The Forum of Irish Postgraduate Medical Training Bodies (“the Forum”) is the umbrella group of the colleges and faculties that run specialist training in Ireland. It coordinates standards and workforce planning with the HSE and the Medical Council, and it publishes the 2021–2030 Strategic Framework for Postgraduate Medical Training in Ireland.
What the Forum and its members do
- Set and quality-assure curricula and exams for each specialty.
- Run national recruitment into Basic and Higher Specialist Training with the HSE NDTP.
- Work on policy for doctors who are not on training schemes, including the IMGTI.
- Take part in committees on training numbers, the intern year and supports for trainees.
Where non-EU doctors fit
A large share of Irish hospital doctors are not on a training scheme, and many of them trained outside the EU. Training places carry the community-preference rule described in the EU/EEA page, so non-EU applicants have fewer routes. The current options include:
| Option | What it offers | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Non-scheme NCHD posts | Service jobs (SHO, registrar) with exposure to Irish practice and support for exams | Not a training scheme; progress is not guaranteed |
| Competitive entry to training schemes | Open where the training body allows non-priority applicants after EU applicants are considered | Few places are available to non-EU applicants in most years |
| IMGTI | Two-year sponsored placement | Return home; only for partner countries and sponsors |
| Clinical fellowships and the national specialist assessment | Fellowships and specialist assessment for senior doctors | Entry rules are set by each body |
| Recognition of overseas training | Specialist Division assessment for those who completed training abroad | Needs approval from the training body and the Medical Council |
Practical steps for a non-EU doctor
- Start with EPIC and the Medical Council eligibility check.
- Decide whether you need General registration and the PRES, or whether you are exempt.
- Look at non-scheme posts and plan your exam route (for example college membership exams) from the first day.
- Ask the college for your specialty how many non-EU doctors have entered the scheme in recent years.
- Check the immigration rules for your family and the employment permit that goes with the job.
Your checklist
- List the training bodies for my specialty
- Ask each how non-EU applicants are treated
- Plan my exam route
This page is general education, reviewed 24 October 2026. Rules, fees and dates change: always confirm with the official sources below. It is not medical, legal or immigration advice.