Intern Matching Programme and Registration
Overview
Following successful completion of the Final Medical Examination, and subsequent graduation, Medical students are required to complete one year of Internship training in order to achieve registration with the Irish Medical Council. Medical students should note the following:
- A single, national matching system for interns has now been implemented and is co-ordinated by the Health Service Executive (HSE). All applicants for internship in Ireland must complete a single application form, and will apply directly via the HSE website in time to meet specified deadlines each year;
- The School of Medicine works closely with the HSE in facilitating this national matching process;
- All graduates of EU Medical Schools recognised by the Irish Medical Council are eligible to apply to participate in the Internship Matching programme; however, applicants should note that the Internship Matching programme may not result in the allocation of posts to all applicants. Medical students should understand that in applying for Intern posts, they are competing for jobs in an open jobs market;
- The employer of Interns is the relevant Health Services Executive and, therefore, all queries in relation to contracts, working/holiday time, work permits etc. must be directed to the relevant hospital;
- The Health Services Executive manages funding of Internship posts, and the availability of posts may change suddenly depending on availability of funding. Internships undertaken outside the State, including outside the EU, can only be recognised by the Irish Medical Council retrospectively for purposes of gaining a Certificate of Experience for subsequent registration with the Irish Medical Council. It will therefore be the experience of the intern in a post, rather than the post itself, that the Medical Council will be assessing for registration purposes, at the end of the period of internship. Graduates intending to pursue internship abroad should consult with the Medical Council in advance, to ensure that their intern year offers appropriate experience that will support their application for registration.
