1 Demonstrating Personal Proficiency in Pathology – 2015

Maintaining proficiency as a pathologist, clinical scientist or a biomedical scientist in pathology is an explicit requirement of UK registration bodies.1-3 During training, competence is frequently assessed but once in a tenured post there are fewer formal means for an individual to prove their continuing and developing professional performance. The Pathology Quality Assurance Review (PQAR), published in January 2014, advised that methodologies be developed that would give a fair and accurate indication of an individual’s competence to practice.4 The Review recommended that all practicing individuals responsible for reporting pathology results and providing clinical advice should be registered with current external quality assessment (EQA) individual assessment schemes and demonstrate regular participation. The Pathology QA Review did not specifically associate personal proficiency solely with participation in individual EQA and demonstrating safe practice extends well beyond satisfactory performance in these schemes. This document is therefore intended as a guide for pathologists, clinical scientists and biomedical scientists on ways in which they can demonstrate personal proficiency in the laboratory aspects of their jobs. Many of the principles will be familiar to those who already undergo appraisal or revalidation, especially medical staff,2 but the following has bee