Applying for EU Certification

EU Certification is certification of doctors who are trained / have their training recognised in Ireland. It is for the purpose of recognition in other EU Member States or for entry into the General Medical Services Scheme in Ireland. From the perspective of the European Union, the general purpose of EU Certification at specialist level is to create an internal European market for doctors who have completed recognised higher specialist training, in accordance with certain EU Regulations. This is in order to allow those doctors automatic recognition of their qualifications in any EU Member State. Furthermore, for General Practitioners, EU Certification may grant access to the social security network in Ireland and other Member States.

As the designated Competent Authority, the Medical Council is responsible for issuing EU Certification. The EU Directive presently governing specialist training is Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications.

Two basic types of qualifications are issued:

• Certificates of Specialist Doctor (CSD) which cover medical specialties other than General Practice
• Certificates of Specific Training or Acquired Rights (CSTAR) which covers General Practice only

Certificate of Specialist Doctor (CSD)

This type of Certificate is issued for all recognised medical specialties with the exception of General Practice. It certifies that training meets with the requirements set down in Articles 25-26 and Annex V 5.1.2. of the Directive.

What are the General Guidelines for Qualification?

1. The applicant must  have completed specialist training recognised by the Medical Council for the purpose of registration as a Specialist
2. The specialty must be recognised in Ireland and under Annex V 5.1.3 of the Directive
3. Completed existing training and experience of a standard considered equivalent to the standards set down for training in a recognised specialty, mainly in EU-EEA member states, and be established as a specialist in Ireland as the 1st country of establishment

Certificate of Specific Training or Acquired Rights (CSTAR)

This type of certificate is issued for General Practice only. The purpose of this certificate is to grant the doctor recognition of their specialist training in General Practice in any EU Member State, and access to the social security network of any EU Member State. It certifies that training meets with the requirements set down in Articles 28 or 30 and Annex V 5.1.4. of the Directive.

What are the General Criteria for Qualification of a Certificate of Specific Training?

1. Have completed a Vocational Training Programme in General Practice, and
2. Be a Member of the Irish College of General Practitioners, or
3. Completed existing training and experience of a standard considered equivalent to the standards set down for training in General Practice, mainly in EU-EEA member states, and be established as a specialist in Ireland as the 1st country of establishment

What are the General Criteria for Qualification of a Certificate of Acquired Rights?

1. Have acquired the right to recognition of their general practice training in accordance with the rules set down in the Directive and in accordance with GMS Circular 3/96

Application Procedure

• Applicants should make their application online

Additional Information

• For applicants who entered into the Specialist Division of the Register in Ireland based on mutual recognition of their training in Europe, EU Certification is not required from the Medical Council. This is because, under most circumstances, such applicants already hold valid EU Certification granting mutual recognition of qualifications.
• If an employing authority wishes to query the validity of qualifications presented, they can do so by e-mailing the query and a scanned copy of the qualification to this e-mail address: registration@mcirl.ie

Article 3(3) Certification

Article 3(3) Certification applies to medical practitioners who have completed basic or specialist training outside the European Union and have had their qualifications recognised by the Medical Council of Ireland for the purpose of practising medicine in Ireland. If the medical practitioner has three years certified professional experience in Ireland subsequent to registration (recognition of their qualifications) they may be eligible for mutual recognition of those qualifications in other EU-EEA Member States.

Please download and complete the attached application form.pdf. Make sure to include signed and certified evidence from your employer(s) of three years professional practice as a medical practitioner. If you are a specialist, three years experience is required in the speciality in which you have been registered.

Article 24 Compliance

This document certifies that the applicant has completed basic medical training which is compliant with Article 24 of EU Directive 2005/36/EC. Application form.pdf

Article 25 Post Verification Form

Competent authorities from other jurisdictions may request proof that certain individual training posts are compliant with Article 25 of the Directive. Medical practitioners who wish to have individual training posts completed in Ireland certified for recognition by other competent authorities should download and complete the attached form. If the Medical Council is satisfied that the training post is a training post within the meaning of Article 25 of EU Directive 2005/36/EC, it will issue a letter to that effect for the attention of the requesting competent authority.

Please download the attached form.pdf and credit card payment attachment. The fee for this service is €65.