Work as a Doctor in Ireland
Whether you’re looking for short- or long-term opportunities abroad, relocating to work as a doctor in Ireland can be a great option to consider! Ireland has a strong healthcare system with many hospitals and clinics that provide quality care to patients. They also usually have ample job opportunities for foreign doctors, especially doctors from South Africa (yay)!
On this page we aim to provide you with more information on how to work as a doctor in Ireland.
Page Contents
The pros and cons of working as a doctor in Ireland
PROS
There are several reasons why a South African doctor might want to work in Ireland, such as:
- Good career opportunities: Ireland has a strong healthcare system and a growing demand for medical professionals..
- Competitive salaries: Doctors in Ireland are generally well-compensated with salaries that compete well with those in other developed countries.
- Quality of life: Ireland is known for its high quality of life, with a strong economy, good public services, and a rich cultural heritage.
- Access to advanced medical technology: Ireland is a leading centre for medical research and innovation, with many hospitals and clinics equipped with advanced technology and treatment options. This can provide you with opportunities to work with cutting-edge medical technology and expand your skills.
- Opportunities for international collaboration: Working in Ireland often means meeting colleagues from various other countries. Besides being a wonderful way to expand your socio-cultural horizons, it could be particularly appealing if you are interested in participating or collaborating in international research and training programmes.
CONS
Although there are many benefits to moving to Ireland to work as a doctor, it’s always wise to weigh up the potential difficulties as well before making the leap:
- Weather: Ireland is known for its rainy and often chilly climate, which might not be ideal for everyone.
- Cost of living: The cost of living in Ireland can be high, especially in major cities like Dublin.
- Long working hours: Just like in South Africa, doctors in Ireland often work long and demanding hours.
- New working environment: Working in a different country will include learning how to work with new systems and sometimes even protocols, which can be stressful in the beginning.
- Cultural differences: Moving to a new country always involves adapting to new cultural norms and expectations, which can be a difficult adjustment for some and would require an open, and somewhat adventurous, mindset.
Requirements for working as a doctor in Ireland
If you’ve weighed up the pros and cons and still find yourself intrigued with the idea of working as a doctor in Ireland, then we have good news for you: it’s relatively easy for South African doctors to find work in Ireland!
However, there are still a few requirements you must meet before you can hop on the plane and go.
- If you started your internship after 1 July 2006, then you must have completed your internship.
- If you started your internship before 1 July 2006, then you have to pass the PRES (Pre-Registration Examination System) examination (please follow the link for more information as we won’t be discussing thhe PRES test here).
- You must achieve specific points on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test.
- You must be registered with the IMC (Irish Medical Council).
Stay with us as we delve a bit deeper into the processes involved in moving to Ireland to work as doctor.
Types of IMC registration
There are two types of IMC registration:
General registration
General registration applies to doctors that wish to work as a general Senior House Officer (SHO) or Registrar – essentially the equivalent of a Medical Officer/General Practitioner or Registrar in SA.
Specialist registration
This registration is for specialists that wish to work as consultants in Ireland.
Steps to working as a South African doctor in Ireland
1. Register with the Irish Medical Council (IMC)
How to apply with the Irish Medical Council:
- Contact HPCSA to request the following documents:
- Internship Duty Certificate (IDC).
- Certificate of Good Standing (COGS or COS) – please note that this is only valid for 3 months!
- Get certified copies of the following:
- MBChB degree.
- Passport (NB expiry date must be >3 months after you plan to return to South Africa).
- Certification by a commissioner of oaths is required.
- Submit the following documents to EPIC (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials).
- Internship Duty Certificate (IDC).
- Certified copy of your MBChB degree.
- *Certificate showing completion of your speciality training if applying for specialist registration.
- EPIC is the online portal used by ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates), an independent company that verifies the authenticity and validity of your qualifications. Via EPIC, they can then send your verification certificate through to the IMC upon request. Alternatively, they can send the certificate to you to submit to the IMC yourself.
- Apply for a police clearance certificate.
- Complete the IELTS examination.
- Only valid if completed within the last 2 years and you achieved an overall score of at least 7.0, with a minimum of 6.5 per module.
- Register with the IMC:
- Create an online registration account.
- Complete and submit the online application form.
- If you are applying for specialist registration then you must contact IMC to request a specialist application pack.
- Submit the required certified documents.
- Follow your application process on the IMC portal.
Registration with the IMC does not guarantee that you will find work as an SHO, Registrar, or Consultant in Ireland. Just as in South Africa, you still need to apply and get accepted for a job or specialist training program.
The medical field remains competitive wherever you go, so if you want to relocate to Ireland specifically to specialise in a preferred field, it would still be a good idea to work as an SHO in that field and apply for their training programme at a later stage.
Tip
Registering with the IMC can be a complex process, nevermind finding work and accommodation.
Luckily, there are a number of recruitment agencies that assist and support many South African doctors through this journey. Consider contacting an agency early on in the process if you want assistance and advice.
2. Get a job in Ireland
Once you have registered with the IMC, the next step is to apply for the job you want. You can either search and apply for a job by contacting medical facilities in Ireland directly or follow the much easier and quicker route of working through a recruitment agency.
Recruitment agencies tend to know of multiple job opportunities at various facilities and are more likely to find the right job for your preferences. They usually also provide CV setup and interview support to help you succeed with your application. However, if you want to try and find work directly, you can always start at the HSE (Health Service Executive) website – the Irish public healthcare sector.
3. Get an Irish work permit
As a South African looking to work in Ireland, you will need to get a work permit. Either you or your prospective employer can apply for the permit. If you working through a recruitment agency then they should be able to sort this step out for you.
If you will be working full time and for more than 90 days, then you will need a critical skills work permit.
If you are planning to work as a locum hospital doctor, then you will need an atypical working scheme permit.
4. Find accommodation in Ireland
Ireland unfortunately has a fairly competitive property market as they currently suffer a housing crisis. This can make it difficult to find accommodation close to the health facility where you will be working.
If you are working through a recruitment agency then ask them to help you get accommodation, or at the very least direct you to some websites or local estate agencies that can help you. Otherwise, try finding some local estate agencies close to your work and ask them about housing options and availability.
5. Open an Irish bank account and get a PPS number
Once you get to Ireland, you want to open a bank account and get your PPS (Personal Public Service) number as soon as possible. You need a PPS number if you want to get paid or make use of any of the social services. You will need the following documentation to open a bank account and/or apply for the PPS number:
- Certified copy of your passport.
- Proof of address (or accepted equivalent if staying at a hotel/friend).
- Employment letter.
Doing this step sooner rather than later will help to ensure that you receive your first paycheck on time.
