Eligibility requirements:
holds a basic1 medical degree from a university / medical school listed in the Second Schedule of the Medical Registration Act; or
has a postgraduate or exit specialist qualification recognised by the Specialists Accreditation Board; and
has been selected for employment in a Singapore hospital / institution / medical practice in an SMC-approved healthcare institution; and
holds a certificate of experience as proof of satisfactory completion of housemanship; and
is currently in active clinical practice2; and
has passed such national licensing examination as required in the country where the basic medical degree was conferred (where applicable); and
has been certified to be in good standing by the overseas regulatory body or medical council equivalent; and
fulfils English Language requirements of SMC if the medium of instruction for the basic medical qualification is not in the English Language
1 Medical degree obtained via a 'twinning programme' would be considered only if the clinical training years and final examinations are completed in the country where the Scheduled medical school or university is sited.
2The doctor should be in active clinical practice for the 3 years preceding the application for medical registration (i.e. 168 hours during 3 years prior to the application).
All conditionally registered doctors must engage in clinical practice under the supervision of an appropriate supervisor approved by SMC. Conditionally registered doctors may apply for full registration after they have fulfilled the specified period of service under conditional registration as depicted in table 1 below and any other prevailing criteria.
Table 1 – Period of Supervised Practice for a Conditional Registrant prior to full registration
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*
Note: The specified period refers to clinical practice on a full-time basis with at least 40 hours per week. 1 year
2 years
2 years
4 years
Place of Practice 1st year mandated in approved healthcare institution or learning institution** unless doctor satisfies (A) below
1st year mandated in approved healthcare institution or learning institution** unless doctor satisfies (B) below
Supervisory Framework
Yes
Yes
+ Where applicable, the doctor may be required to practise under supervision beyond the duration indicated in table 1.
^ PR refers to Singapore Permanent Residents.
# Good Performance refers to having obtained consistently good assessment reports on the doctor’s performance throughout the period of his / her conditional registration.
** Learning institutions refers to approved healthcare institutions that has been accredited by SMC to recruit new International Medical Graduates (IMGs). Institutions may apply for accreditation as a Learning Institution by SMC if they are able to comply with SMC's supervisory framework and other requirements.
* Eligibility period for full registration is based on full-time practice of at least 40 hours per week. Doctors who work less than 40 hours per week are not considered as working full time. The doctor working part-time must clock at least 20 hours per week in order to have his work hours included for computation toward the specified period for full registration. The total period will be doubled that of the specified period listed in the table for doctors on full time practice.
Criteria for direct employment and practice in non-institutional practice:
Any person who qualifies for conditional registration may apply to join a non-institutional type of practice if he meets the criteria in the table below. Alternatively, he / she may be considered for non-institutional type of practice after the 1st year of conditional registration, provided the doctor has consistently obtained grading of 'Exceeding' and 'Outstanding' in the assessment reports; and the performance must have been considered 'Exceeding' or 'Outstanding' by the supervisor, employing institution and SMC. Doctors with performance grades of 'Meeting' and below would not be accorded this privilege.
Category
Details
(A)
Foreign-trained (except European-trained) specialists can practise under supervision of an appropriate specialist in private specialist practice IF they have 5 years* or more of related specialist clinical experience after obtaining specialty qualification recognised by the Specialists Accreditation Board (SAB). They must be accredited by the SAB and registered with SMC as Specialists before they can practise as specialists in Singapore.
*5 years is based on full-time clinical practice of at least 40 hours per week.
(B)
Foreign-trained non-specialists can practise in non-institutional or private Family Medicine practice or other private group practice IF they have 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
- Fellow of the Hong Kong College of Family Physicians (FHKCFP)
Cancellation of Conditional Registration:
The SMC may consider cancellation of the doctor’s conditional registration if:
- Doctor has breached the conditions of his medical registration; or
- Doctor has ceased practice at the approved place of employment; or
- Doctor has performed poorly; or
- Doctor has ceased practice for long periods without prior approval from SMC, e.g. taken No-Pay leave for periods exceeding 3 months per year without SMC’s approval
The doctor’s PC will be deemed cancelled in the event that his registration has been cancelled by the SMC.
Request for No-Pay Leave:
The conditional registrant is considered to have failed to comply with the conditions specified in the grant of his medical registration, and his conditional registration will be cancelled, if he goes on No-Pay leave for periods exceeding 3 months per year without SMC’s approval.
The employing institution must submit a request (via a request form) for the doctor to remain on the register should he/she wish to go on No-Pay leave exceeding 3 months per year. A request to extend the period of No-Pay leave should be submitted by the employing institution if the doctor wishes to extend his/ her No-Pay leave beyond the SMC-approved period.
All requests should be submitted to Council at least 4 weeks before the doctor embarks on/ continues with his/her No-Pay Leave. The outcome will be made known to the employer 2 weeks after the receipt of request.
The doctor’s medical registration will be cancelled if the request is not approved by the Medical Council and the doctor proceeded with his NPL. In such a case, the doctor must re-apply for medical registration by submitting a fresh application and fee.