Irish Medical Council Registration

As a Doctor wishing to practise medicine in the Republic of Ireland you must register with the Irish Medical Council (IMC). Every Doctor is responsible for ensuring their registration is current and appropriate for their individual circumstances.

TTM Healthcare Solutions will be happy to help you with any registration queries you may have.
Contact the TTM Doctor team on 065 68 69300 or email medical@ttmhealthcare.com

About the IMC

The IMC is the regulatory body for Doctors in the Republic of Ireland. It is responsible for protecting the public by ensuring Doctors working within Ireland are practising at the highest professional standard. As well as setting standards for medical education and training, the body keeps a Register of all Doctors who are allowed to work in Ireland and it is an offence to practise within the state while unregistered (with the exception of administering first aid or visiting European Economic Area (EEA) registered Doctors attending in an emergency.) As a Doctor, you are responsible for ensuring your registration is current and appropriate for your individual circumstances.

IMC Divisions - Where to Register

The Medical Council’s Register has several divisions which are:

Internship Registration

This applies to Doctors who wish to do internship training in a hospital recognised by the IMC. These posts are allocated by the HSE. Read more here.

Supervised Registration

This division registers doctors who have been offered a post that has been approved by the HSE and which has specific supervisory arrangements. Read more here.

Trainee Specialist Registration

This is for Doctors who are undertaking postgraduate medical training in a recognised training post allocated by the HSE. Read more here.

General Registration

This Register is for Doctors who do not practise in individually numbered, identifiable training posts, who have not been proposed for a post in the Supervised Division, and who have not completed recognised specialist medical training. You can read more here.

Specialist Registration

This division registers Doctors who have completed specialist training recognised by the Council and who may practise independently as a specialist. Read more here.

Visiting EEA Practitioners Registration

This division registers EU citizens who are fully established to practise medicine in another EU member state and who may practise medicine in Ireland on a temporary and occasional basis without having to take out specialist or general registration. Doctors should apply at least one month in advance of providing their service. You can find out more here.

IMC Applicant Categories

The IMC recognises four main categories of applicant:

Category 1: Graduates of Irish medical schools

Category 2: EU citizens who graduated in an EU medical school and/or their qualifications are recognised under EU Directives

Category 3: Non-EU citizens who graduated in an EU medical school and/or their qualifications would be recognised under EU Directives if they were EU citizens

Category 4: Doctors who do not come under any of the above categories. If you fall into this category, you can only complete registration by passing the Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES), unless exempt.

Applying for IMC Registration

All first-time applicants to the IMC must submit a fully completed application form, with full supporting documentation and the appropriate fee. Be sure to complete the application carefully; any omissions will result in a delay in your registration.

Regardless of which route you take, you will need to start by creating an account online with the Irish Medical Council (IMC).

Registering as an EU Trained Doctor

Step 1

Complete and submit the relevant Application Form.

Step 2

Gather the documentation required: A notarised* copy of your passport, a translated and notarised* copy of your original medical degree, a translated and notarised* copy of your original Certificate of Specialist Training (if you are applying for Specialist Registration), a Certificate of Conformity stating that your training is in accordance with the EU directive 2005/36/EC (not required if you completed your training in the UK) and a Certificate of Good Standing/Current Professional Status dated within the last 3 months. These must be sent directly to the IMC by post from each registration body with whom you’ve held registration in the last 5 years.

Step 3

You will receive an email with your Reference Number. The IMC will assess and verify your submitted documentation and decide on your registration.

Step 4

On approval you will pay your Registration Fee of €560 for both General and Specialist Registration. An annual Retention Fee of €560 to €605 also applies.

Registering as a Specialist Trained in the EU

If you are recognised as a Specialist Doctor in the EU, your qualifications will be automatically recognised by the IMC when you follow the above process and provide your original Certificate of Specialist Training with your documentation.

Registering as a Doctor Trained Outside of EU

Your medical education credentials must be verified through the Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials(EPIC) before you can apply for registration with the Medical Council.

Step 1
Complete and submit the relevant Application Form.

Step 2
Gather the documentation required: a notarised* copy of your passport, a notarised* copy of your Basic Medical Qualification, an English Translation of your Basic Medical Qualification, an official English translation of Certificate accompanying your qualification if this is not in English, an IELTS Certificate dated within the last 2 years and with an overall band score of 7.0 and a minimum score of 6.5 in each module. Send these documents BY POST to the IMC.

Step 3
Ask the relevant competent authorities to provide the IMC with your Certificate of Current Professional Status.

Step 4
Apply for a Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES) unless exempt.

Step 5
You will receive an email with a Reference Number. The IMC will assess and verify your submitted documentation and decide on your registration.

Step 6
On approval you will pay a Registration Fee of €560 for both General and Specialist Registration. An annual Retention Fee of €560 to €605 also applies.

Registering as a Specialist Trained Outside of the EU

You will need to request a portfolio-based Application Pack so that your training and experience can be evaluated. You can find out more here.

*Notarised copies must be stamped and signed by either a Notary public, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Oaths or a member of An Garda Siochana.

PRES Exemptions

Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES) is a test of knowledge of clinical disciplines of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Surgery and Medicine/General Practice. You can be exempt from the PRES if you:

1.Were registered in Ireland prior to the introduction of new Registration Rules in January 2011 OR

2. Are eligible for entry into the Specialist Division OR

3. Are a graduate of an Irish medical school and have completed internship training and been awarded a satisfactory Certificate of Experience (Internship) OR

4. Are a graduate of an EU medical school and are entitled to automatic recognition of your professional qualifications under EU legislation or you would be entitled if you were an EU citizen OR

5. Trained in Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan (if internship commenced after 31 December 2008), South Africa (if internship commenced after 1 July 2006), Sudan or Malaysia. Read more about exemptions here.