English Language Proficiency
International
medical graduates are required to show evidence of proficiency in the English
Language if their basic medical degree is obtained from a medical school where
the medium of instruction is not English.
Test
results obtained from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or Occupational English
Test (OET), within the minimum score accepted by the Singapore Medical Council
can be considered, subject to a 2-year validity period based on the date of the
test.
·
IELTS -
at least 7 for ALL components (Listening, Reading, Writing AND Speaking)
·
TOEFL -
at least 250 marks for computer based test or 600 marks for paper-based test or
100 marks for internet-based test
·
OET - at
least Grade B
Obtaining Professional Registration as a non
specialist medical practitioner
The
Singapore Medical Council has four categories of registration. Details can be
viewed at the Singapore Medical Council's website, however are summarized as
follows:
·
Full
Registration
·
Conditional
Registration
·
Temporary
Registration
·
Provisional
Registration
If you
are an international medical graduate, it is most likely that you would be
registered under Conditional Registration.
Eligibility requirements:
·
holds a
basic medical degree from a university/ medical school listed in the Schedule
of the Medical Registration Act; or
·
possesses
a basic or exit specialist qualification recognised by the Specialists
Accreditation Board; and
·
has been
selected for employment in a Singapore hospital/ institution/ medical practice
approved by the Medical Council; and
·
holds a
certificate of experience as proof of satisfactory completion of houseman ship.
·
Since 18
Jan 2005, temporary registrants from non-traditional sources who subsequently
obtained specialist accreditation from the Specialist Accreditation Board will
be eligible to apply for conditional registration by virtue of their specialist
registration, subject to good assessment reports.
·
Foreign-trained
doctors on temporary registration could apply for conversion of their temporary
registration to conditional registration if they have acquired registrable
postgraduate qualifications recognized by Specialists Accreditation Board.
The specified period of service under conditional registration
for the different categories are indicated in table below:
Category/ Terms
for Conditional Registration
|
Specialist*
|
Non-Specialist*
|
Singaporean
|
Non-Singaporean & PR^
|
Singaporean
|
Non-Singaporean & PR
|
Specified period of
good performance required before eligibility for Full registration
|
1 year
|
2 years
|
2 years
|
4 years
|
Place of Practice
|
1st year mandated in approvedinstitutional
practice`unless doctor satisfies (A)below
|
1st year mandated in approvedinstitutional
practice`unless doctor satisfies (B)below
|
Supervisory Framework **
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
^ Singapore Permanent
Resident
* Institutional practice refers to restructured hospitals.
Other institutions may be considered by SMC on application.
Criteria for conditional registrants for direct
employment and practice in any healthcare practice:
Category
|
Details
|
(A)
|
Foreign-trained (except
European-trained) specialists can practice under supervision of an
appropriate specialist in private specialist practice IF he/she
has 5 years clinical experience after obtaining
specialty qualification.
He/she must be
accredited by the Specialist Accreditation Board and registered with SMC as a
Specialist before he/she can practise as a specialist in Singapore
|
(B)
|
Foreign-trained non-specialists can practice in
non-institutional or private Family Medicine practice or other private group
practice IF he/she has at least 5 years practice
in Family Medicine after obtaining any of the following
Family Physician qualifications:
·
Member of the Royal College of General
Practitioners, MRCGP (UK)
·
Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General
Practitioners, FRACGP (Australia only)
·
American Board Certification in Family Medicine,
USA
·
Certificate of College of Family Physicians
(CCFP, Canada)
·
Fellow of the Hong Kong College of Family
Physicians (FHKCFP)
Note: To qualify for this
category, the doctor's basic medical qualification must be from
a medical school listed in the current Schedule of the Medical
Registration Act.
|
^ Singapore Permanent
Resident
* Institutional practice refers to restructured hospitals.
Other institutions may be considered by SMC on application.
Criteria for conditional registrants for direct
employment and practice in any healthcare practice:
Category
|
Details
|
(A)
|
Foreign-trained (except
European-trained) specialists can practice under supervision of an
appropriate specialist in private specialist practice IF he/she
has 5 years clinical experience after obtaining
specialty qualification.
He/she must be
accredited by the Specialist Accreditation Board and registered with SMC as a
Specialist before he/she can practise as a specialist in Singapore
|
(B)
|
Foreign-trained non-specialists can practice in
non-institutional or private Family Medicine practice or other private group
practice IF he/she has at least 5 years practice
in Family Medicine after obtaining any of the following
Family Physician qualifications:
·
Member of the Royal College of General
Practitioners, MRCGP (UK)
·
Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General
Practitioners, FRACGP (Australia only)
·
American Board Certification in Family Medicine,
USA
·
Certificate of College of Family Physicians
(CCFP, Canada)
·
Fellow of the Hong Kong College of Family
Physicians (FHKCFP)
Note: To qualify for this
category, the doctor's basic medical qualification must be from
a medical school listed in the current Schedule of the Medical
Registration Act.
|
Foreign-trained
specialists and non-specialists can apply to join a non-institutional type of
practice after the 1st year provided the doctor has consistently obtained
grading of 'Excellent' and 'Good' in the
assessment reports; and the performance must have been considered 'Excellent' and 'Good' by
the supervisor, employing institution and the SMC. Doctors with performance
grades of 'Fair' and below would not be accorded this
privilege and may also not be granted extension of conditional registration.
** There
are 2 types of supervisory assessments in the Framework:
·
360
degree assessment (including appointed supervisor) - this is not required for
categories (A) & (B)above.
·
Report
from appointed supervisor and medical director of the licensed health-care
practice or Chairman Medical Board of the hospital for categories (A)
& (B).