Registration Applications FAQs

To find out what division of the register you can apply for, please follow the instructions on the Eligibility Chart on our website.

• You can find an overview of the registration application process on our website in the First Time Applicants section.
• The first step is to check the Eligibility Chart, which provides guidance on which route you should submit your application under. You will then need to set up an online account for the Medical Council’s Doctor’s Portal.
• Once you have created your online account and submitted your online registration application, you will need to submit your supporting registration documentation. A full list of the required documentation for each of the routes can be found in our Required Documents section.
• In order to submit an application online, you will need your passport number and a debit/credit card for payment of fees. 
• You will be required to provide details and dates of your medical education, training and professional experience.

You can set up an Online Doctor's Portal account by clicking "Register now" on the log in page here. We also have several videos on how to use the Doctor’s Portal available to view here.

We have have developed several training videos on how to use the Doctor’s Portal available to view here.

Instructions on how to reset your password are available here.

The evidence of effective communication skills accepted by the Medical Council for registration purposes is outlined on our website here.

You can find a full list of all required documents for each of the registration routes in our Required Documents section or listed on the checklist noted under each route .

Please follow the instructions on the relevant Document Checklist for your route of registration and upload your documents via the Doctors Portal. 

All copy documents must be notarised by a Notary Public or attested by a Justice of the Peace / Commissioner for Oaths / Solicitor/Lawyer in the UK & Ireland/Member of An Garda Síochána (documents signed by a Police Officer or lawyer from another State are not acceptable). They must confirm that the copy is a true copy of the original document, provide their full name and sign, date and officially stamp each document on the front page.  

Please note that documents which are not stamped clearly or notarised/attested by any other service will not be accepted. 

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to confirm when individual documents have been received to our office. We kindly ask that you refer to your own tracking information for this purpose. Please ensure you have sent all required documents to the Medical Council as outlined in the Document Checklists section on our website.

You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application. Once the assessment of your application commences, you will be emailed directly by your assessor if any further information/documents are required.  

Please note your documents will not be reviewed prior to assessment. 

• If you have qualified outside of the EU/EEA and are applying for registration through the Certificate of Experience Route, you must have completed an internship recognised as equivalent to the Irish internship. The list of recognised internships can be found here.

You can find an overview of the Medical Council's registration fees in the Fees Section of our website.

Doctors intending to pursue registration in the general or trainee specialist division may be required to sit the Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES).

It is comprised of two elements – the PRES Level 2 and the PRES Level 3. The PRES examinations are primarily a test of knowledge and clinical skills in the main clinical disciplines of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Surgery, and Medicine/General Practice. Find out more in our PRES Examination section here.

Internship registration allows a doctor to carry out internship training in a hospital recognised by the Medical Council. These posts are allocated by the Health Service Executive (HSE). More information is available in our Internship Registration Section.

Doctors with general registration may practise independently without supervision but may not represent themselves as being specialists. More information is available in our General Registration Section.

Doctors with trainee specialist registration are on recognised training programmes and practise solely within the confines of posts allocated by the Health Service Executive (HSE), in conjunction with the national postgraduate training bodies.

More information is available in our Trainee Specialist Registration Section.

Registration in the supervised division is granted to doctors who have been offered a post that has been approved by the national Health Service Executive (HSE), which has specific supervisory arrangements.

Before you apply for registration with the Medical Council, the HSE should advise whether supervised registration is required. More information is available in our Supervised Registration Section.

Doctors with specialist registration may practise independently, without supervision and may represent themselves as specialists. More information and an overview of the different Specialty Options can be found on our website here.

European Union citizens who are fully established to practise medicine in another European Union member state may practise medicine in Ireland on a temporary and occasional basis without having to take out registration. Doctors should apply at least one month in advance of planning to practise medicine in Ireland. Find out more here.

If the name on your passport is different from what is on your Basic Medical Qualification or specialist qualification, please provide a notarised/attested copy of your Marriage Certificate / Deed poll/ Birth Certificate.   

 The application fee is non-refundable therefore, please ensure you review the eligibility route prior to applying for registration.  

Please ensure you review the eligibility chart to determine which routes you are eligible for registration. Once you have determined which route you are applying for, please ensure to gather the relevant documents before applying.  Please note documents must submitted at the time of your application submission.  

Please be advised that the Medical Council cannot accept any incomplete applications. Therefore, please ensure to provide all the correct documentation prior to applying for registration.  

Please note the application fee is non-refundable.  

Yes, this is a requirement for applicants applying via the automatic recognition route for Specialist Registration and/or if you graduated before the member state was in the EU.  

 A certificate of conformity is required for:  

• General EU Applicant - If you began your studies before the Country where you received your Basic Medical Qualification from joined the EU. 

• Specialist EU Applicant - Certificate of Conformity from the relevant competent authority which confirms that your Specialist Qualification was awarded in accordance with the provisions of EU Directive 2005/36/EC. 

Your application will be deemed a non- standard application and must be reviewed by the Registration Adjudication Committee. You will be required to provide all relevant information regarding the matter along with a personal statement.  

 If you are required to use EPIC, you must ensure your documents are available for viewing in EPIC prior to submitting your application.  Please note if you apply for registration before verifying your EPIC documents, your application will be deemed incomplete and closed and the application fee will be forfeited.  

 Yes, it is Council policy for all applicants to provide a Certificate of Good Standing from all jurisdictions they held registration with within the last 5 years.  

 It is Council policy that Certificates of Good Standing must be in date at the time of activation of your registration. Therefore, if the certificate has expired you will be required to submit a new certificate.