Singapore Registration Requirements for Specialist OR Non-Specialist Medical Professionals

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).