Career Planning
Trainees will build the advanced skills and knowledge required for practicing independently as a specialist and leading a clinical team. Medical training in Ireland typically involves completing a four-, five- or six-year undergraduate degree in medicine, followed by a one-year internship and a three- to seven-year specialist training pathways.
Medical school
Duration period: 5 or 6 years
An undergraduate degree in medicine
An undergraduate degree in medicine
Internship
Duration period: 1 year
Internship of one year
Internship of one year
BST [incl. IST*]
Duration period: 2 to 4 years
Basic Specialty Training (BST) - * Initial Specialist Training (IST) is the name for BST or initial years of SST pathways
BST | 2 TO 4 YEARS
Basic Specialty Training (BST) - * Initial Specialist Training (IST) is the name for BST or initial years of SST pathways
HST
Duration period: 4 to 6 years
Higher Specialty Training (HST)
HST | 4 TO 6 YEARS
Higher Specialty Training (HST)
SST [incl. IST*]
Duration period: 4 to 6 years
Streamlined Specialist Training (SST) - * Initial Specialist Training (IST) is the name for BST or initial years of SST pathways
SST | 4 to 6 YEARS
Streamlined Specialist Training (SST) - * Initial Specialist Training (IST) is the name for BST or initial years of SST pathways
Fellowship
Duration period: 2 years
Fellowship is an optional specialist qualification often taken post-CSCST before applying to be a consultant
Fellowship is an optional specialist qualification often taken post-CSCST before applying to be a consultant
BST + HST pathway
Medical school
Duration period: 5 or 6 years
An undergraduate degree in medicine
An undergraduate degree in medicine
Internship
Duration period: 1 year
Internship of one year
Internship of one year
BST [incl. IST*]
Duration period: 2 to 4 years
Basic Specialty Training (BST) - * Initial Specialist Training (IST) is the name for BST or initial years of SST pathways
BST | 2 TO 4 YEARS
Basic Specialty Training (BST) - * Initial Specialist Training (IST) is the name for BST or initial years of SST pathways
HST
Duration period: 4 to 6 years
Higher Specialty Training (HST)
HST | 4 TO 6 YEARS
Higher Specialty Training (HST)
Fellowship
Duration period: 2 years
Fellowship is an optional specialist qualification often taken post-CSCST before applying to be a consultant
Fellowship is an optional specialist qualification often taken post-CSCST before applying to be a consultant
SST pathway
Medical school
Duration period: 5 or 6 years
An undergraduate degree in medicine
An undergraduate degree in medicine
Internship
Duration period: 1 year
Internship of one year
Internship of one year
SST [incl. IST*]
Duration period: 4 to 6 years
Streamlined Specialist Training (SST) - * Initial Specialist Training (IST) is the name for BST or initial years of SST pathways
SST | 4 to 6 YEARS
Streamlined Specialist Training (SST) - * Initial Specialist Training (IST) is the name for BST or initial years of SST pathways
Fellowship
Duration period: 2 years
Fellowship is an optional specialist qualification often taken post-CSCST before applying to be a consultant
Fellowship is an optional specialist qualification often taken post-CSCST before applying to be a consultant
Learn about career phases
Medical career stages can be divided into categories, to learn more about each see the following sections below:
Internship
The Intern Year is the first year of postgraduate medical training and is an essential step in the career of every doctor in Ireland.
Senior House Officer (SHO)
Senior House Officer (SHO) is a non-consultant hospital doctor in Ireland.
Registrar (Reg)
A Registrar is a non-consultant hospital (NCHD) doctor in Ireland who has completed a minimum of 24 months post internship.
Specialist Registrar (SpR)
A Specialist Registrar (SpR) is a doctor who is undertaking their Higher Specialist Training (HST).
Fellowship
A fellowship is an optional specialist qualification often taken post-CSCST before applying to be a consultant.
General Practitioner (GP)
GPs play a central role in the health of our community, caring for people throughout all stages of life, from birth, right through to old age.
Consultant
A Consultant is a registered medical practitioner who holds a current full specialist registration with the Irish Medical Council and is engaged in hospital practice in a consultant post.