Conditional registration
Allows an international medical graduate to work only in an SMC-approved healthcare institution, under the supervision of a fully registered medical practitioner.
Last updated 16 January 2026
Eligibility requirements:
holds a basic1 medical degree from a university / medical school listed in the Second Schedule of the Medical Registration Act (also see important notes [PDF, 24 KB]); or
has a postgraduate qualification2 recognised by SMC; and
has been selected for employment in an SMC-approved healthcare institution; and
holds a certificate of experience3 or equivalent as proof of satisfactory completion of housemanship, or PGY1 or the internship year; and
is currently in active clinical practice4; and
Has passed the national licensing examination required in the country where the basic medical degree was obtained, if that country requires such an examination for its own medical graduates, regardless of whether the medical graduate intends to practise in that country.
has been certified to be in good standing by the overseas regulatory body or medical council equivalent; and
fulfils English Language requirements of SMC if the medium of instruction for the basic medical qualification is not in the English Language
1 Medical degree obtained via a 'twinning programme' would be considered only if the clinical training years and final examinations are done and completed at the medical school or university listed in the Second Schedule and in the country where the medical school or university in the Second Schedule is situated.
2 The basic medical degree must be from an accredited medical university or medical school.
3 Equivalent to certificate of experience shall be 12 months and shall consist of the following:
(a) at least 3 months in general medicine;
(b) at least 3 months in general surgery or orthopaedic surgery; and
(c) the remaining period in such discipline or combination of disciplines as the Medical Council may approve.
4 The doctor should be in active clinical practice for the 3 years preceding the application for medical registration (the minimum requirement is that the doctor must work an average of 168 hours per year during the 3 years prior to the application for registration).
All conditionally registered doctors must engage in clinical practice under the supervision of an appropriate supervisor approved by SMC. Their clinical work cannot include aesthetic practice. General health screening services should not exceed 20% of their clinical caseload.
Practice in the private sector
New foreign-trained doctors who apply to join the private sector directly must fulfil the criteria in the table below.
Existing doctors may join a private practice if they have progressed to Level 3 (L3) supervision under SMC’s Supervisory Framework.
Criteria for direct entry into private practice
Category | Details |
|---|---|
(A) | Foreign-trained (except European-trained) specialists can practise under supervision of an appropriate specialist in a private specialist practice IF they have 5 years* or more of related specialist clinical experience after obtaining an exit specialty qualification recognised by the Specialists Accreditation Board (SAB). They must be accredited by the SAB and registered with SMC as Specialists before they can practise as specialists in Singapore. |
(B) | All other foreign-trained doctors can practise in non-institutional or private Family Medicine practice or other private group practice IF they have at least 5 years* of practice in Family Medicine after obtaining any of the following Family Physician qualifications:
|
*the 5 years is counted based on full-time practice of at least 40 hours per week. | |
Pre-application
Before you attempt to file your application for registration online, you are strongly encouraged to familiarise yourself with the criteria for medical registration.