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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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31303.05 – Pathologist assistants

Pathologists’ assistants assist at autopsies and examinations of surgical specimens, or perform autopsies under a pathologist’s supervision.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Pathology assistant

Core competencies

  • Oral Communication: Oral Comprehension to effectively communicate with pathologists and healthcare teams, engage in scientific conferences to discuss findings and assist in training of junior resident pathologists
  • Quality Control Testing to provide documentation and evidence of the accuracy and integrity of the examinations performed to support the credibility of the findings
  • Near Vision to closely analyze and examine organs and specimens for chemical analysis
  • Pattern Identification to identify recurring patterns that indicate characteristics or development of viruses in data sets, chemical analyses and other tests
  • Attention to Detail to verify information from performed autopsies or surgical-specimen examinations are communicated in provisional reports with pathologists' supervision
  • Knowledge in Physical Health to understand practices to safely and effectively handle specimens, prevent injuries, respond to emergencies and maintain professional and ethical standards

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • 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.

Additional information

  • There is no mobility between these occupations without further training.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • General practitioners and family physicians (31102)
  • Managers in health care (30010)
  • Other practitioners of natural healing (32209)
  • Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (31209)
  • Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (31301)
  • Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (31100)
  • Specialists in surgery (31101)
  • Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists (32200)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

3 – Health occupations

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

31 – Professional occupations in health

Sub-major group

313 – Nursing and allied health professionals

Minor group

3130 – Nursing and allied health professionals

Unit group

31303 – Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals

Occupational profile

31303.05 – Pathologist assistants

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.