Are you thinking about a career in General Practice?
General Practice offers you a rewarding and fulfilling career, a life with you in control, with vast opportunities to specialise in the area of medicine you want to follow. A life with the support of your colleagues, and the time to spend with your family and friends.
It’s never been a better time to become a GP in Ireland. GPs have even more scope to specialise, expand and define their role in the community and at the heart of the Irish healthcare services.
GP STORIES
BLOG POSTS

General Practice; Work-Life Balance, Flexibility, Autonomy and much more
My name is Uzair Shabbir and I am currently working as a Salaried GP in Clanmaurice Medical Practice, County Kerry. I graduated from the Southwest Scheme in July of 2022. And here is why I think you should be a GP. Early Life: “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are...

Light at the end of the tunnel – A GP Trainee’s Journey
Pramod with his family - Dr Meena Kumari and 2 sons (Pratham and Tejas) Many years back I read this wonderful quote that has stayed with me ever since: ‘The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.’ I am glad that I have no such regrets of not taking the...

The Joy of General Practice – Blog by Dr Margaret O’Riordan
Over the years it has often been said to me: “I don’t know how you do it – day in day out listening to tales of pain and suffering and complaining; I could not stick it even for one day”. Yes. as GPs there is no doubt we encounter stories of pain and suffering, both...
WHY BE A GP?
Make a Real Difference
- Be a GP and make a genuine difference to the lives of people and communities.
- Watch your patients grow and recover, adapt and change.
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- Be part of a team that makes a difference to an individual by listening, helping and being passionate about their care and their lives.
- Enjoy the diversity.
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- Be a listener.
- Be a problem-solver.
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Enjoy a Balanced Life
- Be a GP and control your hours, define your day.
- Protect your time to learn and work to live, not live to work.
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- Enjoy a life with independence and flexibility.
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- Have a family-centred lifestyle, in the heart of your community.
Be a Generalist and a Specialist
- Be a GP and be a diagnostic powerhouse, challenged by every patient who walks through your door.
- In any one day, diagnose a wide variety of conditions, from heart disease to depression, minor surgery and paediatrics – helping patients with all medical presentations.
- Partake in lifelong learning, with CME, supportive professional networks and opportunities to develop special interests.
KEY DATES
2023 GP Trainee Recruitment Process
GP Trainee Recruitment 2024
Information on the 2024 GP trainee recruitment process will be available in July/August 2023. If you wish to be included on a contact list for details on the 2024 recruitment process please email [email protected].
Please be advised that all of the information currently available online relates to the 2023 GP trainee recruitment process. This information will give you a good insight to the requirements and process for 2024 but please keep in mind that there may be some changes for 2024.
2022
2023
If you have specific queries regarding GP trainee recruitment, please email – [email protected]
FAQs
How can I train to be a GP in Ireland?
The Irish College of General Practitioners (www.icgp.ie) is the professional and training body for Irish general practice. Specialist training for general practice aims to produce GPs who, on completion of training, will be able to provide personal and continuing care to individuals and families in the community.
General practice training is in the main four years in duration. The first two years are spent primarily in hospital settings, with third and fourth year in supervised general practice.
For those undertaking the recognition of prior learning (RPL) pathway, general practice training is shortened, depending on the RPL pathway. Trainees with RPL Medicine or Emergency Medicine complete 3 year training. Trainees with RPL Paediatrics complete 3.8 months training.
How can I find out more information on GP Training in Ireland?
Learn more about GP training in Ireland
What are the dates for the application process?
Key dates for the 2023 process will be available in early autumn.
How does the application process work?
Submit online application and appropriate supporting documentation by designated deadline.
- Applications are checked to ensure all required supporting documentation is provided and for confirmation of eligibility for the trainee specialist register and of meeting the HSE English language competency criteria.
- Applications are shortlisted.
- Applicants that do not meet the eligibility criteria or the minimum shortlisting criteria will not be invited to interview, all others will be invited to interview.
- Interview candidates will be required to upload 2 BST references and consent to online interview process in advance of the interview.
- Interviews are held during the second week in February.
- Following interview, the application score, the SJT score and interview score are combined to determine the applicant’s overall score. Applicants that are not determined eligible for appointment at interview are also identified.
- Applicants deemed appointable will be required to select training scheme preferences.
- Applicants are then matched to scheme based on their ranking and scheme preference. ICGP have to take in account HSE policy with regard to allocation of places
- Online notification of applicants’ status will be then be issued i.e. applicants will find out if:
- A round 1 training offer is made
- Interview was successful but no round 1 offer made, this applicant may receive an offer in round 2 or subsequent rounds
What documents do I need to submit with my application?
The documentation listed below with * are mandatory, all others are optional and may be reviewed by schemes, if the application is successful.
- Evidence of eligibility for the trainee specialist register with the Irish Medical Council*
- Evidence of meeting HSE English language competency requirements*
- Medical Council Registration Certificate
- Passport sized photo*
- A colour scanned copy of passport*
- Membership/Fellowship Certificates
- Medical Degree*
- Stamp4 Card (if applicable)
Applicants are advised to review the Guide to Applicants.
Who is eligible to apply for the scheme?
Doctors that can provide evidence at application stage of meeting the criteria for trainee specialist registration with the IMC and the HSE English language requirements are eligible to apply for GP training.
Where are the training schemes based and what GP practices are involved?
For the 2023 intake of GP trainees, applicants will select from 13 schemes across 4 regions
Dublin North Leinster Region
- North Dublin City Scheme
- North East Scheme
- RCSI Scheme
Dublin South Leinster Region
- Midlands Scheme
- TCD Scheme
- UCD DML Scheme
South Region
- Cork Scheme
- South East Scheme
- South West Scheme
West Region
- Donegal Scheme
- Sligo Scheme
- Western Scheme
Further information on the schemes can be found in the National Specialist Training Programme in General Practice
Can I choose where I will complete my training?
After interview candidates that have been deemed appointable for GP training will be asked to rank their preferred training schemes (online process). Applicants are only asked to select the training scheme they are genuinely interested in. Further details on this will be made available to candidates later in the recruitment process.
Can I get credit if I have completed Basic Specialist Training in another training body?
Applicants that have successfully completed BST in Medicine or Paediatrics from the RCPI and who have successful completed MRCPI examinations (Part I & Part II), by commencement stage – July 2023 can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning.
Applicants that have successfully completed core specialist training in Emergency Medicine from the RCSI and who have successful completed all appropriate assessments (Fellowship Examination of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine FRCEM – Primary and Intermediate examination at time of application can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning.
Successful applicants for RPL Medicine or Emergency Medicine will have training shortened from 4 years to 3 years.
Successful applicants for RPL Paediatrics will have training shortened from 4 years to 3.8 years. Please note, the length of exemption is defined by the length of Pediatric rotation usually offered by individual schemes.
View further information on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Where can I go for more details?
For more information on becoming a GP please visit ICGP.ie
Get In Touch
Start building your future now
Contact Us to…
- Get information on the 2023 GP Trainee recruitment process
- Receive information about the ICGP’s Application & Information Session
- Receive information on the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.
The ICGP, 4/5 Lincoln Place,
Dublin 2, Ireland.
CRN: 2001 3202