Anatomic Pathology Board Review WHO 5th Edition · CAP Guidelines · Organ-System Mastery
Structured, image-rich preparation covering every organ system on the ABPath Anatomic Pathology blueprint. 800+ MCQs with detailed explanations, system-by-system notes, and molecular pathology — all built on the same WHO and CAP standards that define the AP board exam.
WHO 5th Edition AlignedCAP Guidelines BasedAll 13 AP Organ Systems
Why Our Platform Works for Anatomic Pathology Boards
The same science, the same standards — different exam formats.
Pathology is a global discipline. Whether you're sitting the American Board of Pathology (ABPath) AP exam in Houston, the FRCPath Part 1 in London, or NEET SS in Delhi, the core knowledge is identical: surgical pathology of every organ system, immunohistochemistry algorithms, molecular markers, WHO tumour classifications, and diagnostic pattern recognition.
Our platform was built by practising pathologists who follow WHO Classification of Tumours (5th Edition) and College of American Pathologists (CAP) guidelines — the exact same standards referenced by the ABPath AP exam blueprint. The overlap isn't approximate. It's structural.
What the ABPath AP exam actually tests
According to the official ABPath exam blueprint, the Anatomic Pathology examination is a one-day, computer-based exam consisting of written, practical, and virtual microscopy sections — approximately 295 questions over nearly 8 hours. The content breakdown:
Organ Systems
95%
Surgical pathology, cytopathology, hematopathology, molecular pathology across all organ systems
That 95% — organ-system surgical pathology, cytopathology, hematopathology, and molecular pathology — is precisely what our 800+ MCQ bank, system-by-system notes, and image-based mock tests cover in depth.
Transparency note: Our platform does not offer ABPath-accredited CME credits or SAM credits. We do not claim ABPath endorsement. What we offer is high-quality, WHO/CAP-aligned anatomic pathology content that covers the same organ-system knowledge tested on the AP board exam, FRCPath Part 1, and NEET SS Pathology.
ABPath AP Exam Blueprint — And How We Cover It
System-by-system alignment with the official ABPath content outline.
The table below maps every category from the official ABPath AP Exam Blueprint to our platform's coverage. Data is from the 2025 ABPath AP Blueprint.
Organ System / Category
Blueprint %
Our Coverage
Alimentary Canal, Pancreas, Liver, Biliary
12–13%
✓ Full — GI, hepatobiliary, pancreatic pathology notes + MCQs
Cytopathology
15% (written)
✓ Full — GYN and non-GYN cytology, FNAC, body fluids
Genitourinary
9–14%
✓ Full — RCC, urothelial, prostate, testicular pathology
Breast
8–9%
✓ Full — IHC, HER2, molecular classification, DCIS, invasive subtypes
Gynecologic & Placenta
7–8%
✓ Full — endometrial, cervical, ovarian, GTD
Skin
5–10%
✓ Full — melanoma, BCC, SCC, dermatopathology
Respiratory, Pleura, Mediastinum
6–7%
✓ Full — lung adenocarcinoma, EGFR, ALK, PD-L1
Head & Neck
4–7%
✓ Full — thyroid, salivary, sinonasal tumours
Lymph Nodes & Spleen + Bone Marrow
6–8%
✓ Full — lymphoma classification, IHC panels, WHO 5th Ed
Endocrine
5–6%
✓ Full — thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, parathyroid, NET
Soft Tissue & Bone
5–6%
✓ Full — sarcoma classification, molecular markers
The kind of organ-system, mechanism-based questions you'll practise with.
Breast Pathology · Board Review MCQ
A 52-year-old woman undergoes core biopsy of a 2.3 cm breast mass. Histology shows an invasive carcinoma with tubular architecture, low nuclear grade, and no necrosis. IHC is ER+, PR+, HER2−, Ki-67 8%. Which molecular subtype classification is most appropriate?
A. Luminal A-like ✓
B. Luminal B-like (HER2−)
C. HER2-enriched
D. Basal-like / Triple-negative
Explanation: ER+, PR+, HER2−, low Ki-67 (<14–20%) defines Luminal A-like breast cancer per the St. Gallen consensus and WHO classification. The low-grade tubular morphology and absence of necrosis are consistent. Luminal B-like would have higher Ki-67 (>20%) and/or lower PR expression. This is a classic AP board question integrating morphology with molecular classification — the intersection WHO and CAP guidelines both emphasize.
GI Pathology · Board Review MCQ
A 45-year-old man presents with a 5 cm gastric submucosal mass. Histopathology shows spindle cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm. IHC shows DOG1+, CD117+, CD34+, desmin−, S100−. Mutational analysis reveals a KIT exon 11 mutation. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Leiomyoma
B. Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) ✓
C. Schwannoma
D. Inflammatory fibroid polyp
Explanation: The combination of DOG1+, CD117+ (c-KIT), CD34+, with negative desmin and S100 is pathognomonic for GIST. KIT exon 11 mutations are the most common (~65–70%) and are associated with imatinib sensitivity. DOG1 (ANO1) has higher sensitivity than CD117 for GIST diagnosis. This integrates IHC interpretation with molecular correlation — a high-yield AP board topic aligned with CAP synoptic reporting protocols.
Built on WHO & CAP Standards — The Universal Language of Pathology
Why the same content works across ABPath, FRCPath, and NEET SS.
Pathology board exams around the world converge on the same source material because pathology itself is a universal discipline. The major exam bodies — ABPath (US), RCPath (UK), and NBEMS (India) — all test candidates against the same foundational standards:
WHO Classification of Tumours, 5th Edition
The global standard for tumour classification, grading, and molecular markers. Every AP board question on neoplasia references this classification. Our content is fully updated to the 5th Edition across all volumes (2019–2024).
CAP (College of American Pathologists) Guidelines
CAP protocols define synoptic reporting, biomarker testing standards (HER2, PD-L1, MMR), and quality assurance requirements. Our MCQs and notes align with CAP-recommended testing algorithms and reporting formats.
How this translates to your AP board prep
When you study breast pathology on our platform, you're learning the same HER2 scoring criteria (CAP/ASCO guidelines), the same molecular subtypes (WHO 5th Ed.), the same IHC panels (ER, PR, HER2, Ki-67), and the same staging systems (AJCC 8th Edition) that ABPath tests. The exam format differs — ABPath uses single-best-answer with virtual microscopy — but the knowledge tested is identical.
Our content has been designed to prepare candidates for FRCPath Part 1, NEET SS Pathology, and anatomic pathology board certification — because the pathology is the same.
Who This Is For
Board candidates, residents, and pathologists at every stage.
Pathology residents preparing for ABPath AP certification (PGY-4/PGY-5) who want a comprehensive organ-system review with strong image-based practice
International medical graduates (IMGs) in US pathology residency programs who benefit from WHO-aligned content that bridges their prior training with US board expectations
Pathologists preparing for multiple exams — if you're sitting FRCPath and considering US board certification, or vice versa, one study platform covers both
Practising pathologists seeking a refresher in organ-system pathology for continuing certification (CC) knowledge assessment
FRCPath and NEET SS candidates who want their preparation to also count toward AP board readiness — and it does, because the knowledge base is shared
Board Prep Doesn't Have to Cost $800
Premium AP-aligned content at a fraction of traditional board review pricing.
Most US-based pathology board review programs cost $199–$800 for access to question banks and review courses. Our platform offers the same depth of organ-system coverage — with more questions, more image-based practice, and expert-led video lectures — at a significantly lower price point, because we believe quality pathology education should be accessible globally.
What you get: 800+ MCQs with explanations, 200+ hours of video lectures, system-by-system notes, mock exams, and lifetime access — all WHO 5th Edition and CAP–aligned. View course details and pricing →
Start Your Anatomic Pathology Board Review
Organ-system mastery for AP board, FRCPath, and NEET SS — one platform, one knowledge base.
Our platform was originally built for FRCPath Part 1 and NEET SS Pathology — but the anatomic pathology knowledge base is fundamentally the same across all three exams. We follow WHO 5th Edition classification and CAP guidelines, which are the core standards tested on the ABPath AP exam. Our coverage maps to 95% of the AP exam blueprint (all organ-system categories). We do not currently offer ABPath-specific lab management or informatics content, which accounts for approximately 2–3% of the exam.
No. We are not ACCME-accredited and do not offer CME credits or ABPath SAM credits. Our platform is a study and review resource, not a CME provider. For CME-eligible board review, you would need an ACCME-accredited provider. Our strength is depth of organ-system content, image-based practice, and WHO/CAP-aligned explanations.
We cover all 13 major organ-system categories on the ABPath AP blueprint in depth: alimentary/hepatobiliary (12–13%), cytopathology (15%), genitourinary (9–14%), breast (8–9%), gynecologic (7–8%), skin (5–10%), respiratory (6–7%), head and neck (4–7%), lymph nodes/bone marrow (6–8%), endocrine (5–6%), soft tissue and bone (5–6%), CNS (3–6%), and molecular techniques (1%). We have partial coverage of forensic/autopsy pathology and minimal coverage of lab management/informatics. See the full alignment table above.
Spring Primary Exams run May 11 – June 6, 2026. Fall Primary Exams run October 5 – October 19, 2026. Exams are administered at Pearson VUE test centres. Verify dates at abpath.org.
The AP exam has approximately 295 questions total: 205 in the written/practical section (3 hours 25 minutes) and 90 in the virtual microscopy section (4 hours 30 minutes). All questions are single-best-answer multiple choice. Our MCQ bank uses the same single-best-answer format.
Particularly so. International medical graduates often have strong clinical pathology knowledge from their home country training but need to align their understanding with US-specific standards (WHO classification, CAP reporting protocols, AJCC staging). Our content is already structured around these standards, making it an efficient bridge between your prior training and the AP exam expectations. Additionally, our pricing is significantly more accessible than most US-based board review programs.
Yes — that's one of the key advantages of our platform. Since FRCPath Part 1 and the ABPath AP exam test the same organ-system pathology, molecular markers, and diagnostic principles, preparing with our resources builds readiness for both exams simultaneously. The exam formats differ (FRCPath uses EMQs and SBAs; ABPath uses SBA with virtual microscopy), but the knowledge base is shared.
BoardVitals and PathologyOutlines are excellent resources focused specifically on ABPath exams. Our differentiator is depth of organ-system content: 200+ hours of expert-led video lectures, detailed system-by-system notes, and a strong emphasis on image-based diagnostic training and molecular pathology — all at a lower price point. We also cover the global pathology exam landscape (ABPath, FRCPath, NEET SS), which is valuable if you're considering multiple certifications.
Most successful candidates report 3–6 months of dedicated board preparation on top of their residency training. A common approach is to begin focused board study at the start of PGY-4 and intensify in the final 3 months before the exam. Our platform supports both long-term systematic study (using notes and lectures) and final-month intensive review (using MCQs and mock tests).
Yes. You can download our free 199 MCQ PDF with detailed explanations — no email or login required. This gives you a genuine sample of the question quality, explanation depth, and organ-system coverage before you commit to the full course. The free MCQs cover all 13 organ systems.
Official Sources & Disclaimer
Disclaimer: eLearningFRCPath is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially associated with the American Board of Pathology (ABPath), the College of American Pathologists (CAP), or the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath). All exam details, dates, and policies referenced on this page are sourced from official ABPath publications. Always verify exam information directly from abpath.org.