Certificate in Contraception

The Certificate in Contraception is a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Training in Contraception. The Certificate is awarded by the ICGP, Reproductive and Sexual Health Committee.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the education programme for the Certificate in Contraception is to enable family doctors and other medical practitioners to acquire the knowledge and skills which are necessary to provide a contraception service.

Learning outcomes

The learning outcome is to acquire counselling skills and basic training in contraception, having acquired the following abilities:

• Demonstrate a sensitive and non-judgmental consultation style
• Discuss all methods of contraception currently available
• Demonstrate skills to provide basic counselling and advice about all these methods
• Demonstrate skills to initiate the use of hormonal and non-hormonal contraception and deal with common problems
• Demonstrate skills to provide emergency contraception
• Discuss the physiology of fertility
• Demonstrate a knowledge of sexuality
• Demonstrate skills to undertake a sexual health assessment/consultation
• Explain cervical cytology screening
• Discuss issues around crisis pregnancy
• Discuss the law relating to young people
• Discuss medico-legal and ethical issues specific to sexual health care

Certificate requirements

Who can apply?

A candidate applying for the Certificate in Contraception must be registered with the Medical Council in one of the following divisions; the Specialist division, the General division or the Trainee Specialist division. 

Training requirements

The basic requirements for the Certificate in Contraception consist of:

• Part I - Theory Course
• Part II - O&G Training
• Part III - Practical Course/Sessions

Part I & II MUST be completed before commencing Part III (practical training).

Part III (practical training) must be completed within two years of completing parts I & II.

Your application must be made within the 2.5 year time frame from your theory training to practical training in order to be considered. Applications made with theory and/or practical training that was completed more than 2.5 years ago will not be accepted.

Part I: Theory Course

• Applicants must attend a Theory Course and must provide a record of the course attended when applying for the Certificate in Contraception
• There are two options for attending a theory course: 
  1. The ICGP runs the theory course called the ICGP Reproductive and Sexual Health Theory Course. Click here for information. 
  2. Some GP training programmes run a theory course approved by the ICGP Reproductive and Sexual Health Committee. 

Click here for information for training programmes on applying for approval of a theory course.

Part II: O&G Training

Doctors must be competent in gynaecological examination which is essential to providing a contraception and reproductive health service. They must be competent in the following:

• Digital and speculum vaginal examination assessing size, position and mobility of uterus

There are three ways of certifying competence in this area:

A) Three-month period in gynaecological/obstetric post
B) Attendance and training at four or more sessions at a gynaecological clinic, under the supervision of a consultant gynaecologist, or Certification by a general practitioner trainer (applicable to GP trainees only)
C) Evidence of experience in general practice/ family planning clinic. If you completed your O&G training many years ago and cannot complete any of the three options (A-C) above within the 2.5 year timeframe and you are an experienced GP/Family Planning Doctors, then you can complete an additional form D outlining evidence of your experience of womens health in general practice. Click here to complete Form D.

Part III: Practical Course/Sessions

Applicants must undergo practical training under the supervision of a Contraception Tutor. There are two methods of obtaining practical training;

A) Practical training may be undertaken in a family planning clinic or general practice surgery under the supervision of a contraception tutor. A logbook must be completed by the candidate. Click here for log book. Before embarking on training, candidates should ensure their trainer is on the register of contraception tutors. You can check this by emailing jana.pickard@icgp.ie. For more information for contraception tutors, click here.

B) Candidates can attend a practical training workshop (Part III Course) run by the Irish College of General Practitioners. Click here for details. This course is run over two days and uses role play, small group discussions, presentations and debates to assess the theoretical knowledge and consultation skills of the candidates. Candidates will receive a letter stating successful completion of this course.

Please note, LARC Tutors are not Contraception Tutors. Please ensure that a Contraception Tutor supervises your practical training and not a LARC Tutor.

How to apply

Please read the section on training requirements before submitting your application.

Please click here for the application form.

Please click here for the payment link.

Documents for the Certificate in Contraception

1. Logbook

2. Form D

3. Certificate in Contraception Part II - Gynaecological Examination