Frequently Asked Questions

As part of an overall review of our education, and to continue our ongoing commitment, the Irish College of GPs has updated Contraception education for GPs and GP Trainees. The updated education will address the latest evidence base to ensure that patient care for contraception consultations is based on the most up-to-date clinical guidelines.

Certificate in Contraception involves completing the Contraception Theory Course and a Contraception logbook under the supervision of an Irish College of GPs Contraception Tutor.

For more information - Certificate in Contraception

Certificate in Contraception involves completing the Contraception Theory Course and a Contraception logbook under the supervision of an Irish College of GPs Contraception Tutor. In order to submit your online application for the the following must have completed

• Irish College of GPs Contraception Theory Course 
• ICGP GP Specialist Training Resource Pack - GP Trainees only* 
• Complete Contraception Logbook under a Contraception tutor
• Pay €80 Application fee to access the Submission Portal

Your completed logbook and application must be submitted digitally to Irish College of GPs within a three-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 three years ago will not be accepted. 

In the event that you cannot complete all the training within the 3 year period, you will be required to re-do the theory course. 

In order to submit your online application the following must be completed

1. Pay €80 Application fee to access the Submission Portal
2. Upload the logbook on the submission portal you can find on the course page

The Irish College of GPs has developed an online approach to the Theory Course in Contraception. GPs and GP Trainees will be able to access 2 eLearning modules as part of this course, which is accessible at your own convenience. This eLearning modules serve as a pre-requisite for pursuing Certificate in Contraception

1. Module 1: Contraception Theory contains the core content which GPs and GP Trainees require to safely prescribe contraception
2. Module 2: Reproductive Health Theory provides additional information on common presentations in general practice that may arise when prescribing contraception

No, only Irish College of GPs Contraception Theory course is accepted.

The course is available for College members, PCS enrolee non members and GP trainees only. This is not available for Advanced Nurse Practitioner

This course is open to GP members and GP Trainees for free and for PCS Enrolees at a fee of €250

Please note that if you do not complete the practical training within 3 years of undertaking the Theory Course you will be required to do the Theory Course again before submitting your application and logbook to the RSH Committee.

The Contraception theory course is eligible for 5 Accredited CE Credits and 1 day GMS leave. 

1. Three-month Obstetrics and Gynaecology post under a Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist
2. Attendance and training at four or more sessions at a gynaecology clinic under the supervision of a Consultant Gynaecologist
3. Certification by College General Practitioner Trainer or Irish College of GPs Contraception Tutor

Gynaecological training must be completed before embarking on the practical training for the Certificate in Contraception. 

Practical training includes completing section 3, 4 and 5 of the Contraception logbook that is available on the course page. This training must be overseen by an Irish College of GPs registered Contraception tutor only. 

Candidates who do the practical course are expected to have a good basic knowledge of contraception and sexual health in a general practice setting. For this reason it is advisable that either fourth-year trainees or qualified GPs attend this course.

Application Guide, Logbook and information regarding application process, fee and timeline can be found on the course page.

Contraception Tutors provide training in contraception for candidates who wish to apply for the Certificate in Contraception. The Contraception Tutor assess the candidate and sign the relevant logbook certifying that the candidate has completed the necessary training. 

GPs or GP Trainees who wish to complete the practical component of the Certificate of Contraception during their GP Registrar years can do so in their training practice by completing a logbook under the supervision of a contraception tutor. We encourage GP Trainers or doctors working in training practices to become Contraception tutors.

You must ensure that your Tutor is an Irish College of GPs-registered Contraception Tutor by emailing womenshealth@icgp.ie before initiating the training.

Applicants can email us to request information on Tutors in their area.

Applicants can email womenshealth@icgp.ie to request information on Tutors in their area. We provide name and clinic information as consented by the tutors. The trainee then must directly contact the practice and check for the tutors availability.

The Application fee is €80 for Certificate in Contraception and Advanced Certificate in LARC respectively

The application and submission process is now fully online. The logbook must be submitted on the submission portal on the course page.

GPs who complete the Contraception logbook can self-record this under the Work-based Learning category using 1 hour activity = 1 credit as a guideline.

You may record training sessions as you go or make one entry to represent all training in a given PCS year. You may attach your logbook as evidence or include the name of your tutor and dates of training in the textbox when recording.

For more information, contact professional.competence@icgp.ie 

The logbook review process takes 3-4 weeks (excluding weekends/bank holidays) from the date of submission. 

If your logbook is approved you will receive an email and you can download your Certificate of Completion

If any pre requisites or requirements are not met, approval will be placed on hold. In such cases, we will contact you via email to request either a resubmission or confirmation of specific details. Once you reupload it will take further 2-3 weeks for review process. 

As part of an overall review of our education and to continue our ongoing commitment, the Irish College of GPs has updated LARC education for GPs and GP Trainees. LARC Education will address the latest evidence base to ensure that patient care for LARC consultations and insertions is based on the most up-to-date clinical guidelines.    

Advanced Certificate in LARC involves completing the LARC Theory Course and a LARC logbook under the supervision of an Irish College of GPs LARC Tutor. The logbook has an option to obtain Certificate in LARC IUD or LARC Subdermal or Both.

For more information - Advanced Certificate in LARC

Obtained Irish College of GPs Certificate in Contraception OR minimum three years’ experience post completion of GP Training providing contraceptive services and completion of Irish College of GPs Contraception Theory course

Yes, to be certified as LARC inserter you will need to do the Advanced Certificate in LARC. This is also a pre requisite to become a LARC Tutor.

In the event that you cannot complete all the training within the 3 year period, you will be required to re-do the theory course. 

In order to submit your online application the following must be completed

1. Pay €80 Application fee to access the Submission Portal
2. Upload the logbook on the submission portal you can find on the course page

Yes, The logbook has an option to apply for any of the below certificates 

• Advanaced Certificate in LARC - IUD only
• Advanaced Certificate in LARC - Subdermal only
• Advanaced Certificate in LARC - IUD & Subdermal

Please tick on the correct choice and submit your application.

Yes, You can choose to complete IUD and Subderaml separately. However, either applications or both together, this must be completed within a 3 year timeframe of initiating the training.

The €80 application fee is a one-off payment that is valid for 3 years.You must complete both IUD and Subdermal training within this timeframe, however you can apply it as 2 separate certificates or a single certificate.

LARC Theory course is a pre requiste to obtain Advanaced Certificate in LARC. 

The LARC Theory Course is available on demand, accessible at your own convenience.

Topics covered include:

Subdermal implant and progesterone-only contraceptive injection
Intra-uterine devices (copper and levonorgestrel)
Setting up a LARC service in General Practice

No, only Irish College of GPs LARC Theory course is accepted.

The course is available for College members and GP trainees only. This is not avaialble for GP non members (PCS enrolees) or Advanced Nurse Practioner

This course is a member benefit and is available on demand.

Please note that if you do not complete the practical training within 3 years of undertaking the Theory Course you will be required to do the Theory Course again before submitting your application and logbook.

The LARC theory course is eligible for 1.5 Accredited CE Credits and 0.5 day GMS leave. 

The LARC logbook involves training and making entries and getting signed off under a registered LARC tutor. Participant can choose to do the IUD Certificate, the Subdermal Certificate OR IUD and Subdermal Certificate.

Application Guide, Logbook and information regarding application process, fee and timeline can be found on the course page.

LARC Tutors provide training in LARC (IUD Insertions or Subdermal Implanon) for candidates who wish to apply for the Advanced Certificate in LARC. The LARC Tutor assess the candidate and sign the relevant logbook certifying that the candidate has completed the necessary training. 

GPs or GP Trainees who wish to complete the practical component of the Advanced Certificate in LARC during their GP Registrar years can do so in their training practice by completing a logbook under the supervision of a LARC tutor. We encourage GP Trainers or doctors working in training practices to become LARC tutors.

You must ensure that your Tutor is an Irish College of GPs-registered LARC Tutor by emailing womenshealth@icgp.ie before initiating the training.

Applicants can email us on womenshealth@icgp.ie to request information on Tutors in their area.

Applicants can email womenshealth@icgp.ie to request information on Tutors in their area. We provide name and clinic information as consented by the tutors. The trainee then must directly contact the practice and check for the tutors availability.

The Application fee is €80 for Advanced Certificate in LARC.

The application and submission process is now fully online. The logbook must be submitted on the submission portal on the course page.

GPs who complete the LARC logbook can self-record this under the Work-based Learning category using 1 hour activity = 1 credit as a guideline.

You may record training sessions as you go or make one entry to represent all training in a given PCS year. You may attach your logbook as evidence or include the name of your tutor and dates of training in the textbox when recording.

For more information, contact professional.competence@icgp.ie

The logbook review process takes 3-4 weeks (excluding weekends/bank holidays) from the date of submission. 

If your logbook is approved you will receive an email and you can download your Certificate of Completion

If any pre requisites or requirements are not met, approval will be placed on hold. In such cases, we will contact you via email to request either a resubmission or confirmation of specific details. Once you reupload it will take further 2-3 weeks for review process. 

In order to become an Contraception tutor, you should have already completed the Certificate in Contraception OR have completed 5 years post GP training providing contraception care.

In order to become an LARC tutor, you should have already completed the Contraception Tutor Course and hold an Advanced Certificate in LARC. 

Existing Contraception tutors need to renew their tutor status every 5 years

To renew your status as a Contraception Tutor you must Complete the available Contraception Tutor Course.

You can email womenshealth@icgp.ie to check you tutor status.

Existing LARC Tutors need to renew their tutor status every 5 years
To renew your status as LARC Tutor you must

1. Ensure you Contraception Tutor status is up to date,
2. Complete the LARC Tutor Course

You can email womenshealth@icgp.ie to check you tutor status.

To become a Contraception Tutor, you must

• Hold the Certificate in Contraception OR have minimum 5 years experience post GP training providing contraception care.
• If you meet the requirement as above -
  • Register for the course
  • Complete the Contraception tutor course.

To become a LARC Tutor you must

• Hold Contraception Tutor Certificate 
• Hold an Advanced Certificate in LARC (both IUD and Subdermal) and Currently provide LARC insertions/removals in practice

If you meet the requirements as above -

• • Register for the course
  • Complete the LARC tutor course

We update the tutor status manually. If you don't meet the pre-requisites as mentioned above and proceed to complete the Contraception or LARC tutor course, you are not eligible to be a tutor and wont be added to the database and be a registered tutor. In this case you will receive an email form the Women's' health team to first meet the requirements. 

No, only the Irish College of GPs Contraception and LARC Tutor course is accepted since 2023 update.

The Contraception Tutor course is eligible for 1.5 Accredited CE Credits and 0.5 day GMS leave.
The LARC Tutor course is eligible for 1.5 Accredited CE Credits and 0.5 day GMS leave.

For more information on how to log these credits, please email professional.competence@icgp.ie