What is the CAP-ACP, and what does the association do?
The CAP-ACP (Canadian Association of Pathologists – Association canadienne des pathologistes) is your national specialty society. We are the voice for specialists in pathology and laboratory medicine across Canada. The CAP-ACP is a voluntary professional organization which advances the interests of pathologists in Canada in five major areas:

  • Development of national guidelines related to all areas of laboratory medicine practice, with specific emphasis on quality assurance, workload, specialty testing, and patient safety.
  • Collaboration with national and provincial organizations in creating position papers and other initiatives that will shape the future training and practice of laboratory physicians. We are working with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and its specialty training committees; the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer; the Canadian Alliance of Laboratory Medicine; the recently created Canadian Leadership Council in Laboratory Medicine; and others.
  • Provision of high-quality accredited education programs including CPD modules, affordable workshops, the Annual Residents Review Course and an Annual Scientific Meeting.
  • Development of national external proficiency testing programs (e.g. Canadian Immunohistochemistry Quality Control)
  • Advocacy on behalf of Canadian pathologists with government, national and provincial regulatory bodies, other national specialty societies, the media, and the public.

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What does the CAP-ACP offer that I can’t receive from other laboratory medicine associations?
The CAP-ACP is the ONLY organization which focuses on issues affecting all Canadian pathologists and specialists in laboratory medicine. We are the only advocates for Canadian pathologists at the federal level. We advance the interests of Canadian pathologists and their patients through public advocacy and through the development of national academic and quality initiatives.

Many of our education programs, such as the Resident Review Course, are geared to trainees preparing for our unique Royal College Examination, and are taught by an all-Canadian pathology teaching faculty.

Our Annual Meeting proudly provides a unique venue to showcase innovation and research in Canadian university departments. Our organization is the only body which networks with Canadian pathologists and Canadian trainees, to promote education on topics that matter in our Canadian practice environment.

The CAP-ACP’s national quality initiatives are the only ones which apply exclusively to pathology practice in our nationally regulated, provincially run public healthcare system.

There are many organizations which provide CME for pathologists. We are the only academic organization which also acts as your national voice. We promote your interests and the interests of your patients.

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Are there issues related to Pathology and Laboratory Medicine that the CAP-ACP does not or cannot address?
The following areas are beyond the mandate or jurisdiction of the CAP-ACP:

  • Enforcement of national practice guidelines or standards
  • Licensure and credentialing of laboratory physicians
  • Laboratory Accreditation
  • Direct negotiations on behalf of pathologists related to compensation, workload, benefits, etc

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What are the benefits of being a CAP-ACP member?
You support the CAP-ACP’s investment in your own career, and in the future of pathology and laboratory medicine in Canada

  • You are a member of a national network of professional contacts from coast-to-coast in Canada, with easy access to them through the Secretariat.
  • You have access to the Members Area of the CAP-ACP website, which includes blogs, web forums, association documents, a membership directory, a newsletter archive, and workspaces for CAP-ACP sections and committees
  • You are entitled to reduced registration fees for the Annual Meeting and Resident Review Course
  • You receive the Canadian Journal of Pathology
  • You directly influence the training of future pathologists and the practice of pathology in Canada by participation in CAP-ACP Sections, Committees and Special Interest Groups.
  • You receive the results of professional demographic, income, and workload surveys

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How much does it cost per year?

  • Ordinary (Full Member) / Actif: $325.00
  • Associate / Associé: $100.00
  • Corresponding/Correspondant: $50.00
  • Junior: Medical Students $0, PGY1 $0, PGY2 - 5 $100
  • Retired - Senior / Membre Retraité - Membre Électif: $0
  • Honorary / Membre Honoraire: $0
  • Emeritus / Membre Émérite: $0
  • CSC Full Member / Membre Actif – SCC: $70.00
  • CSC Junior Member / Membre Resident – SCC: $25.00
  • CSC Cytotechnologist: $25.00

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How will the membership dues be used?
All activities of the CAP-ACP are funded entirely by membership dues and to a lesser extent by any income arising from the Annual Meeting, CPD courses/accreditation, or donations. The association does not receive any direct funding from government or industry.

Membership dues are used for:

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If I become a Member, how do I get involved with the Association?
The CAP-ACP strongly encourages you to become involved in activities of the association. As a volunteer society, we depend on members to advance the interests of pathologists in Canada.

The activities of each Section, Committee or Special Interest Group are outlined on the website. Please contact Heather Dow, our Association Manager, or any member of the CAP-ACP Executive Committee with your interests and ideas.

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The CAP-ACP is pleased to offer it's Resident and PA members a discounted license to ExpertPath.

ExpertPath, written by renowned pathologists in each specialty, provides
comprehensive decision support you can rely on, including:

  • Over 4,000 common and complex diagnoses
  • 50,000 searchable, high-quality annotated pathology images
  • Overviews of diagnosis groups
  • Tables with summary information for organ systems
  • Normal histology topics
  • Specimen handling protocols and best practices

To register, you must log into the members area here: www.cap-acp.org/Expertpath.php

Cost is $65 CAD and subscriptions offered through the CAP-ACP are in limited supply.

*Note that there will be a delay as registrations will be forwarded to ExpertPath on a weekly bases. ExpertPath will then email you directly with you login credentials.

 

- Updated March 2016 -


- last updated October 2022 -