How Foreign-Trained Doctors Can Register with the Singapore Medical Council

Foreign-trained doctors who wish to practise in Singapore typically apply under the Conditional Registration category. This allows them to work only in SMC-approved healthcare institutions, under the supervision of a Fully Registered medical practitioner.


Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for Conditional Registration, international medical graduates must:

  • Possess a basic medical degree from a university or medical school listed in the Second Schedule of the Medical Registration Act;

  • Or hold a postgraduate medical qualification recognised by the SMC;

  • Or be accredited as a specialist by the Specialists Accreditation Board Singapore;

  • Be offered employment at an SMC-approved healthcare institution;

  • Provide a certificate of experience or equivalent, proving successful completion of housemanship, PGY1, or internship year;

  • Be in active clinical practice;

  • Have passed any national licensing examination required in the country where the basic medical degree was awarded (if applicable);

  • Be in good standing as certified by the relevant medical council or regulatory authority;

  • Meet the English Language requirements if their medical education was not conducted in English.

Note on Twinning Programmes:
Medical degrees earned via a twinning programme are considered only if the clinical training and final examinations were completed at a university listed in the Second Schedule and located in the same country.

Applicants must have been in active clinical practice for at least 3 years prior to registration, averaging 168 hours per year during that period.

Clinical Practice Restrictions

Conditionally registered doctors must:

  • Work under the supervision of an SMC-approved supervisor;

  • Avoid any involvement in aesthetic medicine;

  • Limit general health screening to no more than 20% of their clinical workload.

Support from Nucleus Health

Once a candidate receives an employment offer from an SMC-approved institution, Nucleus Health will assist in the medical registration process with SMC.

This information is sourced from the official Singapore Medical Council website. For the most up-to-date guidelines, please refer directly to: SMC Conditional Registration. 

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