PRES & Exemptions
How can I be exempted from the PRES?
You can be exempted from the PRES in order to be registered in the General Division if you:
- were registered in Ireland (in any Division of the Register) prior to the introduction of new Registration Rules in January 2011. Medical practitioners who were registered in Ireland prior to the new Registration Rules are not normally required to pass the PRES if they apply to restore their name to the Register having been unregistered for a period of time; or
- you are a graduate of an Irish medical school and have completed internship training and been awarded a satisfactory Certificate of Experience (Internship); or
- you 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
- you have been awarded a document which is considered by the Medical Council to be at least the equivalent of a Certificate of Experience (Internship Certificate)
IMPORTANT: All applicants for general registration must either meet the eligibility requirements under Categories General 1, 2 or 3 OR have been awarded a document which is considered to be at least the equivalent of a Certificate of Experience (Internship Certificate) OR pass or be exempted from the PRES. This is different to the eligibility requirements for trainee specialist registration.
There are additional exemptions available but only if you are registered in the Trainee Specialist Division and you have been awarded a Certificate of Experience (Internship) or equivalent or higher and you:
- have been awarded a Higher Qualification which is recognised for the purposes of exemption from the PRES (see Appendix I of the Guide to Registration or Appendix A of the Registration Rules*); or
- You have been offered a place in a higher specialist training programme which is recognised by the Medical Council for the purpose of exemption. The programmes currently recognised for this exemption are listed in Appendix J of the Guide to Registration**. IMPORTANT: Exemption from the PRES on this basis does not extend beyond recognised training posts associated with the relevant exempted training programme and any registrant who wishes to practice outside of that training programme will be required to pass the PRES.
To qualify for either of the above exemptions, the applicant must have been accepted into a training programme by virtue of demonstrating the necessary competence for the specialty at that level. You should request the relevant postgraduate training body to confirm this in writing to the Medical Council. The applicant must apply for registration several months in advance of commencing the training post/programme, to allow the Medical Council sufficient time to consider their application fully and must provide up-to-date Certificates of Good Standing prior to being granted registration.
IMPORTANT: All applicants for trainee specialist registration must have been awarded a document which is considered to be at least the equivalent of a Certificate of Experience (Internship Certificate) AND pass or be exempted from the PRES. This is different to the eligibility requirements for general registration.
*NOTE 1: The Medical Council may recognise Higher Qualifications awarded by other postgraduate training bodies outside the State, where the relevant Irish training body recommends that they are equivalent to their own and the Medical Council accepts that recommendation. Enquiries about equivalence should be made to the relevant Irish training body for recommendation to the Medical Council. Recommendations from individuals or training bodies from other jurisdictions will not be accepted.
**NOTE 2: Applications for recognition of a programme for the purpose of exemption from the PRES will only be considered on application from the relevant Irish postgraduate training body (not from individuals) to the Council’s Professional Development Committee. Programmes likely to be granted an exemption from the PRES would typically be for a limited duration.
If I am exempt from the PRES and registered in the General Division can I attempt the PRES now, so that I can be registered in the Trainee Specialist Division in the future?
Yes, once you are registered in the General Division, if you submit a written request (stating your name, registration number, date of birth and mother’s maiden name), your file can be passed to our Education and Training Section for admission to the PRES.
I have already been admitted to the PRES. Am I now exempt on the basis of my internship training?
When you applied for registration, your internship training was not benchmarked against the Medical Council’s new Criteria for Awarding a Certificate of Experience (Internship). This new system involves a substantial, in-depth assessment of your internship training to ensure it meets all of the criteria required by the Medical Council. You are, therefore, not automatically exempt from the PRES simply because you have already submitted a Certificate of Internship and been admitted to the PRES. You could, of course, request that your internship training be assessed against these criteria now. However, merely submitting an Internship Certificate is not sufficient. For further information about this assessment process, please click here
IMPORTANT: The assessment process for these applications is in its infancy and will take some considerable time. It is by no means a “fast tracking” of applications and remains a robust form of assessment. In the short run, it may be advisable for applicants who are currently attempting the PRES to continue with the PRES route, which might be quicker and will be needed if you wish to be registered in the Trainee Specialist Division at any time in the future.
I have passed the IMRCSI. Am I exempt from the PRES?
Exemption from the PRES on the basis of Intercollegiate Membership of the RCSI is only granted when accompanied by an original/certified copy CCBST and only for registration in the Trainee Specialist Division. You are also required to have a Certificate of Experience (Internship) or equivalent.
I have failed the PRES. Is it possible to be registered in the General Division now?
In order to be eligible for registration in the General Division, you are required to pass or be exempt from the PRES or have been awarded a Certificate of Experience (Internship) or equivalent document. If you applied for registration prior to 1st January 2011, your internship training was not benchmarked against the Medical Council’s new Criteria for Awarding a Certificate of Experience (Internship). This new system involves a substantial, in-depth assessment of your internship training to ensure it meets all of the criteria required by the Medical Council. You are, therefore, not automatically exempt from the PRES simply because you have already provided a Certificate of Internship and been admitted to the PRES. You could, of course, request that your internship training be assessed against these criteria now, however, merely submitting an Internship Certificate is not sufficient. For further information about this assessment process, please click here
I am currently attempting the PRES. Can I be registered in the General Division in the meantime?
If you have not passed the PRES yet, you can be registered in the General Division if you:
- were registered in Ireland (in any Division of the Register) prior to the introduction of new Registration Rules in January 2011. Medical practitioners who were registered in Ireland prior to the new Registration Rules are not normally required to pass the PRES if they apply to restore their name to the Register having been unregistered for a period of time; or
- you are a graduate of an Irish medical school and have completed internship training and been awarded a satisfactory Certificate of Experience (Internship); or
- you 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
- you have been awarded a document which is considered by the Medical Council to be at least the equivalent of a Certificate of Experience (Internship Certificate)
You cannot, however, be registered in the Trainee Specialist Division until you pass or are exempted from the PRES.
NOTE: All applicants for general registration must either meet the eligibility requirements under Categories General 1, 2 or 3 OR have been awarded a document which is considered to be at least the equivalent of a Certificate of Experience (Internship Certificate) OR pass or be exempted from the PRES. This is different to the eligibility requirements for trainee specialist registration.
I have a Higher Qualification which is listed in the Registration Rules for exemption from the PRES. Can I be registered in the General Division on that basis?
You can be exempted from the PRES in order to be registered in the General Division if you have been awarded a higher qualification which is listed in the Registration Rules and have either undertaken an internship of at least twelve months which comprised of a minimum of three months in medicine in general and three months in surgery in general or have completed a minimum of three years in an accredited training programme.
NOTE: You will need a Certificate of Experience (Internship) or equivalent if you wish to be registered in the Trainee Specialist Division, regardless of whether or not you are exempt from the PRES on the basis of your Higher Qualification.
I do not have a Certificate of Experience or equivalent but I have passed (or been exempted from) the PRES. Can I be registered in the Trainee Specialist Division?
No. The legislation does not provide for exemption from the Certificate of Experience (Internship) or equivalent document in order to be registered in the Trainee Specialist Division.