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Singapore Medical Council

Obtaining full registration

Allows a doctor to practise independently in Singapore.

Last updated on 1 October 2026

Eligibility requirements

Full registration may be granted to a doctor who:

  • holds an MBBS/MD degree awarded by a medical school in the First Schedule [PDF, 61 KB] (opens in new tab) of the Medical Registration Act and a certificate of experience as proof of satisfactory completion of PGY1 or housemanship; or

  • holds such qualifications as may be recognised by the Medical Council and a certificate of experience as proof of satisfactory completion of PGY1 or housemanship or the internship year(s) overseas and satisfies the Medical Council that he has special knowledge and skills and sufficient experience in any particular branch of medicine; or

  • has been Conditionally-registered, has completed the minimum period of full-time practice or equivalent under conditional registration in such types of clinical disciplines or specialties required by the Medical Council.

    AND

  • has obtained consistently satisfactory assessment reports on his performance during the period of provisional or conditional registration; and

  • for those on conditional registration, has been on Level 2 supervision for at least 6 months; and

  • has taken the SMC Physician's Pledge1.

1 In view of a fixed number of places available each time, attendance at the Pledge ceremony is strictly by invitation only. Proof of attendance is compulsory for doctors who wish to be fully registered. However, an invitation to attend the Pledge ceremony and proof of attending the Pledge ceremony does not equate to certainty of approval for full registration which also depends on other criteria e.g. consistently satisfactory performance, professional conduct and fitness to practise.

Minimum Period of Supervised Practice under Conditional Registration

Doctors who are on conditional registration may be considered for full registration after completing at least 2 years of full-time2 supervised practice (or equivalent) with consistently satisfactory performance3.

SMC will only accept applications for full registration no earlier than 6 weeks before the doctor's eligibility to apply for full registration.

2 Full-time practice is taken to be at least 40 hours per week. Practice of at least 20 hours per week but less than 40 hours per week is taken to be part-time, which will be counted as half of full-time practice. Practice of less than 20 hours per week will not be counted or considered towards fulfilment of the requirements for full registration. Non-clinical or administrative postings would not be considered or counted as part of the minimum period for full registration. Doctors who are in predominately non-clinical residency programmes (e.g. Preventive Medicine residency programme) may be considered for full registration if they fulfil the required period of clinical practice during training or are accredited and registered as a specialist.

3 Have obtained consistently satisfactory assessment and multi-rater reports for the doctor’s performance during the period of his/her conditional registration. The doctor must be assessed by more than one primary supervisor during the period of conditional registration for a more objective and holistic appraisal.

Postings with Limited Scope or Patient Contact

To ensure comprehensive training and patient exposure, there will be a cap on the length of practice recognised for full registration for postings with limited scope or patient contact:

  • A maximum of 6 months at each of the following practice places may be recognised:

    • Health Promotion Board (HPB) Youth Preventive Health Service

    • Health Sciences Authority (HSA) Blood Services Group

  • A combined maximum of 12 months across the following practice places may be recognised:

    • HPB Youth Preventive Health Service

    • HSA Blood Services Group

    • Diagnostic Radiology departments

    • Laboratory Medicine departments

    • Pathology departments

(Note: Doctors who have commenced local Diagnostic Radiology or Pathology residency programmes prior to 1 October 2026 will be granted exemption from this requirement.)

Conditionally registered via medical school listed in the Second Schedule of the Medical Registration Act (MRA)

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who have obtained conditional registration by virtue of a registrable basic medical qualification from a university / medical school listed in the Second Schedule (opens in new tab) of the MRA (also see important notes [PDF, 16 KB] (opens in new tab)) and had not completed Post Graduate Year 1 (PGY1) in Singapore, must complete at least 12 months of broad-based practice [PDF, 88 KB] (opens in new tab) with satisfactory performance before they may be considered for full registration.

Conditionally registered via registrable postgraduate qualifications

IMGs who have obtained conditional registration by virtue of a registrable postgraduate medical qualification4 may be considered for full registration by fulfilling the requirements of one of the following three pathways:

Pathway 1

Pathway 2 (Specialist Route)

  • Obtain accreditation by the Specialists Accreditation Board (SAB) and registration by the SMC as a specialist5 in a core specialty6 via a local residency training programme.

Pathway 3 (Family Physician Route)

  • Hold a registrable postgraduate qualification in Family Medicine; and

  • Obtain accreditation by the Family Physicians Accreditation Board (FPAB) and registration by the SMC as a Family Physician; and

  • Complete at least 2 years of full-time supervised practice (or equivalent)  under conditional registration, inclusive of both General Practice and Family Physician practice periods.

4 This includes doctors who were granted conditional registration by virtue of an SMC-approved Staff Registrar Scheme (SRS) or a Graduate Diploma in Clinical Practice (GDCP).

5 Refers to specialists without restrictions (e.g., on practice scope) or conditions imposed on their Specialist Registration.

6 Excludes the subspecialties recognised by the SAB.