SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Master of Medicine in Anatomical Pathology

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
3649	Master of Medicine in Anatomical Pathology
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Master's Degree	Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Curative Health
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	180	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction		EXCO 0324/24	2024-07-01	2027-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30		2031-06-30

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The Health Professions Council of South Africa HPCSA recognises Anatomical Pathology as a speciality.

This programme forms part of the credentialing process for medical practitioners as specialists in Anatomical Pathology (including CytoPathology).

It aims to provide sufficient training in Anatomical Pathology (including CytoPathology) to enable competent, ethical practice as an Anatomical Pathologist.

Candidates must hold a Health Professions Council of South Africa HPCSA - approved Registrar post in a teaching hospital during the training period which is usually 4 years.
.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

MBChB or equivalent qualification recognised by the Senate of the University of Cape Town and registration with the HPCSA Medical Practitioner (having fulfilled Internship and Community Service requirements).

Senior certificate with Matriculation Exemption or Equivalent university admission qualification.

First degree:
MB ChB or equivalent.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

a) Critical cross-field outcomes (generic to all teaching learning)

b) General outcomes (contextually demonstrated general knowledge, skills and values of the programme)

c) Specific outcomes (including professional outcomes, contextually demonstrated)

1) The MMedPath (Anat) graduate is able to apply knowledge of the anatomical basis of disease processes to the rendering of tissue diagnoses.

2) The MMed.Path (Anat) graduate has sufficient laboratory skills and experience to manage and assess an Anatomical Pathology laboratory.

3) The MMedPath (Anat) graduate has sufficient depth of understanding of the anatomical basis of disease processes to competently undertake research (and development)

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

a) Not applicable to this professional specialist qualification.

b) Not applicable to this professional specialist qualification.

1) Is able to describe and explain the anatomical basis and mechanisms of human disease, and to recognise them at a macro- and microscopic level.

2) Is able to describe and explain the theoretical principles underlying the preparation and processing of various kinds of specimens/tissues, and to perform the necessary dissections.

3) Is able to describe and explain the theoretical principles underlying the different kinds of microscopy used in the speciality, along with the staining and special-staining, immuno-cytochemical and molecular techniques generally employed.

4) Is able to synthesise all the available clinical information and the pathological (surgical or autopsy) findings in any case to arrive at an accurate diagnosis (or differential diagnosis) to be acted upon by the clinician(s) concerned, and to help prognosticate.

5) Is able to recognise and acknowledge his/her limitations, and seek more expert help.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Part I

Certification by the head of the training department that at least I year of training in an approved post (registrar-level or equivalent) has taken place prior to the Part I examinations.

The Part I Examination consists of written, practical and oral examinations (scrutinised by external examiner(s)), and must be passed within 18 months of commencing formal training in Anatomical pathology.

Part II:

Certification by the head of the training department that at least 3 further years of training in an approved post (registrar-level or equivalent) has taken place prior to the Part II Examination.

In total, at least 3 years must have been spent in Anatomical Pathology, while the required additional year of post-graduate training or experience may be spent in Anatomical Pathology (including its branches of Cytology, Neuropathology or Paediatric Pathology) or in any of the following fields in the Pathology disciplines:

Chemical Pathology, Forensic Pathology, Haematopathology, Immunology, Medical Microbiology or Medical Virology.

The Part II Examination consists of written, practical and oral examinations (scrutinised of external examiner(s), and can only be entered after a minimum of 32 months approved experience in Anatomical Pathology.

Part III:

A dissertation presenting the results of the candidate's own laboratory-based research must be submitted and forms part of the final assessment of the candidate.

It must be submitted within 24 months of completing the Part 2 Examination.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

FC Path (anat) (CMSA)

[M.Phil. (Paediatric Pathology)]

Other articulation possibilities, wither generic or specific:

[MRCS Path]

MODERATION OPTIONS

The University of Cape Town has a system of external peer review and evaluation of each course. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the department.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

The academic staff of the University of Cape Town will be used in a manner that is consistent with the quality assurance system of the University.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

1.	University of Cape Town