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Election to Membership of the ICGP & Registration on the Specialist Division of the Register - General Practice (SDR)

ELECTION TO MEMBERSHIP OF ICGP
All GP registrars for whom the issue of CSCT has been confirmed and who have been successful in all modules of the examination will be recommended to the Council of the College/and or as delegated to the Executive, for election to membership. New members will be issued with a notification of their election on or before 30th June 2010.

Registration Status & Registration on the Specialist Division of the Register - General Practice (SDR)

Members of the College are eligible for entry onto the Specialist Division of the Register - General Practice (SDR). The Medical Council has advised that that on final completion of training (1st of July) GP Registrars move automatically from Trainee Specialist Division to the General Division of the Register, pending the processing of their application for entry onto the Specialist Division of the Register (General Practice - General Practice (SDR) Register).

NOTE

  • It is a matter for the individual doctor to make an application to the Medical Council for entry onto the Specialist Division of the Register(SDR).
  • The Medical Council has agreed that a copy of the letter of election to membership of the ICGP is sufficient evidence of eligibility for entry onto the SDR (i.e. the applicant will not have to await receipt of the ICGP Membership Certificate).
  • A list of newly elected members of the College will be issued to the Medical Council on 30th June 2010.
  • A doctor who is registered in the Trainee Specialist Division and ceases to practice in a training post is normally registered in the General Division within fourteen days of ceasing to practice in that post, as per the provisions of section 48(6) of the MPA 2007. It is our understanding therefore that newly qualified General Practitioners may continue to practice after 1st of July 2010, pending their entry onto the Specialist Division of the Register(SDR)

Making Application to the Medical Council for Entry onto Specialist Division of the Register - General Practice

While doctors who have completed recognised specialist training are normally eligible for specialist registration, they must instigate that process themselves by applying to the Medical Council for specialist registration. The application fee is €210 and they must complete the Medical Council's Generic Application Form as instructed and provide the required supporting documentation. Information about applying to the Medical Council for specialist registration and application form is available on the Medical Council website.

Registration and Certification to Practice as a General Practitioner in Ireland

Structure of the new Register of Medical Practitioners

On 16th March 2009, the Register of Medical Practitioners was established under section 43 of the Act and replaced the General Register of Medical Practitioners and the Register of Medical Specialists, which were established under the Medical Practitioners Act 1978. The Register comprises four Divisions. A medical practitioner can only be registered in one Division at a time, except for a specialist training in another specialty.

Click here for more information from the Medical Council.

a) General Registration

In order to practice independently in any health care setting without supervision, a doctor must hold a certificate of full registration with the Irish Medical Council. The Medical Council provide an annual Certificate of Registration following the presentation of required documents and the payment of an annual registration fee.

b) Specialist Division of the Register - General Practice (SDR)

The Medical Practitioners Act 2007, passed by the Oireachtas in May 2007, forms the basis of all regulatory requirements governing the practice of medical practitioners including general practitioners. It will be implemented once the enactment date is set by the Minister for Health and Children. This is a voluntary register at present. Specialists appear within approved specialties, in this case, General Practice. Applications for entry to this register are processed by the Council's Registration Section.

A specialist is a doctor who has completed their training and requires no further training or supervision to practice independently in the discipline of their choice. Continuity in the Specialist Division of the Register is directly linked to competence assurance structures and regulations governed by the Medical Council.

c) Certificate of Specific Training/Acquired Rights (CSTAR) in General Medical Practice EU Directive 93/16/EEC)

This certificate is issued by the Medical Council. A general practitioner is required to hold this certificate in order to be deemed eligible to accept/hold a state scheme contract in Ireland e.g. GMS, mother and infant contract, childhood immunisation. This certificate also entitles the bearer to work within state schemes in other member states of the EU.

General practitioners are eligible for CSTAR certification if they hold a recognised qualification in general practice in Ireland i.e. the MICGP or a recognised qualification from an accredited training body in another EU country and/or have an acquired right to certification under the Directive.