Medical Careers in Ireland — The Complete Doctor's Resource Hub
Every link an international medical graduate needs to plan, apply for, and build a medical career in Ireland — from official Irish medical training bodies and HSE hospital job portals to NCHD salary resources and specialty training applications. Updated regularly with verified links.
VizGuides is not a visa agency or recruitment agency. This is a free, independent resource. All external links go directly to official hospital, government, and college websites. We do not receive referral fees for any of the links on this page.
Three Steps From Qualification to Irish Medical Practice
Whether you are still completing IMC registration or already working as an NCHD, this three-step pathway maps exactly where you are and what comes next. Every step links to the relevant Irish Medical Council registration links for IMGs and official portals.
IMC Registration — Your Licence to Practise
No clinical work in Ireland is legal without current Irish Medical Council (IMC) registration. For most IMG graduates from Pakistan, India, and the Gulf states, this means completing the PRES examination pathway — a two-part assessment covering clinical knowledge and competency. The full process, from starting EPIC credential verification to receiving your registration number, takes 8–12 months. Start as early as possible.
Read our complete IMC Registration guide for Pakistani doctors — or go directly to the Irish Medical Council portal.
Securing a Service Grade NCHD Post
Most IMGs enter the Irish healthcare system as Service Grade NCHDs — Senior House Officers (SHOs) or Registrars in non-training posts. These posts are advertised directly by hospitals and do not require you to be in a formal training programme. They give you clinical experience in the Irish system, allow you to build referees, and position you to compete for Basic Specialist Training (BST) places.
The HSE NCHD job search portal is the primary source for SHO and Registrar posts. The hospital-specific portals listed in Section 3 of this page carry additional posts not always listed on the central HSE board.
Applying for BST or Higher Specialist Training (HST)
After 1–2 years in service grade posts, eligible NCHDs can apply for Basic Specialist Training (BST) through the relevant postgraduate training body — RCPI, RCSI, ICGP, or the specialist colleges. BST runs for 2–3 years and feeds into Higher Specialist Training (HST), which leads to the Specialist Register and Consultant eligibility.
The RCPI vs RCSI training pathways are the most common routes for IMGs in medicine and surgery respectively. RCPI manages training in Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, and the allied medical specialties. RCSI manages Surgery, Emergency Medicine, and Radiology. All training applications are competitive — a strong NCHD track record and good referee relationships are essential.
Postgraduate Medical Education Ireland — The Training Colleges
These are the five official postgraduate training bodies that administer specialist medical education in Ireland. Each operates its own BST and HST programmes, entrance examinations, and training portfolios. Identify your specialty and go directly to the correct college.
Medicine & Specialist Care
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Administers training in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Respiratory, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Haematology, Paediatrics, and over 30 medical specialties.
Visit RCPI ↗Surgery & Radiology
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Oversees General Surgery, Orthopaedics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Urology, Radiology, Emergency Medicine, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology training programmes.
Visit RCSI ↗Primary Care — General Practice
Irish College of General Practitioners. Administers GP training and the MICGP qualification. Also manages the IMG Rural GP Programme — the direct entry route for experienced international GPs.
Visit ICGP ↗Emergency & Anaesthesia
College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland. Manages specialist training in Anaesthesia, Intensive Care Medicine, and Pain Medicine. Offers the FCAI examination pathway for specialist registration.
Visit CAI ↗Mental Health
College of Psychiatrists of Ireland. Administers BST and HST in General Adult Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Old Age Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, and Intellectual Disability Psychiatry.
Visit CPSYI ↗Training Planning & Funding
National Doctors Training and Planning — the HSE body that coordinates all training posts, allocates BST/HST places, and administers grants and bursaries for postgraduate medical education in Ireland.
Visit NDTP ↗Working Doctor Resources — Everything You Need Once You Are in Ireland
These are the portals every NCHD needs bookmarked on day one — from employment records and mandatory training to salary advocacy and contract rights. All links open on the official site in a new tab.
NCHD Core Employment Portals
Your employment record, training allocation, and salary body — the four links every Irish NCHD needs
HSE & Voluntary Hospital Career Portals
These hospitals post NCHD and nursing vacancies directly on their own sites — sometimes before they appear on the central HSE board. Bookmark the portals most relevant to your specialty and location.
Dublin — Major Hospital Groups
The highest volume of NCHD posts in Ireland — across all specialties and grades
Maternity, Paediatrics & Specialist Hospitals
Dedicated career portals for O&G, Paediatrics, Neonatology, Oncology and Rehabilitation
Regional, Orthopaedic & Specialist Centres
Outside Dublin — strong NCHD markets in Cork, Galway, Kerry, Naas and specialist national centres
Private & Independent Hospital Career Portals
Ireland's private hospital sector employs a growing number of NCHDs and consultant-grade doctors, particularly in Cardiology, Oncology, and Orthopaedics. These roles often carry different contract structures from HSE posts — check with the IMO before signing.
Private Hospitals & Healthcare Groups
Independent hospital networks offering consultant and NCHD posts outside the HSE
Medical Recruitment Agencies & Aggregator Job Boards
These agencies and boards aggregate vacancies across multiple hospitals, often picking up posts before they appear on individual hospital sites. Registering with 2–3 of these alongside direct hospital applications maximises your job search coverage.
National & Government Job Boards
Public sector and national aggregators covering healthcare and all professional roles
Specialist Medical Recruitment Agencies
IMG-friendly agencies with established HSE relationships and active international doctor placement
📌 Bookmark This Page — Your Master Directory for Irish Medical Careers
This is the most complete, single-page resource for international doctors planning or building a medical career in Ireland. We verify and update every link monthly to ensure you always have direct access to the latest HSE recruitment portals, official training college pages, and active medical job boards — not outdated pages.
50+ Verified Links
Every link checked monthly — no dead pages, no outdated portals
Monthly Updates
New hospital portals, agency changes, and NDTP announcements added regularly
Always Free
No subscription, no registration — open access for every international doctor
Everything Else a Pakistani Doctor Needs
From IMC registration to the IMG Rural GP Programme and postgraduate medical study — the complete VizGuides medical pathway.