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All medical practitioners must be registered with SMC and issued a Practising Certificate (PC) before they can practise medicine in Singapore.
Last updated 7 April 2025
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Registration of medical practitioners in Singapore is governed by the Medical Registration Act 1997.
Local-trained doctors
Local-trained medical practitioners refer to medical graduates holding MBBS or equivalent degree awarded by any of the medical schools specified in the First Schedule [PDF, 61 KB] of the Medical Registration Act 1997 (MRA).
This group of doctors may apply for provisional registration, to undergo 12 months of housemanship or equivalent training, after they have obtained their medical qualification. Subsequently, the doctor may apply for full registration upon obtaining the certificate of experience, taking the Physician’s Pledge and fulfilling the existing criteria for full registration.
International Medical Graduates (IMGs)
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) refer to doctors trained overseas. IMGs holding a degree from a university specified in the Second Schedule of the MRA (also see important notes [PDF, 21 KB]) or a registrable postgraduate medical qualification [PDF, 146 KB] recognised by SMC may apply for medical registration provided the applicant meets SMC's prevailing criteria for registration.
International Medical Graduates who do not hold qualifications which are recognised by the SMC as stated above will not be eligible to apply for medical registration to be a medical practitioner in Singapore.
Types of registration
Provisional registration
Allows a medical graduate who wishes to obtain a certificate of experience to be employed as a Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY1) trainee in Singapore.
Conditional registration
Allows an IMG to work only in an SMC-approved healthcare institution, under the supervision of a fully registered medical practitioner.
Temporary registration
SMC grants temporary registration to visiting experts of international standing and IMGs in teaching, research, or training programs.
Specialist registration
Before a doctor practises as a specialist in Singapore, he / she must obtain specialist accreditation from the Specialists Accreditation Board.
Family physician registration
To practise as a FP in Singapore, a doctor must hold either full or conditional medical registration with the SMC and possess a valid PC.
Additional information
Documents for submission and processing time
Documents required for submission for all applications for medical registration.
Fitness to practise (health)
Doctors applying for SMC registration must declare any health conditions that may affect their fitness to practise.
Registration application fees and other fees
Please refer to the Fees Schedule Table for fee payable.