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
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.
- 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.
- Be a listener.
- Be a problem-solver.
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.
- Enjoy a life with independence and flexibility.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- Be a listener.
- Be a problem-solver.
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.
- Enjoy a life with independence and flexibility.
- 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
2025 GP Trainee Recruitment Process
2025
| Monday 7th October (2pm) |
Application (Part A) opens online. Applicants are required to:
All applicants that complete Application A & complete all the required pre-test checks (on Risr platform) will be invited to sit the SJT & CPST test. |
| Thursday 10th October (6pm) |
Application & Information Session – via zoom To register click here |
| Monday 21st October (10am) | Application (Part A) closes. |
| Tuesday 29th October | ICGP will email applicants with specific details of their SJT & CPST test |
| Thursday 31st October Test window 8.45am – 2.40pm |
Situational Judgment Test (SJT) and Clinical Problem-Solving Test (CPST) Applicants can select a preferred test time on Application A. Depending on demand for certain times we cannot guarantee that all applicants will get their preferred time and will randomly allocate applicants to times. Applicant are advised to ensure that they can undertake the test at any time during the test window. |
| Wednesday 20th November | Notification of SJT & CPST outcome |
| Wednesday 20th November | Application (Part B) opens online |
| Wednesday, 4th December (10am) | Application (Part B) closes online |
| Monday 16th December | Notification to applicants that do not meet the eligibility criteria |
| Monday 16th December | Notification to applicants that meet the eligibility criteria and platform open to upload references and complete the interview consent & validation process. |
| Monday 6th January 2025 | Platform for reference upload closes |
| Wednesday 12th & Thursday 13th February | Online Interviews |
If you have specific queries regarding GP trainee recruitment, please email – [email protected]
2025
| Monday 7th October (2pm) |
Application (Part A) opens online. Applicants are required to:
All applicants that complete Application A & complete all the required pre-test checks (on Risr platform) will be invited to sit the SJT & CPST test. |
| Thursday 10th October (6pm) | Application & Information Session – via zoom |
| Monday 21st October (10am) | Application (Part A) closes. |
| Tuesday 29th October |
ICGP will email applicants with specific details of their SJT & CPST test |
| Thursday 31st October Test window 8.45am – 2.40pm |
Situational Judgment Test (SJT) and Clinical Problem-Solving Test (CPST) Applicants can select a preferred test time on Application A. Depending on demand for certain times we cannot guarantee that all applicants will get their preferred time and will randomly allocate applicants to times. Applicant are advised to ensure that they can undertake the test at any time during the test window. |
| Wednesday 20th November | Notification of SJT & CPST outcome |
| Wednesday 20th November | Application (Part B) opens online |
| Wednesday, 4th December (10am) | Application (Part B) closes online |
| Monday 16th December | Notification to applicants that do not meet the eligibility criteria |
| Monday 16th December | Notification to applicants that meet the eligibility criteria and platform open to upload references and complete the interview consent & validation process. |
| Monday 6th January 2025 | Platform for reference upload closes |
| Wednesday 12th & Thursday 13th February | Online Interviews |
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 from 4 years to 3 years.
How can I find out more information on GP Training in Ireland?
Learn more about GP training in Ireland
How does the application process work?
What documents do I need to submit with my application?
All applicants will be required to consent to the Terms and Conditions of application and to pay a non-refundable application fee of €75.
Application Form Part A
Applicants are not required to submit any supporting documentation with Application Form Part A. The following information will be required:
- Name
- Email address
- Postal address
- Country of citizenship
- Stamp 4 Holder – Yes, No, In process
- Irish Medical Council (IMC) registration number – if applicable
- Type of Irish IMC registration – if applicable
- Overseas Medical Council registration details – if applicable
- Country of Primary Medical Qualification
- Entry level to medical school (Graduate Entry or Undergraduate)
- I am a CAO/HEA graduate* of Irish Medical School (Yes/ No) A CAO/HEA Graduate is defined as a trainee who was entitled to free fees in an Irish Medical School and who accessed the programme through the CAO process. Any student who was required to pay fees to access their degree is not considered a CAO/HEA Graduate.
- Current post (Intern (Ireland), SHO or Equivalent, Registrar, Consultant, FY1/FY2 (UK), General Practitioner, not currently working, Other (Free text))
- Current interns must insert their expected internship completion date: DD/MM/YYYY and Medical School (TCD, UCD, RCSI, UL, UCC, NUIG, Other (free text))
- Reasonable adjustments for SJT/CPST tests- declaration and upload appropriate supporting documentation
Application Form Part B
Applicants that meet the minimum standard in the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) and the Clinical Problem Solving Test (CPST) will be required to completed application form Part B.
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?
All information on Eligibility Criteria can be found here
Where are the training schemes based and what GP practices are involved?
For the 2025 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
- Mid West 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?
Medicine, Paediatrics & Emergency Medicine – Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
GP training applicants with appropriate qualifications prior to commencement of GP training in Medicine, Paediatrics or Emergency Medicine may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Applicants successful in obtaining RPL will have training shortened from four years to three years.
Medicine and Paediatrics Requirements:
- Certificate of Satisfactory Completion from the Royal College of Physicians Ireland in respect of Basic Specialist Training in Medicine/Paediatrics. Applicants must have completed the two-year hospital component before 14th July 2025
- Official confirmation of examination results for Basic Specialist Training to include (Part I & Part II – Written & Clinical) by 21st March 2025
Emergency Medicine Requirements:
- Certificate of Satisfactory Completion from the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland in respect of Core Specialist Training in Emergency Medicine. Applicants must have completed the two-year hospital component before 14th July 2025
- Official confirmation of examination results of MRCEM Primary, MRCEM Intermediate, SBA & MRCEM Osce by 21st March 2025
View further information on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Where can I go for more details?
For more information on becoming a GP please click here
BLOG POSTS
Pathways to General Practice – Blog by Dr. Derek Casey
My name is Derek Casey and I’m a 36 year old GP Principal at Cappoquin Health Centre in County Waterford. I graduated from the South East Training Scheme in July 2020. I decided around half way through final year on the Scheme that I wanted to work for myself and take...
Get In Touch
Start building your future now
Contact Us to…
- Get information on the 2025 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