Training Pathways

There is one programme for the speciality of general practice recognised by the Medical Council. This programme is delivered in 13 training schemes around the country.

Specialist training for general practice aims to produce doctors who, on completion of training, will be able to provide personal and continuing care to individuals and families in the community. They will also have the management skills relative to primary care and be able to audit their work with a view to improving performance. General practice training is four years in duration. The first two years spent primarily in hospital settings, with third and fourth year in supervised general practice.

GP trainees are required to attend day release sessions run by training schemes.

Once training is satisfactorily completed, the Irish College of GPs issues a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of GP Training, which allows entry onto the General Practitioner Specialist Register.

The MICGP Examination must be successfully completed during training.  

Doctors who satisfactorily complete specialist training in general practice and who have passed all MICGP examination modules are issued with a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST), become members of the Irish College of GPs, and are eligible to apply for specialist registration with the Medical Council of Ireland.  

In Ireland, as well as throughout the EU (and EEA), the recognised form of certification of completion of training in general practice is a Certificate of Specific Training/Acquired Rights in General Medical Practice, EU Directive 2005/36/EC (formally 93/16 EEC) (CSTAR) .

This allows a GP to work within all State Schemes both in Ireland and in each EEA country. The competent authority in each EEA country issues certification. In Ireland, the recognised competent authority under the Directive is the Medical Council. The minimum recognised training period in the EU for GP training is three years.

All those who obtain a place on an Irish GP training scheme are granted Associate Trainee Membership of the Irish College of GPs for the full duration of training, at a zero subscription rate.

The Irish College of GPs recognises that general practice trainees represent the future of general practice in Ireland. General practice trainees constitute a valuable sector of our membership and have representation on the Irish College of GPs Council and GP Training Academic Council (GPTAC). GP trainees have access to all member educational services and benefits.