FRCPA · RCPA Haematology

RCPA Haem / classify it.

202 sourced study notes across the RCPA Haematology curriculum (223 LOs). AI grading for the Part I Written and Dry Practical, plus an oral viva simulator for the Part I and Part II Oral. 10,468 LO-aligned spaced-repetition flashcards. Built for the precision haematology demands.

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Pass rate

Not published

RCPA releases individual results only

Sittings per year

1–2

Part I and Part II annually

Format

Written + Slides + Dry Practical + Oral

Part I: 4 components · Part II: structured Oral (all day)

Study notes

202

across 223 curriculum LOs

Organising college

RCPA

Not affiliated with PRIMEX

· 2026 dates ·

RCPA Haematology Exam Dates 2026

Published dates for the upcoming sittings. Always confirm against the official RCPA examinations page before scheduling, I refresh this section quarterly as new windows are announced.

Part I, Written PaperFri 29 May 2026 (online, 3h 15m)
Part I, Digital Slides (Morphology)Sat 30 May 2026 (online/local, 3h 15m)
Part I, Dry PracticalFri 31 Jul 2026 (online, 3h 15m)
Part I, Oral ExaminationSat 8 Aug 2026 (local, all day)
Part II, Oral ExaminationSun 9 Aug 2026 (local, all day)
Part II Repeat, OralSat 7 Nov 2026 (local, all day)

Written + practical exams delivered online via the College's risr/assess + Proctor Exam platform. 2026 applications closed Sat 28 Feb 2026.

· Exam domains ·

Topics tested in the RCPA Haematology exam

~30%

Malignant Haematology

AML (WHO 2022 classification, cytogenetics, APL as emergency; ATRA same day), ALL, CML (BCR-ABL1, TKI therapy), CLL (FISH panel, del(17p)/TP53 → ibrutinib), lymphomas (Hodgkin, DLBCL; GCB vs ABC, follicular), myeloma (IMWG 2014 criteria, ISS/R-ISS), MDS, MPNs (PV, ET, MF; JAK2/CALR/MPL).

APL emergency · AML WHO 2022 · CLL del(17p) · Myeloma CRAB · DLBCL IPI · JAK2 V617F

~25%

Haemostasis & Coagulation

Coagulation cascade, DIC (ISTH score, fibrinogen consumption), haemophilia A/B (severity classification, factor replacement, bypassing agents), VWD (types 1/2A/2B/2M/2N, DDAVP response, VWF:RCo/Ag ratio), HIT (4T score, PF4/heparin IgG ELISA, serotonin release assay; argatroban), TTP (ADAMTS13 <10%; plasma exchange), thrombophilia (FVL, antiphospholipid syndrome).

HIT 4T score · ADAMTS13 · VWD types · DIC ISTH · APC resistance · Antiphospholipid

~25%

Red Cell Disorders & Transfusion

Iron deficiency vs megaloblastic anaemia, hereditary spherocytosis, G6PD deficiency, haemoglobinopathies (sickle cell, thalassaemia major), autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (warm/cold, direct antiglobulin test), microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (TTP, HUS, DIC, schistocytes). Transfusion medicine: compatibility testing, TRALI, TACO, ABO/RhD blood groups, massive transfusion protocol.

Direct antiglobulin test · Crossmatch · TRALI vs TACO · Schistocytes · Sickle cell · Thalassaemia major

~20%

Laboratory Diagnostics & Transplantation

Flow cytometry (CD markers, immunophenotyping for leukaemia/lymphoma), cytogenetics and FISH (t(15;17), t(8;21), inv(16), Philadelphia chromosome, del(5q)), molecular haematology (PCR, NGS, MRD monitoring), blood film interpretation (blasts vs reactive, toxic granulation, rouleaux), HSCT (allograft, autograft, HLA matching, GvHD; acute Glucksberg grading, chronic NIH scoring, ruxolitinib for steroid-refractory).

Flow cytometry CD markers · FISH t(15;17) · Bone marrow biopsy · Acute GvHD grading · MRD monitoring

· What's inside ·

How candidates prepare for the RCPA Haematology

· Written Exam Grader

RCPA Haematology written grader: a marked extended-response answer on acute myeloid leukaemia, graded with an examiner mark scheme and strong, partial and missing annotations

SAQ and extended scenario marking at RCPA examiner standard.

The RCPA Haematology Part I Written exam (3 hr 15 min) combines MCQ and SAQ questions covering basic haematology sciences and laboratory methods. The Dry Practical (3 hr 15 min, a separate component) tests laboratory data interpretation: coagulation panels, FBCs, electrophoresis, flow cytometry numbers, transfusion serology, and cytogenetics. PRIMEX grades your responses against specific numerical thresholds, the kind RCPA examiners note candidates consistently miss (e.g. ADAMTS13 <10% for TTP, blast count ≥20% for AML by WHO).

Part I Written: MCQ and SAQ grading across all haematology topic areas
Dry Practical: laboratory data interpretation feedback, coagulation panels and flow cytometry integration
Specific numerical thresholds checked: ADAMTS13 <10%, blast %, Glucksberg grade cut-offs, ISTH DIC score
Common candidate errors flagged: FAB 30% blast threshold vs WHO 20%, APL as haematological emergency

· Flashcards

10,468 LO-aligned values-first flashcards.

10,468 spaced-repetition flashcards aligned to the curriculum's learning-objective structure across the 223 LOs, with values-first cards because in haematology the number is the diagnosis. Card types include peripheral-blood-film morphology, flow cytometry markers, coagulation values, and transfusion thresholds. Each card ID is linked to an RCPA Haematology LO so cards surface alongside the relevant study note.

Rebuilding per learning objective across malignant haematology, coagulation, red cell disorders, and transplantation
Planned card types: WHO 2022 AML subtypes, IMWG myeloma criteria, DLBCL GCB/ABC, FLIPI; cytogenetics (t(15;17), t(8;21), inv(16), BCR-ABL1, del(17p), JAK2/CALR/MPL)
Numerical threshold cards planned: ADAMTS13, ISTH DIC, Glucksberg, Sokal, 4T HIT
One click from card to full study note when the deck lands

· Oral Viva Simulator

Blood film and bone marrow. The full RCPA haematology viva.

The RCPA Haematology Oral spans both parts of the exam. Part I Oral is station-based (10-20 min per station), with all candidates receiving the same structured questions; clinical vignettes with CBC, blood film description, coagulation studies, flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and molecular results. Part II Oral is a structured all-day Oral examination focused on haematology lab standards, research standards, and lab innovation and leadership. PRIMEX's viva simulator probes systematic interpretation, differential diagnosis, confirmatory investigations, and management at the depth both parts require.

Integrated data vignettes: CBC + blood film + coagulation + flow cytometry + cytogenetics presented together
High-yield scenarios: APL emergency (t(15;17) → ATRA immediately), AML with FLT3/NPM1, CLL with del(17p), HIT (day 5 post-cardiac surgery), TTP vs HUS, myeloma CRAB criteria
Mechanism probes: "Why does del(17p) predict chemoimmunotherapy failure?", "What is the pathophysiology of TRALI?"
Management with specific drug names, doses, and monitoring parameters

· Study Notes

RCPA Haematology study note: a coagulation-test-interpretation learning objective with an embedded interactive coagulation screen interpreter and coagulation cascade trainer

202 study notes. One per LO. Linked from every result.

202 sourced study notes across the RCPA Haematology curriculum, one for every covered learning objective. Each follows a structured format: pathophysiology, classification (WHO 2022 where relevant), laboratory diagnosis, treatment with specific agents and thresholds, and exam focus. Cytogenetic and molecular data sit in clinical context, linking the mutation to the treatment decision.

202 study notes across the full RCPA Haematology curriculum, one per covered LO: malignant, coagulation, red cell, transplantation, laboratory
WHO 2022 classification criteria with numerical thresholds in every relevant note
Treatment notes: TKIs for CML, ibrutinib/venetoclax for CLL del(17p)/TP53, proteasome inhibitors for myeloma, ATRA for APL
References to current ASH guidelines, Australian Haematology and Blood Cancer Group (AHBCG) guidelines, and landmark trials

· RCPA Curriculum Tracker

RCPA Haematology curriculum tracker: 223 learning objectives across the haematology domains with per-section progress counts

223 learning objectives. Progress across every haematology domain.

223 LOs is a large curriculum to manage. PRIMEX's curriculum tab organises every LO by haematology domain (malignant, benign, coagulation, transfusion, laboratory, transplantation), with per-domain progress bars so you can see exactly which areas need another pass before the Part I Written, Dry Practical, and Oral components, and the Part II Oral.

All 223 RCPA Haematology LOs mapped across domains
Checkbox completion persisted to localStorage
Per-domain progress bars showing coverage across all Part I and Part II components
High-yield LOs flagged: APL emergency management, ADAMTS13 threshold, AML WHO 2022 defining abnormalities that override blast count

· About this exam ·

RCPA Haematology format and structure

The RCPA Haematology Fellowship Examination is conducted by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA). Part I has 4 separately scheduled components: a Written Paper (MCQ and SAQ, 3 hr 15 min), Digital Slides Morphology (3 hr 15 min, blood films and bone marrow cases with structured SAQs), a Dry Practical (3 hr 15 min, laboratory data interpretation without wet bench work), and an Oral (station-based, 10-20 min per station, all candidates receive the same structured questions). All Part I components must be passed; results are not compensable within a sitting.

Part II is a structured Oral examination only, scheduled as an all-day session, with a focus on haematology lab standards, research standards, and lab innovation and leadership. Part II operates at a consultant and leadership scope, distinct from the Part I clinical and laboratory content. RCPA Haematology trainees must demonstrate precise knowledge of WHO 2022 classification criteria, specific numerical thresholds (ADAMTS13, blast counts, 4T scores), and the ability to integrate multi-parameter laboratory data across all components. RCPA publishes no aggregate pass rate; it releases individual candidate results only. PRIMEX is built by Dr Jay Marshall, an anaesthetics registrar in Taree, NSW.

OrganiserRoyal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA)
Part I WrittenMCQ and SAQ, 3 hr 15 min; basic haematology sciences and laboratory methods
Part I Digital Slides3 hr 15 min; blood films and bone marrow aspirate/trephine cases, structured SAQs per case
Part I Dry Practical3 hr 15 min; coagulation panels, FBCs, electrophoresis, flow cytometry numbers, transfusion serology, cytogenetics
Part I OralStation-based, 10-20 min per station; all candidates receive the same structured questions
Part II OralStructured all-day Oral examination; lab standards, research standards, lab innovation and leadership
Curriculum223 LOs across haematology domains; one of the most LO-intensive curricula in Australian specialty training

· FAQ ·

Common questions about the RCPA Haematology exam

What are the components of the RCPA Haematology examination?

The RCPA Haematology examination has two parts. Part I has 4 separately scheduled components: Written Paper (MCQ and SAQ, 3 hr 15 min), Digital Slides Morphology (3 hr 15 min, blood films and bone marrow cases with structured SAQs), Dry Practical (3 hr 15 min, laboratory data interpretation), and an Oral (station-based, 10-20 min per station). All Part I components must be passed; results are not compensable within a sitting. Part II is an Oral only: 3 stations of 20-30 min each, focused on haematology lab standards, research standards, and lab innovation and leadership.

What is the single most important concept for the RCPA Haematology examination?

APL (acute promyelocytic leukaemia, t(15;17)) is a haematological emergency. The single most penalised error in RCPA vivas and written examinations is failing to recognise APL as requiring same-day ATRA. Even before cytogenetics confirms it: if the blood film shows hypergranular blasts and the clinical picture fits, ATRA must start immediately, given the risk of DIC and death. ADAMTS13 <10% for TTP diagnosis (sensitivity 96%, specificity 95%) is the second most cited numerical threshold in examiner reports.

How does the WHO 2022 classification differ from WHO 2016 for AML?

The WHO 2022 classification introduced several key changes: AML is now defined at ≥20% blasts (unchanged) but certain AML-defining genetic abnormalities (e.g., NPM1, biallelic CEBPA, t(8;21), inv(16), t(15;17)) qualify as AML at any blast count; RCPA examiner reports consistently note candidates who miss this. CMML-1 blast threshold changed from <10% (WHO 2016) to <5% (WHO 2022). These numerical changes are high-yield for both written and oral components.

What does the RCPA blood film practical involve?

The Digital Slides Morphology component (Part I, 3 hr 15 min) presents blood films and bone marrow aspirate/trephine cases as digital images, with structured SAQs per case. You're tested on cell lineage, maturation, and diagnostically significant abnormalities: blasts versus reactive monocytes, toxic granulation, Doehle bodies, rouleaux, spherocytes, schistocytes, target cells, and parasites. PRIMEX's viva simulator describes these findings verbally and asks for systematic interpretation, the same cognitive process the component tests.

How does the HIT 4T score work?

The 4T score (Thrombocytopenia, Timing, Thrombosis, and alternative causes) is used to risk-stratify suspected HIT. Score 0–3 (low) → HIT unlikely; 4–5 (intermediate) → send PF4/heparin IgG ELISA and serotonin release assay; 6–8 (high) → high probability, stop heparin immediately, start alternative anticoagulant (argatroban, danaparoid, or fondaparinux). PRIMEX viva scenarios present a patient on day 5 post-cardiac surgery with a 50% platelet drop, exactly the scenario that recurs in RCPA oral examinations.

What is tested in the Dry Practical component?

Is RCPA Anatomical Pathology content also available?

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