Pathology assistant

Professions Published

The pathology assistant assists the physician and the police in the autopsy and takes care of moving the deceased to the autopsy room, storing and handing them over. In addition, the pathology assistant participates in their own area of ​​responsibility in taking, storing, packing and sending samples in accordance with the practices of the workplace.

Healthcare departments and units that enable medical and/or forensic autopsies.

Browse job postings: Pathology assistant

A pathology assistant is required to have fine motor skills, in other words the technical ability to use different opening and examination methods. The job requires organisational skills, initiative and method. A pathology assistant knows how to behave in an ethical manner and is familiar with occupational safety factors, such as hygiene and infection prevention measures.

A pathology assistant can make decisions, document information and work as a member of a multiprofessional team.  A pathology assistant complies with relevant acts, decrees, regulations and guidelines. A service attitude, discreetness, empathy and the ability to professionally deal with the friends and family of the deceased are key requirements.

A pathology assistant should have a good level of fitness as lifting dead bodies is physically demanding.

Pathology assistants are trained through apprenticeship training based on working life needs or by completing a pathology assistant’s vocational degree. Students must at least have the competence required for a basic secondary vocational degree in social services and healthcare or another comparable degree. As parts of the vocational degree are often evaluated in actual tasks, students are often required to have a job or to obtain a job after completing their degree.

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In addition to an applicable degree, a pathology assistant must at least have the competence required for a basic secondary vocational degree in social services and healthcare or another comparable degree.

Median salary

2885 €/mo

Private sector

2668 €/mo

Public sector

2939 €/mo

The data is based on the median income, meaning the amount of salary which is the middle of the salary amounts arranged in order of magnitude.

Source: Statistics Finland's structural statistics on wages and salaries

Professional fields