As of January 2008, the categories of membership are laid down in By-Law 6 as follows.

Fellows
Honorary Fellows
Fellows by election through By-Law 8(iv)
Diplomates
Associates
Affiliates
Retired members

Fellows
Fellowship is obtained by passing the College's Part 2 examination (see Exams) or a successful submission of published works (see Published Works). Fellows are entitled, subject to their financial subscription being paid, to use the FRCPath post nominals, stand for College Council and other offices, vote in the affairs of the College and receive College mailings.

NB This Fellowship category includes those formerly known as Members, with MRCPath post nominals.

Honorary Fellows
Council may nominate people, whether medically qualified or not, who have made notable contributions to pathology, and other persons who have shown distinction of a nature fit to be recognised by the College, for proposal to and approval at a General Meeting. Honorary Fellows may use the FRCPath post nominals and will receive College mailings, but have no voting rights. The College is limited to having no more than 75 Honorary Fellows at any time. See the list of Honorary Fellows here.

Fellows by election through By-Law 8(iv)
Distinguished medical practitioners or distinguished scientists may be invited by Council to become Fellows (see Fellows by election). Fellows by election shall be entitled, subject to their financial subscription being paid, to use the FRCPath post nominals, stand for College Council and other offices, vote in the affairs of the College and receive College mailings.

Diplomates
Diplomate membership is awarded to those who have passed the College's specialist Diploma examinations in Cytopathology, Dermatopathology or Forensic Pathology or any other specialist Diplomas which the College may introduce. Diplomates are entitled, subject to their financial subscription being paid, to use the DipRCPath post nominals and receive College mailings. Diplomates are not eligible to stand for College Council and other offices, or to vote in the affairs of the College.

Associates
Associate membership is awarded on passing the College's Part 1 examination (see Exams). Associates do not have the right to use any post nominals, vote in College affairs or stand for College office (unless they are a trainee in which case they can stand for the Trainees Advisory Committee or be a trainee representative on other College committees). Associates will receive College mailings.

Affiliates
The Annual General Meeting in 2007 approved amendments to the College’s governing documents to create a new grade of membership to be called Affiliates.

The Affiliate membership scheme is open to those working within pathology who wish to be linked with the activities of the College. Examples of those who may wish to affiliate include: clinical scientists, research academics, biomedical scientists, and members of specialist societies. This list is not exhaustive; others working in a pathology discipline may wish to affiliate, and will be welcome to do so, including overseas-qualified pathologists working in the UK.

Please note: those persons who would be eligible for another category of membership (Fellowship, Diplomateship or Associateship) are not eligible for Affiliate membership.

For more details, click here.

Retired members
This category of membership is open to those who have retired completely from remunerative employment and who were previously a member of another membership category (except Affiliate). Those members who were Fellows or Diplomates before retirement are entitled to continue using the FRCPath or DipRCPath post nominals respectively. Retired members will be entitled to receive College mailings, and those who previously held the status of Fellow will continue to be entitled to attend and vote at a General Meeting.