination, arrange a viewing of the body by relatives and friends of the deceased and perform routine administrative tasks.

During training, you can apply for student membership of the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology (AAPT).

You will be expected to complete training within two years, during which time you'll work under the close supervision of a mentor, who will be a senior work colleague. All trainees are required to complete a portfolio of evidence of their training and competence in practical APT skills. Your practical skills will be assessed independently in your workplace.

Practical modules cover:

• preparing for a for post-mortem examination
• assisting with the post-mortem examination
• viewing of the deceased
• preparation and operation of a mortuary
• effective team working.

You'll also undertake five theory modules covering:

• human anatomy and physiology
• the governance and administration of mortuary practices
• health and safety in the mortuary
• microbiology and infection control
• effective communication.

Once you've obtained the Level 3 Diploma or completed the apprenticeship, you can apply for membership of RSPH and the AAPT. You can also apply for voluntary registration with the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) Healthcare Science Practitioner Register and professional registration with the Science Council.

Due to the highly specialised nature of APT work, there are only around 30 trainee positions available each year across the UK. Course theory is delivered online with all RSPH exams sat at a regional exam venue.

It's also possible to start in a mortuary support role and take the RSPH Level 2 Certificate in Mortuary Support. With experience, you may then be able to progress on to the RSPH Level 3 Diploma and qualify as an APT.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• a good knowledge of human anatomy
• a strong grasp of health and safety practices, including infection control and manual handling
• excellent attention to detail, particularly when recording data and handling specimens
• the ability to stay calm, focused and professional in emotionally charged or distressing situations
• strong interpersonal and communication skills, with compassion when supporting bereaved families
• an empathetic, respectful and non-judgemental approach when dealing with people from diverse backgrounds
• teamworking skills for working with pathologists and liaising with other professionals such as the police, funeral directors, coroners and fiscal procurators
• written communication skills for writing reports
• initiative and the ability to work with minimal supervision
• organisational and time management skills
• confidence in your own judgement
• cultural awareness and sensitivity to the wide range of religious, non-religious and cultural practices surrounding death and bereavement
• a proactive and self-motivated approach to work with a willingness to learn and develop professionally
• basic IT skills and an understanding of confidentiality and data protection in handling sensitive personal information
• knowledge of legal and ethical frameworks, including the Human Tissue Act 2004 and coronial procedures in England and Wales (procurator fiscal procedures in Scotland).

You'll also need a reasonable level of physical fitness and be able to stand for extended periods and carry out manual tasks.

If you're working for the NHS, or an organisation which provides NHS services, you'll also be expected to have an understanding of how the NHS values apply to your work.

Work experience

Because all training is provided on the job, related work experience is less crucial than in many other career paths. However, you'll find that previous work experience can provide you with an opportunity to develop and articulate many of the necessary skills that the training providers will be looking for. In particular, any previous experience of record keeping and dealing with legal documents is advantageous.

It can be challenging to find work experience in a mortuary, but work in a laboratory or with an undertaker or funeral directors is useful. Working with bereavement services, care homes, hospices and hospitals could also provide valuable contacts and experience.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

APTs work almost exclusively for NHS hospital mortuaries or local authority public mortuaries.

There are around 700 APTs across the UK, with only around 30 trainee positions available annually (RSPH).

Look for vacancy sources at:

• AAPT - Vacancies
• Jobsgopublic (for jobs with local authorities)
• LocalGov Jobs (for jobs with local authorities)
• NHS Jobs
• NHSScotland Jobs

Professional development

Membership of the AAPT and RSPH is useful. The AAPT, for example, organises a range of education events relating to anatomical pathology technology, including an annual conference. They also have an online CPD scheme, which you can use to record your own personal development.

The RSPH also offers a range of events, conferences and webinars to its members. Membership is open to anyone working in public health, and once you've got experience of working as an APT you can progress from associate to member (MRSPH).

As a qualified anatomical pathology technologist, you can apply for professional registration with the Science Council. There are three levels of registration you can apply for - Registered Science Technician (RSciTech), Registered Scientist (RSci) and Chartered Scientist (CSci) - depending on your level of qualifications, experience and membership of the AAPT. Candidates who complete the Level 3 Mortuary Technician apprenticeship will be offered fast track professional registration for RSciTech.

Many APTs build on their skills and knowledge by taking the RSPH Level 4 Diploma in Healthcare Science (Anatomical Pathology Technology). This qualification provides training in more advanced practices and mortuary procedures, as well as managerial skills. Professional registration with the Science Council is a prerequisite for access to the RSPH Level 4 diploma.

Higher-level qualifications, which are part of the NHS Practitioner Training Programme leading to a BSc (Hons) Anatomical Pathology Technology, are currently in development.

Career prospects

Once you've completed your Level 3 Diploma and become more experienced with practical aspects of the job, you'll start to work more autonomously and have more responsibility for arranging the day-to-day running of a mortuary. The natural next step is to progress into a senior APT role. For more senior roles, employers usually expect APTs to hold the Level 4 Diploma.

As a senior APT, you'll begin to take on teaching and managerial responsibilities in addition to your mortuary work. You're likely to deliver training sessions and mentor and manage junior colleagues, as well as provide training to other staff groups within the NHS, such as last offices training (the preparation of a deceased person for burial) for nursing staff.

Further progression can be into advanced technical work or into an education or mortuary management role. Bear in mind that if you decide to progress into a more senior managerial position, you're less likely to be involved with practical post-mortem work.