Ophthalmic Pathology

Last updated: 12th May 2025

Demonstrate the highest levels of knowledge and skill and advance your career 

The Advanced Specialist Diploma in Ophthalmic Pathology demonstrates the key knowledge and skills required to undertake the role of dissecting and reporting selected ophthalmic pathology samples. 

Achieving an IBMS Advanced Specialist Diploma (ASD) in Ophthalmic Pathology will be enable you to:

  • upgrade to a Fellow of the IBMS
  • describe ophthalmic pathology samples and to dissect and select tissue blocks
  • interpret and evaluate ophthalmic pathology samples or prepared slides from these samples, undertaking ancillary testing procedures as necessary.
  • recognise and describe unusual gross or microscopical findings and refer these samples for medical opinion
  • undertake the independent reporting of selected specimens appropriate to the role as agreed.
Further information

Who can apply

Applicants must be:

  • Member or Fellow of the IBMS, HCPC registered and have at least five years’ post registration experience

You must also:

  • have a single named consultant pathologist trainer who has overall responsibility for mentoring and guiding you and monitoring your progress
  • undertake your training in a laboratory with a UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) registered laboratory

Qualification structure

IBMS Advanced Specialist Diploma (ASD) in Ophthalmic Pathology is a professional vocational qualification assessed by completion of a training logbook and a written and practical examination. It was reviewed during 2024 and early 2025 with the latest current version being published in May 2025.

The training logbook provides a record of your training and should contain evidence of regular assessments of your competence in reporting the specimen types covered by this qualification by your named consultant pathologist supervisor. 

Once your named consultant pathologist supervisor is satisfied that your training is complete you can submit your training logbook and go on to the written and oral examinations. 

Guidance to candidates and trainers 

ASD Ophthalmic Pathology Assessment Indicators

Assessment

The examination of an IBMS Advanced Specialist Diploma in Ophthalmic Pathology involves four assessments:

  • a portfolio of experiential learning
  • a written examination
  • a practical (microscopy) examination
  • an oral examination 

Please read our Guidance to candidates and trainers for further information.  This document was reviewed with the latest version being published in May 2025.

 

Fees and how to apply

It costs £31 to order an IBMS Advanced Specialist Diploma in Ophthalmic Pathology training logbook. To order this, please submit to the IBMS Examinations Team:

To apply for the qualification in the year in which you plan to submit your portfolio for assessment you will need to submit to the IBMS Examinations team

Fees can be paid to the IBMS Examinations Team by:

  • credit or debit card payment by phone on +44 (0)207 731 0214 ext 142 or 
  • purchase order from your hospital Trust

 

Additional resources

You can find discipline-specific reading lists to support you in completing the  IBMS Advanced Specialist Diploma n Ophthalmic Pathology here.

You can find articles and online resources to support you in completing an  IBMS Advanced Specialist Diploma in our Resources section

Deferrals, withdrawals and mitigating circumstances

If you wish to defer, withdraw or highlight any mitigating circumstances please contact examinations@ibms.org as soon as possible.