Postgraduate education in laboratory medicine and certification/re-certification of clinical pathologists in Taiwan

The Taiwan Society of Clinical Pathologists (TSCP) plays a central role in postgraduate education of laboratory medicine and the certification/re-certification of clinical pathologists in Taiwan. For the certification of clinical pathologists, TSCP establishes "Guidelines and Scope of Resident Training" and "Standards for Training Hospitals in Clinical Pathology(CP)", administers board examinations, and issues board certifications/re-certifications. There are two types of CP resident training programs, including a straight CP program with 3 years of CP training for a CP certificate and a combined program with 3 years of Anatomic Pathology training and 2 years of CP training for both the CP and AP certificates. The core curriculum for CP training includes: (1) Clinical Chemistry (at least 4 months), (2) Clinical Microscope with Parasitology (at least 3 months), (3) Clinical Hematology (at least 4 months), and (4) Clinical Microbiology with Clinical Virology (at least 4 months), (5) Immunohematology and Blood Banking (Transfusion Medicine) (at least 3 months), (6) Clinical Serology and Immunology(at least 4 months), and (7) Laboratory Management (at least 2 months). The curriculum for third-year training is not specified and may be in any field. In recent years, the board examination has emphasized the topics of Molecular Biology and Laboratory Informatics. The TSCP has also established an accreditation and inspection program for the CP resident raining hospitals. Each accredited CP training hospital is required to have a detailed teaching protocol of CP training. Quotas are assigned according to the available CPs of the accredited hospitals. The accreditation period is 3 years. Through sponsoring scientific and educational programs, the TSCP offers credit hours of education in laboratory medicine, which are required for re-certification of CPs in Taiwan. The members of the TSCP meet at least twice a year for scientific presentations and seminars. In addition, two to four symposia, offering 8 credit hours each, are held each year in various subspecialties of CP. In 2003, 22 hospitals were accredited as CP training hospitals for a total quota of 26. Until 2003, the TSCP had certified 116 CPs. At the present time, only 103 certified CPs are actively practicing laboratory medicine. Re-certification requires 100 credit hours of continuing education. The requirements for board certification and re-certification are the two main driving forces for CPs in Taiwan to seek continuing education. Our model of education for CPs has proven to be effective. The number of practicing CPs increased from 21 (one per 3,083 beds) in 1991 to 103 (one per 929 beds) in 2002. Most of the CPs are associated with medical centers(62/103, 60.2%) and regional hospitals(38/103, 36.9%).