Singapore Medical Council

Doctors who wish to renew their Practising Certificates (PC) or apply for new PCs must meet the CME requirements and ensure they do not have any outstanding fine for not voting at SMC’s Elections.

Renewal of Practising Certificate

Doctors should apply to renew their PCs one month before the expiry date of their PC at the prescribed fees. Otherwise, a late fee will be incurred.

Doctors who do not meet the criteria for renewal of PC must cease clinical practice immediately when their PCs expire. To resume clinical practice, they must comply with the CME requirements and/or pay any outstanding fine for not voting at SMC’s Election before they apply for a new PC.

Note: Conditionally registered doctors who do not meet the criteria to renew their PCs will be deemed to have their medical registration cancelled on the same day that their PCs expire. If they wish to resume clinical practice, they will need to re-apply for medical registration and comply with the prevailing registration requirements.

Section 13 of the Medical Registration Act (Cap 174) states that no person shall practise as a medical practitioner or do any act as a medical practitioner unless he/she is registered under this Act AND has a valid PC. Any person found guilty under section 17 shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

Application for New Practising Certificate

Doctors who wish to apply for a new PC must have the application accompanied by:

a)    Completed and signed application form for a new PC  ; and

b)    Prescribed fee for a PC ; and

c)    A declaration letter stating his/her inactive clinical practice if he/she has not been practising since his/her PC has expired; or

d)    Original Certificate(s) of Good Standing (CGS) issued by the medical council(s) or authority(ies) where he/she has practised and/or is practising overseas since his/her PC expired, and sent to SMC directly. The original CGS will be valid for only 3 months from its issue date. CGS submitted through the applicant will not be accepted.

Validity Period of Practising Certificate

The validity period of a PC issued will be equal to, or less than, 12 months (for a one-year PC) or equal to, or less than, 24 months (for a two-year PC), to expire on 31 December.