SMC | Feedback / Frequently Asked Questions

Feedback / Frequently Asked Questions

We welcome your feedback. If you have questions or feedback on matters related to the registration and regulation of conduct of registered medical practitioners in Singapore, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions to see if your queries have already been addressed.

Otherwise, please complete the e-enquiry form, or email your enquiry to SMC@spb.gov.sg.

Medical Registration

General Registration

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Q1. How do I update my particulars?

A1. To update your personal details, please log in here to SMC’s Professional Registration System (PRS) and follow the on-screen instructions.
After you have logged in, please access Administration >> Update Particulars function.

Q2. I have just obtained a new NRIC number (Singapore Permanent Resident status) and am unable to log in to PRS via singpass. What should I do?

A2. Please scan and email a copy of your blue NRIC (front and back, in colour) to SMC@spb.gov.sg for verification.

Once SMC has received the NRIC and checked that it is in order, we will update your particulars in the PRS. After that, we will notify you and you can proceed to log in.

Q3. What is COPS? How do I request for a copy of the COPS?

A3. COPS is a Certificate of Professional Status. It was previously known as CGS (Certificate of Good Standing).

The COPS includes basic information on the doctor’s registration status with SMC and information related to the doctor’s performance, including any action that has been taken against the doctor by SMC. It is issued directly to the overseas regulatory body or medical council via email.
The COPS is sent to overseas medical authorities for the purpose of a doctor’s registration to practise medicine in the overseas jurisdiction only. The COPS is not meant for commercial activities (e.g. to certify that the doctor is in good standing for his/her application for public listing of his/her company) or application for APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) issued by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore.
To proceed with the application for COPS, please login here to SMC’s PRS.
To apply:
(i) Click here to login to PRS;
(ii) Select ‘Doctor’;
(iii) Click ‘Log in with Singpass’ tab;
(iv) Enter Singpass ID and password.

After login, please access Application >> CGS/COPS function.

The application fee of S$80, payable via credit card, is not refundable.

The average processing time of a straightforward application is 14 working days. For a complex application, SMC may take a longer time to review it.

Q4. Who should I approach to obtain a copy of my certificate of experience?

A4. The issuance of the Certificate of Experience (COE) after completion of housemanship is by the Professional Training and Assessment Standards Division (PTAS), Ministry of Health (MOH).

Please check with your employer MOH Holdings Pte Ltd or PTAS, MOH regarding your COE.

International Medical Graduates (IMGS)

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Q5. I am an International Medical Graduate. What are the criteria for me to be registered as a doctor in Singapore?

A5. You must have a basic medical qualification that is listed in the ‘List of Registrable Basic Medical Qualifications’ or a postgraduate medical qualification that is listed in SMC’s List of Registrable Postgraduate Medical Qualifications. An applicant for registration must fulfil SMC’s prevailing requirements, including an offer of employment with an SMC-approved healthcare institution.

For IMGs who have not completed housemanship, please refer to Q17.

Every application for medical registration will be considered by SMC on its own merit and subject to SMC’s prevailing requirements which may change with time.

Q6. How do I submit an application for medical registration with SMC?

A6. Please read the Requirements for Conditional Registration on the SMC website. If you have already obtained an offer of employment with an SMC-approved healthcare institution, you can log in to the PRS to submit the registration application online.

If you have not been registered with SMC before, please click “Pre-Application for New Doctors Only” and answer the requisite questions for the system to generate a temporary User ID and password for you to log in to PRS. If you were previously registered with SMC, you can log in using your MCR number and password to submit your application.

Details on the application process and supporting documents required for registration are found at Documentation Requirements & Processing Time.

Q7. Can I still apply for SMC registration if my basic medical qualification is not in the SMC’s list of registrable basic medical qualification?

A7. If your basic medical qualification is not in the SMC’s list of registrable basic medical qualification, you may still be considered for registration if you have a postgraduate medical qualification that is in SMC’s List of Registrable Postgraduate Medical Qualifications. You must fulfil the SMC’s prevailing requirements, which include an offer of employment with an SMC-approved healthcare institution.

Every application for medical registration will be considered by SMC on its own merit and subject to SMC’s prevailing requirements which may change with time.

Q8. If my medical qualification is neither in the SMC’s list of registrable basic nor the postgraduate medical qualification, are there any other options to apply for SMC registration?

A8. SMC accepts only the registrable basic and postgraduate qualifications which are in the lists.

Q9. Are the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) examination applicable for registration with SMC?

A9. USMLE and PLAB are not basic or postgraduate medical qualifications recognised for registration with SMC.

Q10. Can a new foreign-trained doctor apply for full registration directly?.

A10. There is no direct entry to full registration. IMGs must first go through conditional registration and can only progress to full registration after meeting the requirements for full registration.

Q11. Can a new foreign-trained doctor join the private sector directly?

A11. New IMGs who wish to join the private sector directly must fulfil the criteria in Table 2 under the header “Practice in the private sector” on the SMC’s website.

Q12. How do I apply for clinical fellowship in Singapore?

A12. For fellowship training, you may contact the various public healthcare institutions in Singapore for information. If you are offered an approved training programme by the public sector healthcare institution, the healthcare institution will advise you for the registration with the SMC. You may refer to the following links :

Requirements for Temporary Registration
Documentation Requirements & Processing Time

Q13. How do I apply for residency training in Singapore?

A13.SMC does not oversee the residency training of medical practitioners. You can refer to the MOH Holdings Pte Ltd (MOHH) website for such training opportunities or direct your enquiry to them at physician@mohh.com.sg. You can also refer to the MOHH FAQs for more information.

Q14. How do I find an SMC-approved healthcare institution for employment?

A14. SMC-approved healthcare institutions generally refer to public sector hospitals and public sector polyclinic groups. You may refer to their website for information on employment opportunities.

Q15. I am an International Medical Graduate and would like to open my own clinic in Singapore. What are the criteria?

A15. You can inquire on ownership of clinics with the Ministry of Health (MOH) as this is regulated by MOH. An IMG who registers with SMC to practise in Singapore has to go through conditional registration under supervision in an SMC approved practice place.

Conditional Registration

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Q16. Can I apply for conditional registration if I have not been in active clinical practice for more than 3 years?

A16. Doctors applying for conditional registration should be in active clinical practice for the 3 years preceding the application for medical registration. The minimum active clinical practice requirement is an average of 168 clinical hours per year during the 3 years prior to the application for registration.

Provisional Registration

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Q17. I am an International Medical Graduate. How can I get a provisional licence in Singapore and start the postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) programme?

A17. Provisional registration allows a medical graduate to be employed as a Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY1) trainee or House Officer in one or more approved hospitals in Singapore.

The eligible International Medical Graduate (IMG) must obtain an offer of employment as a PGY1 trainee with MOH Holdings Pte Ltd (MOHH) before he/she can apply for Provisional Registration with SMC. If you meet the requirements (your basic medical qualification must be listed in the ‘List of Registrable Basic Medical Qualifications’), please seek employment with MOHH directly. Please refer to MOHH’s website for information on the medical service career path.

Please note that your application for medical registration will be considered by SMC based on its own merits subject to prevailing requirements which may change with time.

Full Registration

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Q18. When can conditionally registered doctors apply for full registration?

A18. For the eligibility and documentation requirements for full registration, please refer to the link provided below:

Eligibility and documentation requirements for Full Registration

Q19. Who should I approach to obtain the testimonials for my full registration application?

A19. You are required to obtain supporting testimonials from the Head of Department (HOD) and Chairman, Medical Board (CMB) or Medical Director (MD). Please note that:

(i) The supporting testimonials should be recent and written within 6 months from the date of the full registration application;
(ii) The supporting testimonials can be obtained from any department and institution that you have practised in within the past 1 year from the date of the application for full registration; and
(iii) You must have spent at least 3 full working months in the department.

Please refer to SMC’s Circular dated 23 Jul 2021 on Supporting Testimonial for Full Registration and the related FAQs for more information.

Specialist Registration

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Q20. I have graduated as a medical doctor, completed specialist training overseas and am interested to work in Singapore as a specialist. What types of documentation or certifications do I need in order to work in Singapore?

A20. SMC will only consider medical registration for an International Medical Graduate who has a basic medical qualification that is listed in the ‘List of Registrable Basic Medical Qualifications’ or have a postgraduate medical qualification that is in SMC’s List of Registrable Postgraduate Medicine Qualifications, and fulfils SMC’s prevailing requirements including an offer of employment with an SMC-approved healthcare institution.

In order to be accredited and registered as a Specialist in Singapore:
(i) You must first be accredited by the Specialists Accreditation Board (SAB).
(ii) Upon successful accreditation by SAB, SMC can then process your application for specialist registration.

We advise that concurrent applications be submitted to both SAB & SMC to avoid delays in the processing of the applications. You can visit the SAB website for more information on how a foreign trained specialist can be accredited and the SMC website for information relating to specialist registration after getting the accreditation.

IMGs must receive an employment offer with an approved hospital or healthcare provider in Singapore before submitting an application for accreditation and registration. Please note that applications will be considered on its own merit.

Family Physician Registration

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Q21. I have obtained a Family Medicine (FM) qualification and am interested in finding out about Family Physician Accreditation?

A21. For the eligibility and documentation requirements for Family Physician Accreditation, please refer to the link provided below:

Eligibility and documentation requirements for Family Physician Accreditation

Display of Qualifications

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Q22. How do I know what are the qualifications that SMC allows for display and the requirements for such application?
How do I register my postgraduate or additional qualifications? / How can I display them?

A22. You may refer to the following link for information on the display of qualifications: Information on Display of Qualification. Please refer also to the SMC’s Circular on the Display of Additional Qualifications dated 24 January 2020.

Registered medical practitioners are only allowed to display qualifications that:
(i) Are entered against their name in the ‘Register of Medical Practitioners’; and
(ii) Are listed in SMC’s List of Displayable Additional Qualifications or List of Registrable Postgraduate Medical Qualifications

If you wish to have your qualifications entered against your name in the SMC’s register as an additional qualification (AQ), you may submit an online application with a non-refundable fee of $100 per application. Please note that qualifications submitted which is not in the lists in (ii) above may be rejected if they do not fulfil SMC’s criteria.

Q23. What designations are allowed for display by a Specialist in private practice?

A23. Please refer to the SMC’s Circular dated 27 April 2010 on the Guidelines on Display of Titles and Designations for the information.

The designations used should reflect a doctor’s official appointment in a Hospital, Institution or Clinic. For Specialist titles, please refer to Annex A of the circular for examples of titles and designations approved by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC).

Please note that that a doctor must not display any qualification other than the qualifications entered in the registers under the Medical Registration Act 1997 (MRA) or one that is approved by the SMC as stated under Section 64 of the MRA.

Temporary Registration

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Q24. I am a visiting foreign registered surgeon who is engaged to assist practising surgeons at a local hospital for a short-term period. How do I apply for medical registration and practising certificate?

A24. Any visiting foreign registered doctor who wishes to practise medicine in Singapore must first apply for medical registration with SMC. He/she must fulfil SMC’s registration requirements before submitting the application for SMC’s consideration. Upon SMC’s approval, the foreign registered doctor must arrange for a certificate of good standing to be issued directly to SMC from the overseas medical regulators in the country/countries where he/she has practised or has been practising 3 years prior to the SMC’s application.

To complete the registration with SMC, the foreign registered doctor must apply for a practising certificate (PC) and fulfil all other conditions for the purpose of registration as stipulated in SMC’s approval letter before he/she can commence his/her practice in Singapore.

You may refer to the following links on the prevailing requirements for medical registration:

Requirements for Temporary Registration
Documentation Requirements & Processing Time

Q25. I am a foreign-trained doctor currently staying in Singapore. I would like to provide some health talks to local residents. Do I need to be registered with SMC?

A25. A doctor must be registered with SMC and have a practising certificate before he/she may, inter alia: (a) give medical advice during the talks; or (b) provide patient consultations; or (c) carry out live demonstrations of medical procedures in Singapore.

Medical registration is not required for giving talks on health topics that do not include the practice of medicine in such talks. You must therefore not portray yourself as a registered doctor or medical consultant when giving such talks in Singapore.

Q26. I wish to provide telehealth / telemedicine / tele services as a General Practitioner for patients who are residing in another country during my stay in Singapore. Do I need to register with SMC?

A26. The provision of your medical services to citizens/patients in other countries is outside the provisions of the Singapore Medical Registration Act. It is presumed that you know the professional responsibility that you need to comply with the medical standards and code of conduct of the country that the patient resides in.

However you must not engage in any telehealth services with any patients who are located in Singapore if you are not fully registered with the SMC or do not have a valid practising certificate to practise medicine on patients here.

Re-registration/No-Pay-Leave/LOCUM

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Q27. I was previously registered with SMC. Can I apply for registration with SMC again?

A27. Please email us at SMC@spb.gov.sg with your MCR no. to verify your registration status so that we can advise you appropriately.

Q28. I am a registered doctor planning to go on No-Pay Leave (NPL). What are the procedures involved?

A28. If you are a fully registered doctor:
You are not required to seek SMC’s approval to remain on the SMC’s register while you are on NPL. Please update your activity status by submitting an Update Particulars application through the Professional Registration System (PRS) accordingly.

If you are a conditionally registered doctor:
Your employer must submit an online application via the PRS to inform and obtain SMC’s approval to remain on the SMC’s register while you are on NPL. The submission should be done at least four (4) weeks before you embark on or extend your NPL. You will receive an email notification from the SMC that the application has been approved.

If you do not receive an email notification from the SMC that the application has been approved one week before the start of your NPL period, please alert SMC to check on the application status.

A conditionally registered doctor may be allowed to go on NPL for a period of up to one year. The period of NPL will be excluded from the computation of the period of supervised practice under conditional registration (C-reg) for full registration.

If you are a temporarily registered doctor:
You are not required to seek SMC’s prior approval for you to remain on the SMC’s register while you are on NPL. However, your employer must ensure that you remain under its employment/training during the entire NPL period.

Please note that your temporary registration (T-reg) will not be automatically renewed beyond the approved T-reg duration to compensate for the NPL period you have taken. Your employer must inform the SMC immediately if your employment/training ceases during the NPL period.

If you are a provisionally registered doctor:
You are not required to seek SMC’s prior approval for you to remain on the SMC’s register while you are on NPL. However, your employer should still submit an online application via the PRS to SMC for records purpose.

Your employer must ensure that you remain under its employment during the entire NPL period. Your employer must inform the SMC immediately if your employment ceases during the NPL period.

Q29. I am doing locum work. How do I update my employment and practice place details?

A29. Please indicate the clinic that you are most frequently practising at, when you submit an application to Update Particulars. You may provide the following information for your locum practice.

• Working full-time or part-time (if part-time, please indicate no. of hours per week)
• Name/Address of Institution/Organisation (this refers to the clinic that you are most frequently working in)
• Designation/Appointment
• Department/Division
• Effective Date

Supervisory Framework

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Q1. What are the criteria to be a supervisor under SMC’s supervisory framework?

A1. The set of criteria to be a supervisor^# is found in the “Supervisory Framework Guidelines” at this link which states:

For Hospitals/Specialty Centres, supervisors must be:
(i) Fully registered with SMC; and
(ii) Designated Registrar*/ Senior Resident and above or registered specialist

Designated Registrars*/ Senior Residents can only supervise conditionally/ temporarily registered Medical Officers (or equivalent) who are in their first or second year in the local healthcare system.

* Designated Registrars must have a postgraduate qualification which is considered as an intermediate qualification relevant to the specialty/department.

For General Practices (Polyclinics, GP clinics), supervisors must:
(i) be fully registered with SMC; and
(ii) have at least 5 years of experience in general practice in Singapore; OR
(iii) be a registered Family Physician in Singapore

For Step-down Care (Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs), Community Hospitals (CHs), Hospices), supervisors must:
(i) be fully registered with SMC; and
(ii) have at least 5 years of experience in relevant hospital/community services (VWOs, CHs, Hospices) in Singapore; OR
(iii) be an on-site registered Family Physician or Specialist (e.g. Geriatrician, Palliative Medicine Physician, Rehabilitation Physician, General Physician) in Singapore.

The supervisor^# must work on a full-time basis in the same department or practice place as the supervisee and provide timely and direct supervision.

^#The supervisor should be equivalent or of a higher designation than the supervisee. Where the supervisee is a specialist, the supervisor must be of higher seniority. SMC may also consider other criteria when assessing the suitability of the supervisor.

In cases where the doctor works in an approved secondary practice place(s) or is training under the Residency Program, the SMC-approved primary supervisor is required to solicit feedback from the secondary supervisor(s) and Residency Program Director (if applicable) in completing the doctor’s periodic assessment reports.

With effect from 1 January 2021, fully registered doctors must be trained as supervisors under an approved training programme in SMC’s Supervisory Framework before they can be appointed as SMC-approved supervisors for conditionally and temporarily registered doctors.

Q2. Can part-time fully-registered doctors be appointed as SMC’s supervisors?

A2. All doctors under C-reg and T-reg will be subject to monitoring under SMC’s Supervisory Framework (SF). In general, fully registered doctors who are working part-time cannot become SMC supervisors as a supervisor must work on a full-time basis in the same department as the supervisee to provide timely and direct supervision.

Q3. What is my current level of supervision? How can I progress to the next level of supervision? What are the criteria for progression?

A3. Doctors are notified on their level of supervision in the letter of approval when they first registered with SMC, and by email for progress to the next level of supervision. Should doctors misplace these information sent, they may approach their institution HR to enquire about their level of supervision.

The application for progression to the next level of supervision must be submitted by your HR or Medical Affairs department and supported by the Head(s) of Department(s)/Employer.

A conditionally registered doctor who received “satisfactory” performance gradings in the assessment areas for the specified period and with no adverse complaints and feedback may be considered for progression to the next level of supervision by SMC.

Employers or Heads of Departments must submit the request for progression to enable the progression to the next level of supervision.

For more information on progression, please refer to pages 4 to 6 of the SMC Supervisory Framework Guideline.

Q4. I am a conditionally registered doctor. How do I request to change my supervisor? Must the supervisor be trained and approved by SMC?

A4. Please approach your employer / department / Human Resource/Medical Affairs staff if you wish to request a change of supervisor. While the SMC must approve the supervisor, the appointment or change of supervisor is done by the institution.

The proposed supervisor must meet the prevailing criteria to be a supervisor including having been trained under the SMC’s Supervisory Framework criteria.

Before the change of supervisor can be effected, your HR/Medical Affairs staff must submit the Letter of Undertaking completed by the proposed supervisor to SMC.

Practising Certificate (PC)

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Q1. Do I need a PC to practise in Singapore? How do I apply for it?

A1. Doctors who are registered with SMC will need a valid PC in order to practise medicine in Singapore. You can apply for a PC by submitting an online application through the SMC Professional Registration System (PRS). Even if your employer is paying the PC application fee on your behalf or you are paying through GIRO, you must submit the application on PRS for the renewal of PC.

Q2. My PC is expiring soon. Will it be renewed automatically?

A2. The renewal process is not automatic. You must apply through the SMC PRS when applications for renewal of PCs is opened to doctors. Doctors must renew at least one month before their PC expiry date to avoid a late application fee. A late application fee of S$80 will be imposed if the practitioner applies for renewal later than one month before the expiry date [MRA 36(5)].

Q3. I cannot renew my PC online and received the following message: “Note: Your register must meet all renewal criteria below.” Why?

A3. In order to renew your PC, you are required to fulfil the Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements and have no outstanding fines for not voting at the SMC’s elections (applicable to fully registered doctors only).

(i) CME requirements:

Application Type	CME Requirements
PC renewal for doctors holding a 2-year PC	50 CME points, of which at least 20% or 10 points shall be core points in each of their registered specialty and/or in Family Medicine.
PC renewal for doctors holding a 1-year PC	25 CME points, of which at least 20% or 5 points shall be core points in each of their registered specialty and/or in Family Medicine.

Find more information on CME requirements.

(ii) Voting requirements:

Please note that doctors will not be eligible to renew their PC if they have outstanding fine(s) incurred as a result of failure to vote at any SMC election. We wish to highlight that voting is compulsory for all fully registered medical practitioners under section 6 of the Medical Registration Act 1997.

Q4. My employment will cease before my PC validity ends. I have applied for a one-year PC. Why does the PC application fee remain the same?

A4. The expiry date of a PC will always end on the last day of the year (i.e. 31 December), regardless when the doctor applies for the PC.

Example: If a doctor applies for a one-year PC on 1 Jun 2021, his PC will expire on 31 Dec 2021. There is no proration of fee and he or she will need to pay the full application fee for a one-year PC.

Q5. How do I make payment for my PC renewal application?

A5. Payment must be made online via credit card/ debit card in the application process on PRS. As the payment process is not instantaneous, please allow at least three working days for the processing of payment before you check for approval of the PC.

Q6. I have successfully submitted my PC renewal application but was not prompted for payment. Why?

A6. You may be under GIRO or Employer-Paying-On-Behalf (EPOB) scheme.

For GIRO-users, payment will be made at a later time on a fixed date. Doctors with an existing GIRO arrangement with the SMC will not be asked to make payment during the application stage. If you need to verify whether you are on GIRO, you should check with your bank.

For doctors on the EPOB scheme, the payment will be made by your employer. To verify if you are under EPOB scheme, please check with your HR department.

Q7. My PC application has been approved. How do I view and download my e-PC?

A7. You will be able to view and download the e-PC that is current and valid.
Once the e-PC is no longer valid, e.g. validity of e-PC has expired, you will no longer be able to view/download it.

To view and download your valid e-PC, please follow the steps below:
(a) Log in to the Professional Registration System (PRS)
(b) At the left menu, click “Administration” followed by “View Certificates”
(c) Click on the hyperlink under “PC Period”

Q7 image
d) The e-PC would then display in a pop-up window:

For most mobile device users, the e-PC should download and display automatically;
For laptop/computer uses, please follow instructions on your internet browser to view and download a copy of the e-PC.

Q8. I have made payment for my PC renewal. How can I obtain a receipt? (Applicable only to doctors who paid for their own PC)

A8. To print the receipt, log in to the PRS and follow the steps below:
(i) Select “Application”,
(ii) Select “Enquire Applications”,
(iii) Search for your PC application number, and
(iv) Print receipt under the “Remarks” column.

Q9.I lost my hardcopy PC (this will be for PC until 31 Dec 2023 only). How do I replace it?

A9. For doctors who have lost their existing hardcopy PC, they are required to replace their PC. Please log in to the PRS to submit an application to replace your PC and pay the prescribed fee. Once the application is approved, an electronic PC will be issued to you.

The SMC also requires a copy of the police report for the lost PC as a supporting document. The police report may be made online. Please upload the police report in your reprint application to expedite the processing of the application. The application fee is S$80.

Q10. I wish to cease practice. Should I renew my PC? Will I still be registered with the SMC if I do not renew my PC?

A10. You may wish to let your PC lapse if you wish to cease practice in Singapore. If you have not retired but have gone overseas and are now returning to Singapore, you should apply for a new PC at least 1 month before resuming practice in Singapore. Please note that regardless of the starting date of your new PC, it will end on 31 Dec of the year (i.e. if your new 2-year PC application is approved on 26 May 2022, the PC validity will be from 26 May 2022 to 31 Dec 2023).

If you do not wish to renew your PC, you will still receive reminders on PC renewal from the SMC’s PRS before the expiry of your PC, and after the expiry of your PC, the PRS will notify you that your PC has expired, and you must stop practising medicine immediately. You may ignore all these reminders if you do not wish to renew your PC to practise or to practise in Singapore.

Remaining in SMC’s Register
Your name will remain in the SMC’s Register of Medical Practitioners as long as you remain contactable. Therefore, you are advised to update your particulars and remain contactable if you wish for your name to remain in the SMC’s Register. If you wish to resume practice in future, you may apply for a new PC. In a case where the name of a doctor has been removed from the register(s), he/she may apply for restoration if he/she wishes to practise medicine in Singapore again.

Update of Particulars and Singpass
To log on to the PRS and update particulars, please refer to Q3 under the General Enquiries section and Q1 under Medical Registration section of the Frequently Asked Questions.

The above applies to Fully registered doctors only. Conditionally, Temporarily and Provisionally registered doctors may contact their respective employers for advice on cessation of practice.

Q11. My PC has lapsed. How do I apply for a new PC?

A11. You can apply for a new PC if you have met the CME requirements and do not have an outstanding fine for not voting at the SMC Elections (applicable to fully registered doctors only).

Upon meeting the prevailing requirements, you can apply for a new PC. Please prepare the documents required before you submit an application.

(i) Log in to the SMC PRS to submit an application.

(ii) If you are working or have worked overseas, a Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) issued by the respective Medical Council(s) where you practise or have been practising prior to your application will be necessary. Please note that the original CGS must not exceed 3 months from its issue date when presented with your application. The CGS must be sent to the SMC directly via email (SMC_PCRenewal@spb.gov.sg) by the overseas councils / licensing authorities. Please note that CGS submitted by the applicant will not be accepted by the SMC;

(iii) If you are not in practice, please submit a letter of declaration to declare that you have not been in practice since the date of expiry of your PC.

Subject to complete submission of all documentation and fee required, the average processing time of an application for PC is about 3 weeks. Longer processing time may be required when your case is considered more complex or when the SMC is experiencing a peak period.

Q12. I am currently on register but without a valid PC. I would like to reinstate my PC to practise. What is required of me to proceed?

A12. For the application of a full fee PC, regardless for one or two years, you will need to obtain 50 CME points (of which 10 core points shall be in each of your registered specialty and/or in Family Medicine). For renewal of PCs from 2026, an additional 5 core points in Medical Ethics CME is required. The period to collect these required CME points must be within a period of 24 months before the application date for a new PC.

You can accumulate CME points by participating in the following activities:
Category 1A Activities – Pre-established programmes held in restructured hospitals, institutions – no cap on CME points
Category 1B Activities – Local events (e.g. workshops, scientific meetings, conferences) – no cap
Category 1C Activities - Overseas events (e.g. scientific meetings, conferences, workshops) – no cap
Category 2 Activities - Publication / Editorial Work / Presentation of Original paper or poster – capped at 40 CME points
Category 3A Activities - Self-study (e.g. Reading of refereed journals listed in PubMed or MOH Clinical Practice Guidelines) – capped at 10 CME points
Category 3B Activities - Accredited distance-learning programmes with verifiable self-assessment - capped at 36 CME points

You can check your CME points under Monitoring of CPE points in the PRS >> List of Past Activities within a Period with the following procedures.
1) Select CPE -> List of Past Activities within a Period

2) Key in the period “From” and “To” (Max difference between period “From” and period “To” is 2 years). Then select “Generate”.
Eg: 01/01/2020 – 31/12/2021.

Upon meeting the prevailing CME requirement, the following are the procedures to apply for a new PC:
a. Log in to the SMC website to submit an application
b. Make an online payment for the prescribed fee via credit card ($900 for 2-year PC or $450 for 1-year PC)
c. If you have practised overseas, please submit a Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) issued by the respective Medical Council(s) where you practised or have been practising prior to your application will be necessary when you apply for a new PC. Please note that the original CGS must not exceed 3 months from its issue date to the start date of your PC. It must also be sent to the SMC directly via email (SMC_PCRenewal@spb.gov.sg) by the overseas council/ licensing authorities. Please note that CGS submitted by the applicant will not be accepted by the SMC; and
d. If you have not been in practice, please submit a signed letter of declaration in pdf format to declare that you have not been in practice since the date of expiry of your PC.
Subject to complete submission of all documentations and fee required, the average processing time of an application for PC is about 3 weeks. Longer processing time may be taken when the case is more complex or when the SMC is experiencing a peak period.
Please note that the information provided here is valid as current and may be changed from time to time on SMC’s discretion or with changes in the Medical Registration Act 1997 and Medical Registration Regulations. Updates may also be publicised via announcements or circulars which can be found in the SMC’s website at www.smc.gov.sg.

Continuing Professional/Medical Education – For Doctors

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Q1. How do I view my CPE report?

A1. Log in to the SMC Professional Registration System:
(i) Select “CPE”,
(ii) Select “Monitoring of CPE”,
(iii) Select “Detailed Report for Current QP” (as shown below).

The CPE report will be as shown.

Q2. How do I submit credit claims?

A2. Please refer to the following for the various categories:
(i) Local events [Cat1A / 1B]:
• The organisers (CME providers) will submit your attendance. Please ensure that you have signed your attendance after the event.

(ii) Overseas activities [Cat1C] / readings [Cat3A] / distance-learning programmes [Cat3B]:
• Log in to the SMC Professional Registration System.
• Select “CPE”, select “Submit CPE claims” and fill up the application form accordingly.
• Documentary proof in support of all claims should be obtained and submitted to the SMC.

Q3. Why are my CPE points not reflected?

A3. In general, straightforward CPE applications and claims take 4 to 6 weeks for processing.

Reasons for delay could be:
(i) Additional information required for SMC’s review
(ii) Activities you have attended may not be in the SMC’s accredited list
(iii) Applications or claims may have been rejected due to:
• Events of non-medical related nature
• Events organised by pharmaceutical, non-healthcare related companies for their commercial purposes
• Speakers and primary audiences of CME are not targeted at doctors

Q4. What are the categories for accumulation of CPE claims?

A4. Please find the list of accredited journals and activities.

Q5. How may I attach documents when the application is routed to me for attachment of supporting documents?

A5. Please refer to the following steps:
(i) Log in and click on “Enquire CPE Claims” to find the application.
(ii) Then click on the word “here” under “Remarks” to attach the supporting document.
Please include your documents in “pdf” or “jpg” format and ensure that it does not exceed more than 1MB.

Mandatory Medical Ethics CME

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Q1. Why was Medical Ethics Core points for CME implemented by SMC to renew doctors’ practising certificates?

A1. In the Report on Recommendations by the MOH Workgroup to review the taking of Informed Consent and SMC Disciplinary Process published in November 2019, one of the Recommendations was to establish compulsory continuing medical education (CME) on Medical Ethics for all doctors.

The Workgroup identified the need to increase doctors’ awareness of ethical issues and developments, such as informed consent, as these developments could have a significant impact on the practice of medicine. Doctors need to be updated on ethical issues to ensure that they have the knowledge that would enable them to practise ethically and safely.

You may read the MOH Workgroup report at MOH’s website.

Q2. How many Medical Ethics CME Core points will I need to accrue?

A2. Doctors applying for a 2-year Practising Certificate (PC) will need to compulsorily accrue at least 5 Medical Ethics CME core points while doctors applying for a 1-year PC require at least 3 Medical Ethics CME core points as shown in the Table below.

Table

PC Types	CME Requirements for PC Renewal
2-year PC	At least 50 CME points, of which: • 20% or 10 points shall be core points in each of their registered specialty and/or in Family Medicine; and • 5 core points in Ethics CME New
1-year PC	At least 25 CME points, of which: • 20% or 5 points shall be core points in each of their registered specialty and/or in Family Medicine; and • 3 core points in Ethics CME New
Doctors already on SMC’s Register and applying for a new PC	At least 50 CME points, of which: • 20% or 10 points shall be core points in each of their registered specialty and/or in Family Medicine; and • 5 core points in Ethics CME New

Q3. What if I am applying for the reduced practice lower CME requirement Practising Certificate (PC)?

A3. Doctors who are on lower CME requirement PC with reduced practice will only need to accrue 10 or 20 CME points respectively for their 1-year or 2-year PC. No core points including Medical Ethics core points is needed.

Q4. When do I need to start accumulating Medical Ethics CME Core points?

A4. Doctors whose PCs are expiring on 31 December 2025 can start accumulating the required Medical Ethics Core points in the CME qualifying periods (QP) from 2024/2025 as shown in the table below.

Table

PC Types	Period for accumulating Compulsory Medical Ethics CME (CME QP)
2-year full PC	From 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025
1-year full PC	From 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025

Q5. Who are SMC’s approved Medical Ethics CME providers? How do I find out about their Medical Ethics programmes?

A5. Currently three Medical Professional Bodies (PBs) ie the Academy of Medicine Singapore (AMS), College of Family Physicians Singapore (CFPS) and Singapore Medical Association (SMA) are approved by the SMC to conduct mandatory medical ethics programmes. Please visit their websites for more information.

Medical Ethics programmes organised by the other CME providers may be considered for non-core points. Other CME providers may also collaborate with the three PBs to co-organise programmes in accordance with the framework for approved mandatory medical ethics programmes.

Q6. I am not a member of AMS, CFPS or SMA (PBs). Can I participate in the Medical Ethics CME organised by them?

A6. Yes, you can. Doctors who are not members of any of the three PBs can register to participate in Medical Ethics programmes and other CME activities offered by them. Please visit the respective PBs’ website via the following links for more details:

· https://www.ams.edu.sg/news-events/calendar-of-events

· https://www.cfps.org.sg/events/events-calendar/

· https://smacmep.org.sg/events-calendar/

· https://www.sma.org.sg/cme-programme

Q7. How can I know whether there are fees to participate in the PBs’ Medical Ethics courses?

A7. Doctors may check for such details in the websites of AMS, CFPS and SMA.

Q8. What kind of CME are they organising for doctors to obtain Medical Ethics CME Core points?

A8. Doctors may participate in Medical Ethics events or distance learning programmes (DLPs) offered by the three PBs. Examples of the categories of Medical Ethics CME Core points are as follows:

Table 3

Category	Description	Ethics CME point submission
Cat 1B	Local events (e.g. workshops, scientific meetings, conferences)	PBs will submit the CME points for doctors who had participated in their events
Cat 2	Authors of Medical Ethics distance learning programmes (DLPs)	PBs will submit the CME points for doctors who are authors/trainers of the respective PBs’ DLPs for Medical Ethics
Cat 3B	Accredited distance-learning programmes (DLPs) with verifiable self-assessment	PBs will submit the CME points for doctors who had completed their DLPs

Q9. What topics are covered in the Medical Ethics CME?

A9. While there are various topics on Medical Ethics by other providers which can be accrued for general CME points, doctors must complete CME under the following four core areas below and organised by AMS, CFPS and SMA to be eligible for Medical Ethics core points.

1. Professionalism / Medical Professionalism
2. Ethics (e.g. Four boxes approach, Ethical analysis in medicine, Public Health Ethics, Research Ethics)
3. Informed Consent and Medical Decision Making
4. Medical Records, Privacy and Confidentiality

More details will be given when the Medical Ethics CME organised by the three PBs are ready.

Continuing Professional/Medical Education – For CME Providers

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Q1. How to submit attendance or add attendance records after submission of attendance?

A1.You may submit the attendance record online after the event application is approved.

Step 1: Log in to your provider account
(i) Select “Manage Events”
(ii) Key in your event application ID
(iii) Click on “Search”

Your event application will appear under “Search Result”. Click on your event ID to access the application.

Step 2: Submit the attendance record.

Add in the names and rows accordingly.

If you have a large number in attendance, e.g. 100 doctors, download the systems excel template and upload the attendance file.

Screenshot Example
For Cat1A event (Event ID: SMC2015XXXX-1A-XXXX):
Click on “Add attendance” (as shown below).

Proceed to key in the doctors’ MCR number as indicated in green below.

Click on the “Submit” button once completed.

If you have performed the above step and submitted the attendance records but wish to include more records, you may still do so.

Click on “Add More Rows” and change the number according to the number of additional records. Proceed to include the additional names and click on “Submit” to complete the update.

Q2. How do I amend sessions due to change of dates?

A2. To change the date, say from 09/02/2017 to 16/02/2017, please follow the steps below:

Q3. How to attach documents for applications routed back to me?

Please upload documents in pdf or jpg file format. Files uploaded should not be more than 1MB in size.

Q4. What should I include in a Cat 1A application?

A4. If the event was previously approved, please furnish us with the event ID and details of the older event under the “Previous Event ID/Title” field on the online form.

Should this be an application for a new event, we would require you to fill up Cat 1A form and attach document to your online application.

Cat 1A form can be found in SMC website under 'Downloads & Forms'.

Q5. What are the recommended number of sessions to submit for an application?

Duration of event	Suggested number of session(s)	Remarks
For a 1-<2 hours event	1 session	Please select the “Duration” of “1 to <2 hours” under Session details.
For a 2-4 hour event	1 session	Please select the “Duration” of “2 to 4 hours” under Session details
For a 1-day event	(a) 1 session; or (b) 2 sessions	(b) If you are submitting 1 session, please select the “Duration” of “1 day” under Session details. (a) If you are submitting 2 sessions, please select the “Duration” of “2 to 4 hours” for each session under Session details.
For a 1.5-day event	3 sessions	Please select the “Duration” of “2 to 4 hours” for each session under Session details.
For a 2-day event	(a) 2 sessions; or (b) 4 sessions	(a) If you are submitting 2 sessions, please select the “Duration” of “1 day” for each session under Session details. (b) If you are submitting 4 sessions, please select the “Duration” of “2 to 4 hours” for each session under Session details.
For events spanning more than 3 days	(a) 1 session per day; or (b) 2 sessions per day	(a) If you are submitting 1 session per day, please select the “Duration” of “1 day” for each session under Session details. (b) If you are submitting 2 sessions per day, please select the “Duration” of “2 to 4 hours” for each session under Session details.

Q6. I am unable to log in using Corppass/Singpass to create events.

A6. Please note that you will need to be issued with a CME provider account with the SMC before you can access the SMC’s PRS to submit applications for your events. Please email us at smc_cme@spb.gov.sg for further assistance.

Q7. I have printed the CPE points on the programme outline/publicity materials for my event before seeking SMC’s approval. What should I do?

A7. Please remove all indicative CPE points and submit the event to SMC for approval.

Doctors on Reduced Practice / Retiring

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Q1. What is reduced practice? What can a doctor on reduced practice do?

A1. Doctors in reduced practice are either retired or doing full-time administrative work.

Doctors in reduced practice can only write prescriptions for:
• himself/herself
• spouse
• child
• adopted child
• stepchild
• grandchild
• sibling
• parent
• step-parent
• grandparent

Q2. How can I apply for lower CME requirements and lower-fee PC?

A2. Doctors on reduced practice can apply for lower CME requirements and lower-fee PC.

(A) Steps to apply for Lower CPE Requirements
(i) Log in to the SMC Professional Registration System using your Singpass under “Login for Doctors & Providers”

(i) Select “Request for Lowering of CPE”

(ii) Indication of “End Date”
Please note that if you have indicated an “End Date” in the “lowering of CPE requirements” application, you will be required to fulfil normal CPE/CME requirements with effect from that date. If you have retired, please do not put an “End Date” in the application.

(iii) Update of Personal Particulars
Doctors are required to update their employment status under “Administration” tab accordingly.

Note:
Once approved, doctors in reduced practice will have their compulsory CPE/CME requirements lowered to:
(a) 10 points per year for those holding a 1-year PC; or 20 points per 2 years for those holding a 2-year PC; and
(b) There will be no core point requirements nor a cap on points earned within any CPE category.
Doctors on lower CPE requirements who wish to resume practice must inform the SMC, fulfil the CPE criteria posted on the SMC website and apply for conversion from lower-fee PC to full-fee PC (prevailing PC application fee is applicable).

(B) Application for lower-fee PC

You should apply for a lower-fee PC at your next PC renewal after the approval of your application for lower CPE requirements. Please select the option of “Lower-fee (1 year)” or “Lower-fee (2 years)”.
Please note that there will not be any refund of PC application fees for unused PC period.

Q3. I am a retiring doctor. What do I have to do if I want to prescribe medication for myself and family members?

A3. If you do not intend to continue clinical practice, you may wish to log in to the SMC's website at www.smc.gov.sg and submit an application to "Request for Lowering of CPE". Only doctors who are in reduced practice are eligible for lower-fee PC and lower CME requirements.

A doctor in reduced practice can only prescribe medication for himself/herself or his/her spouse, child, adopted child, stepchild, grandchild, sibling, parent, step-parent or grandparent.

Revision to the List of Overseas Medical Schools for Registration to Practise in Singapore

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Q1. Can you provide the most up-to-date list of overseas medical schools?

A1. The Singapore Medical Council (SMC) had revised the list of overseas medical schools recognised for registration in Singapore effective from 1 Sep 2022.

The SMC will only consider granting medical registration to International Medical Graduates (IMGs) whose basic medical qualifications are listed in the List of Registrable Basic Medical Qualifications (effective from 1 Sep 2022).

Students who wish to pursue medical studies in a medical school listed in the SMC’s revised list should note the primary qualifications column in the same list. If students enrol into a medical school in our list but are not conferred the corresponding medical qualification shown in our list, they are not eligible to be considered for medical registration in Singapore.

Applicants may visit the SMC’s website at www.smc.gov.sg for updates on medical registration.

Q2. How often does the SMC review the List of Registrable Basic Medical Qualifications? Can you include the medical school that I graduated from in the list?

A2. The SMC reviews the List of Registrable Basic Medical Qualifications every few years. The SMC has no plan to expand the list in the near future.

Q3. I was offered a medical programme where the first half of the programme will be conducted at the International Medical University (IMU) and the second half possibly at a partnering university which is in the list of Schedule II of the Act for the remaining years. Will I be able to obtain medical registration with the SMC?

A3. For such twinning programmes, the doctor must undergo the entire duration of his/her clinical training and final examination in a medical school listed in the Schedule II List of Registrable Basic Medical Qualifications before he/she can be considered for medical registration in Singapore.

However applicants who enrol in such twinning programmes face the real risk of being unable to register with the SMC, as subsequent enrolment into one of the medical schools in the Schedule II List of Registrable Basic Medical Qualifications cannot be assured.

The Schedule II List of Registrable Basic Medical Qualifications may also be reviewed at periodic intervals and a medical school may be added or removed from the list. If the applicant’s medical school is no longer listed in Schedule II at the point of application for registration with SMC, he/she will not meet the requirement for registration.

Every application for medical registration will be considered by SMC on its own merit and subject to SMC’s prevailing requirements including an offer of employment with an SMC-approved healthcare institution.

Q4. If I study in a campus that is offsite from the main medical school, would my degree be recognised by the SMC for registration?

A4. Please note that any new campus that is off-site from the recognised main campus will not be recognised by the SMC.

Q5. Is a 6-year MBBS programme from a Chinese medical school that is in the SMC’s List of Registrable Basic Medical Qualifications recognised for medical registration with the SMC?

A5. The SMC only recognises the direct 7-year Master of Medicine and 8-year Doctor of Medicine awarded by Chinese medical schools for medical registration. These must also be primary (basic) medical qualifications and not postgraduate training programmes or qualifications that are awarded after the basic medical programme and qualification.

SMC Election

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Q1. When will an SMC Election be held?

A1. SMC will conduct an Election based on the available vacancies for elected members in the year of Election. Voting is compulsory for all fully registered doctors who are residing in Singapore and who hold a valid practising certificate (PC) during the Election period. All eligible voters will be notified via emails when the Election details are confirmed. SMC will also announce the SMC Election on the SMC website at https://www.smc.gov.sg.

Please note that information about the SMC Election will be sent to a doctor’s preferred email address as stated in the SMC Professional Registration System (PRS). Doctors are reminded to login to SMC PRS to update their particulars and contact details such as their preferred email address.

Q2. Who are the eligible voters for the SMC election?

A2. Fully registered doctors resident in Singapore and holding a valid PC during the SMC Election period are eligible to vote in the SMC Election.

Provisionally registered, Temporarily registered and Conditionally registered doctors are not required to vote in the SMC Election.

Q3. Are retired doctors holding lower-fee PC required to vote in the SMC election?

A3. Fully registered doctors holding a lower-fee PC or full-fee PC are required to vote in the SMC Election.

Q4. Is voting compulsory in the SMC Election?

A4. Yes, voting is compulsory for all Fully registered doctors resident in Singapore with a valid PC during the SMC Election period.

A Fully registered doctor who is required to vote and fails to do so shall not be entitled to renew / apply for a PC unless he/she satisfies the Registrar that he/she had a good and sufficient reason for not voting at the Election, OR he/she pays to SMC a penalty of S$500.

Q5. I am residing / working / studying overseas. Do I still need to vote in the SMC election?

A5. You can still vote if you are overseas during the entire SMC Election period. However, if you did not vote, you must write to SMC that you were overseas during the entire election period with supporting documents, eg. a copy of the boarding pass or your employment or school enrolment letter.

Q6. I do not know the candidates. How can I vote for them in the SMC Election?

A6. The CVs of all the candidates standing for SMC Election can be viewed on the Election Page. Additionally, the candidates will also provide a write up explaining why they are standing for SMC Election.

SMC Pledge Affirmation Ceremony

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Q1. When is the next pledge ceremony?

A1. The SMC Physician’s Pledge Affirmation Ceremony is held biannually. The first ceremony is held usually during the first quarter of the year mainly for the conditionally registered doctors. The second ceremony usually held during the third/fourth quarter of the year is mainly for provisionally registered doctors.

Q2. How can I be invited for the next Pledge Ceremony?

A2.You will be invited to the Pledge Ceremony after taking into account the required period of conditional registration and the assessments and feedback received by SMC. As noted, the Pledge Ceremony is by invitation only. If a doctor has consistent and satisfactory performance in his/her postings, the invitation to the Pledge Ceremony will be extended after the required time period of supervision is fulfilled.

As SMC continues to monitor and evaluate the reports of the doctor’s clinical performance, ethics and professionalism, and feedback during conditional registration, it is advisable to apply for full registration soon after you have taken the Pledge.

Q3. Doctors from my batch or cohort have been invited to the Pledge Ceremony, but I have not received any invitation yet. May I know when will I be invited?

A3. Invitation to the Pledge Ceremony is not based on batch or cohort but on the doctor’s satisfactory clinical performance including assessments and feedback on the performance. The time period of supervision will also take into account unsupervised periods eg periods of no-pay leave.

Q4. I am a conditionally registered doctor. I have already met the minimum period of supervised practice and I think I have also achieved satisfactory gradings for my past postings. May I know when will I be invited to the Pledge Ceremony?

A4. There may be further requirements imposed by the Council that must be fulfilled by a conditionally registered doctor before he/she is eligible to apply for full registration. These requirements will be made known to the doctor at the time of registration into the Register of Medical Professionals. Please do check your conditional registration approval letter for the specific conditions for your registration. You must fulfil those conditions first before SMC can extend an invitation to you to attend the Pledge.

For some doctors, it may be because of the confidential assessment reports from their SMC appointed supervisors and/or confidential feedback reports given by their work colleagues which were requested by SMC (multi-rater reports). The invitation may be delayed if these reports are not satisfactory.

Q5. I am currently restricted to practise in a specialty as a conditionally registered doctor in a hospital. Can I attend the Pledge Ceremony and apply for full registration?

A5. If you have permanent restrictions placed on your practice by SMC, you cannot convert to full registration. Doctors who are restricted to practise only in certain specialties or sub-specialties and places of practice thus cannot convert to full registration as long as the restrictions remain in force. Besides restrictions put in place at the time the practising certificate was first issued under conditional registration, the restrictions also include conditions under conditional registration imposed by the Council, either through a disciplinary inquiry, an Interim Orders Committee inquiry or a health inquiry.

Q6. I am the subject of an SMC Inquiry. Will I be invited to the Pledge Ceremony?

A6. Doctors who are subject to an inquiry will generally not be allowed to attend the Pledge Ceremony until the inquiry is completed and the disposition of the inquiry is known.

Complaints against Medical Doctors

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Q1. Can the SMC help me to assess whether there are grounds for me to lodge a complaint?

A1. The SMC is unable to provide advice on whether there are grounds for an individual to lodge a complaint. A potential complainant may refer to section 40 of the Medical Registration Act 1997 and the SMC’s Information Sheet for more information on what types of complaints the SMC will accept.

Q2. How do I lodge a complaint against a doctor?

A2. The SMC operates under the remit of the Medical Registration Act 1997 (“MRA”) in regulating the conduct of registered medical practitioners in Singapore.

Under the MRA, to lodge a complaint against a doctor, the complaint must be type-written and accompanied by a Statutory Declaration (“SD”) which can be made before a Commissioner for Oaths (“CO”), Notary Public (“NP”) or Justice of the Peace (“JP”). Kindly ensure that all fields in the SD are duly completed.

You may visit the Singapore Academy of Law’s website for a list of COs and NPs in Singapore

Your complaint must be type-written in English and should include the full name of the doctor(s), the full facts of the case and your allegations against the doctor(s). Please refer to the Sample Letter / Template for guidance when preparing your type-written complaint.

Once the SD has been duly endorsed, please scan it in colour and send us the following documents at smc@spb.gov.sg. Your email submission should contain only two attachments.

a) Endorsed SD, complaint letter and supporting documents should be consolidated in one PDF file; and
b) A completed and signed copy of the letter of acknowledgement form (see page 6 of information sheet)

Please note that we will only be able to process your complaint when the above documents have been provided. The SMC may reject any complaint or SD not made in compliance with the Singapore law or in accordance with its requirements.

For more information on how to lodge a complaint with the SMC, please refer to the SMC’s information sheet.

Q3. I am a foreigner and am not residing in Singapore. How do I lodge a complaint against a doctor whom I consulted while I was in Singapore?

A3. Under the Medical Registration Act 1997, to lodge a complaint against a doctor, you must submit a written complaint accompanied by a Statutory Declaration (“SD”) which can be made before a Commissioner for Oaths, Notary Public, Justice of the Peace or with any other person having authority under any law for the time being in force in that country to take or receive a declaration (including diplomatic and consular officers exercising his functions outside Singapore).

Your complaint must be type-written in English and should include the full name of the doctor(s), the full facts of the case and your allegations against the doctor(s). Please refer to the Sample Letter / Template for guidance when preparing your type-written complaint.

Once the SD has been duly endorsed, please scan it in colour and send us the following documents at smc@spb.gov.sg. Your email submission should contain only two attachments.

a) Endorsed SD, complaint letter and supporting documents should be consolidated in one PDF file; and
b) A completed and signed copy of the letter of acknowledgement form (see page 6 of information sheet)

Please note that we will only be able to process your complaint when the above documents have been provided. The SMC may reject any complaint or SD not made in compliance with the Singapore law or in accordance with its requirements.

For more information on how to lodge a complaint with the SMC, please refer to the SMC’s information sheet.

Q4. Can the SMC advise me on whether the treatment I received from the doctor is appropriate?

A4. The SMC is unable to advise individuals on the medical management of a patient by a doctor. If you have doubts about the treatment received from a doctor, please seek clarification from the doctor/healthcare institution(s) or seek a second opinion before deciding on your next course of action.

Q5. Can I submit a complaint against the hospital/clinic?

A5. The SMC can only consider complaints against registered doctors and is not empowered by law to direct investigation or look into complaints against healthcare institution(s).

Medical clinics and healthcare establishments are regulated under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 by the Ministry of Health (“MOH”). You may wish to contact and address your feedback/complaints against any healthcare institution(s) to MOH.

Q6. Can I submit a complaint without the full name of the doctor?

A6. No. To facilitate the processing and investigation of the complaint, the full name of the doctor must be stated in a complaint lodged to the SMC.

Q7. I do not have the name/full name of the doctor(s). Can the SMC help me to obtain the name(s)?

A7. The SMC is unable to obtain the full name of the doctor(s) for you and/or assist in the drafting of your complaint. Where necessary, please contact the relevant healthcare institution(s) to find out the name of the doctor(s). Alternatively, you can also search for the full name of the doctor in the SMC register.

Q8. Will the doctor be able to see my complaint?

A8. The SMC is required, by law, to furnish a copy of your Statutory Declaration, complaint letter, and supporting documents to the doctor(s). All documents obtained by the relevant Committee for the purpose of investigating the complaint will be kept confidential and only disclosed to the doctor(s) and any other person who may be called upon to assist in the investigation of the case.

Q9. Is there a deadline for me to submit the complaint?

A9. A complaint must be lodged within six years of the incident or the earliest date on which the complainant knew or could have reasonably known about the incident, in accordance with section 41 of the Medical Registration Act 1997.

Q10. Can I submit my complaint without making a Statutory Declaration?

A10. Under section 40(2) of the Medical Registration Act 1997, your complaint must be in writing, be supported by a Statutory Declaration and be accompanied by every relevant document and information that is in your possession.

Q11. Can the SMC help me to draft my complaint?

A11. As an independent administrator of the disciplinary process, the SMC is unable to assist in the drafting of complaints.

Q12. Can I not use the Sample Letter / Template to submit my complaint?

A12. The Sample Letter / Template is a guide to draft your complaint as it contains all the relevant fields that an Inquiry Committee and a Complaints Committee would require to investigate your complaint. You are therefore strongly encouraged to adhere to this guide.

Please also note that handwritten complaint letters are not accepted and all complaints must be type-written in English.

Q13. I am unable to submit my Statutory Declaration, complaint letter and/or supporting documents via email. Can I mail them to the SMC instead?

A13. If the size of your document is too big to be sent to us via email, you may mail the hardcopy to us instead. You may also wish to consider utilising tracked mail services (e.g. registered mail, courier) to ensure that we receive your documents. The SMC will not be responsible for any lost mails.

Q14. Is the SMC the right platform for me to obtain compensation from a doctor?

A14. No, the SMC is not the platform to obtain compensation. Under the Medical Registration Act 1997 (“MRA”), if your complaint is found to be valid, the disciplinary framework only allows for the imposition of disciplinary sanctions against doctors. The law does not allow for an order of monetary compensation to be made. If you intend to seek monetary compensation from the doctor(s), you should seek your own independent legal advice.

Please note that if a complaint is found to be frivolous, vexatious, misconceived, or lacking in substance by an Inquiry Committee or a Complaints Committee, the complainant may be ordered to pay costs for the matter to the respondent doctor under section 49 of the MRA.

Q15. My doctor/clinic/hospital has charged me an amount for the medication/ consultation fee /medical report. Can I ask if this amount is correct? Can they charge me this amount?

A15. The SMC does not issue guidelines on doctors’ fees and charges and is not able to comment on the appropriateness of the fees charged by the doctor or clinic.

As medical clinics and healthcare establishments are regulated under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 by the Ministry of Health (“MOH”), you may wish to provide your feedback to MOH.
Alternatively, if you are keen to go for mediation, you may wish to approach the Mediation Unit by MOH Holdings Pte Ltd for assistance at (65) 9116 9364 or email them at mediate@mohh.com.sg. You may also visit their website for more information.

Q16. How long will it take for my complaint to be looked into?

A16. The Inquiry Committee has six weeks to decide if a complaint should be dismissed or referred to a Complaints Committee (“CC”) to inquire into the matter and direct one or more investigators to investigate the matter.

Should a complaint be referred to a CC, it can take more than six months for the CC to complete its inquiry, depending on the complexity of the matter. If the subject matter of the complaint involves external proceedings such as a police investigation, a Coroner’s inquiry or Court proceedings, the CC will usually wait for such findings before making a determination on the case.

Q17. Will I be updated of the status of my complaint with the SMC?

A17. As all proceedings before the Inquiry Committee (“IC”) and Complaints Committee (“CC”) are confidential, you will not receive periodic updates on the status of the inquiries. Although the SMC appoints the ICs and CCs, these committees remain independent and separate bodies from the SMC. Hence, the SMC Secretariat is not empowered to release any information to anyone, including yourself or anyone whom you have authorised to receive information on your behalf. You will be informed in writing of the outcome of the IC or CC’s deliberations only at the conclusion of the matter.

Q18. Can I submit additional information after I have lodged a complaint with the SMC?

A18. Yes, you can, if the additional information was not already in your possession at the time when you have submitted your complaint to the SMC (refer to Q10 above). However, you may wish to first consider if it is necessary, as the submission of additional information at a later stage is likely to prolong the time needed by the Inquiry Committee or Complaints Committee to look into the complaint. You are therefore strongly encouraged to ensure that all necessary, relevant information has been obtained and included into your complaint before submitting it to the SMC. At the submission of any additional information, please explain why such information was not submitted or not available earlier.

Aesthetic Practice

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Q1. Are all SMC-registered doctors able to perform aesthetic procedures?

A1. An SMC-registered doctor who wishes to perform aesthetic procedures must ensure that he/she meets the requirements as stated in the Guidelines on Aesthetic Practices for Doctors (2016 Edition) besides complying with any other rules/conditions tied to his/her registration.

For more information on the said guidelines, please refer to our website.

Q2. Can I check if non-doctors can perform aesthetic procedures?

A2. The SMC is the regulatory body for medical practitioners in Singapore, and regulates the registration, continuing medical education and professional conduct and behaviour of doctors in Singapore. As such, the SMC is unable to comment on procedures performed by non-doctors.

Q3. Is there a list of accredited Certificate of Competence (COC) courses for SMC-registered doctors?

A3. Yes. Please refer to the current list of accredited COC Courses for more information.

Q4. There does not seem to be accredited Certificate of Competence (COC) courses for certain aesthetic procedures under Table 1. What can I do if I wish to obtain a COC for such procedures?

A4. SMC-registered doctors who wish to seek verification of COC for non-accredited courses which they have attended can submit an application to the Aesthetic Practice Oversight Committee (“APOC”) using this form. Before submitting an application, applicants should ensure that all requirements listed in the General Criteria for Certificate of Competence Course Accreditation have been met.

Applicants are also reminded that until they receive confirmation from the APOC that the certificate obtained from the non-accredited course is a valid COC, they are not to perform the procedure.

Q5. Is there any way I can perform an aesthetic procedure that is not listed on either Table 1 or Table 2 of the Guidelines on Aesthetic Practices for Doctors (2016 Edition)?

A5. SMC-registered doctors who wish to perform non-listed procedures should submit an application to the APOC for the classification of the said procedure under Table 1 or Table 2 using the prescribed Non-Listed Aesthetic Procedures application form.

The application should include at least three key scientific papers (in the English language) which support the procedure in question. The APOC will then decide whether the procedure in question ought to be considered for possible classification.

For the avoidance of doubt, except in the context of a formal and approved clinical trial, SMC-registered doctors are not to perform any aesthetic procedures that are not listed in the Guidelines unless they have been classified by the APOC under Table 1 or Table 2.

General Enquiries

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Q1. I need to find a registered doctor. How can I do so?

A1. You can search and view the online register via “SEARCH FOR REGISTERED DOCTORS” at SMC’s website (www.smc.gov.sg). Registered doctors with the SMC are listed online as long as they have a valid practising certificate.

You may enter the full name of the doctor, or do a partial name search, or enter his/her medical registration (MCR) number under ‘More Search Options’.

The information displayed on the SMC online register is based on the timely updates by doctors.

Doctors who are no longer registered with the SMC do not need to provide any updates to the Council. As such, the Council no longer has updates of such doctors.

Q2. How do I login to SMC’s Professional Registration System?

A2. For Singpass users e.g. NRIC/FIN holders, please log in via Singpass and 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) using SMS or Singpass Mobile.

For non-Singpass users e.g. Passport holders, please log in via User ID, password and 2FA (using Google Authenticator [GA]). If you are no longer employed in Singapore, see Q3.

For HR personnel or CPE providers, you will need both a Singpass user account and an existing SMC account in order to access the PRS.

Please request your Corppass Admin to create a user account for you and assign the following e-Service access:
• Government Agency: Ministry of Health (MOH)
• e-Service: Professional Registration System (PRS)

Please note that since 11 April 2021, corporate users who are logging in to government digital services for businesses (G2B) are required to use Singpass. Find out more: https://go.gov.sg/corporate-login

Q3. I am no longer employed by a healthcare institution. Hence, I no longer hold a FIN-number. How can I continue to login to SMC PRS?

A3. As you are no longer a FIN-holder, you will need to email us a certified true copy of your current passport for updating. The certified true copy must be certified by a Notary Public with an official stamp, the full name of the signatory and a professional designation.

After the update is completed, we will inform you to reset your password and you can temporarily log in to your SMC account as a non-Singpass User (using Google Authenticator [GA]).

Upon your first login as a non-Singpass User, you will be prompted to download Google Authenticator as the 2FA.

From 1 April 2021, it is mandatory for non-Singpass users to use the Google Authenticator (GA) as the 2FA in order to protect your login to the PRS. Existing users of OneKey token will need to switch to GA.

Please refer to the guide to set up 2FA on GA.

Q4. I have encountered an error message while accessing the SMC’s Professional Registration System. What should I do?

A4.You may wish to consider clearing your cache/cookies from your browser.

If the problem persists, please provide the following information in an email to help us look into your issue expeditiously:
(i) Your purpose of accessing the PRS, e.g. apply for registration - such as Conditional, Temporary, Full, Provisional, update particulars, CME matters
(ii) Your browser type and device (desktop or laptop);
(iii) URL of the login page;
(iv) The screenshot of the pages before and after you encountered the error message; and
(v) The timestamp of when the error has occurred.

Q5. I would like to check if a TCM clinic is registered under the Medical Registration Act 1997 (MRA).

A5. We wish to clarify that the SMC operates under the remit of the MRA in registering medical practitioners (doctors) in Singapore. TCM clinics are neither regulated under the MRA nor the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act.

Check if a TCM practitioner is registered with TCMPB. For enquiries on TCM, please contact TCMPB at TCMPB@spb.gov.sg.

Q6. I would like to check if a TCM practitioner is a Singapore registered medical practitioner as mentioned in the Ministry of Manpower website.

A6. We wish to clarify that the SMC operates under the remit of the MRA in registering and regulating the conduct of medical practitioners (doctors) in Singapore.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners are not medical doctors and they are regulated by the TCM Practitioners Board (TCMPB). Check if a TCM practitioner is registered with TCMPB. For enquiries on TCM, please contact TCMPB at TCMPB@spb.gov.sg.

Q7. I would like to check if a chiropractor is a registered doctor with SMC.

A7. Please note that chiropractors are not medical practitioners registered under the SMC. Members of the public can search and view the SMC register online via “Search for registered doctors” at SMC’s website (www.smc.gov.sg) to check if a particular practitioner is also a registered medical doctor. Doctors who do not hold a valid practising certificate or are not registered with the SMC will not be shown.

You may enter the full name of the doctor, or do a partial name search, or enter his/her medical registration number under ‘More Search Options’.

Q8. I would like to find out how can I be registered as a Naturopathy practitioner in Singapore?

A8. Naturopathy is considered complementary medicine and not statutorily regulated in Singapore. Nonetheless, all traditional and complementary medicine providers, including naturopaths, must comply with relevant Acts including the Medicine Act (Advertisement and Sales), Poisons Act, Message Establishment Act etc, where applicable. For clarifications, you may wish to contact the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Q9.I am not a registered doctor with SMC, but I graduated with a MBBS/MD qualification overseas. Can I use the ‘Dr’ title?

A9. You may wish to note that the title “Dr” is not restricted for use by a medical practitioner (medical doctor) only. An individual who is academically accredited, for example, a person who has obtained a PhD qualification, may also use the title of “Dr”. However, any person who misrepresents himself or herself as a medical practitioner or who attempts to practise as a medical practitioner without being registered with SMC will be in breach of the law and may face legal action.

Q10. Can I check if the medical certificate issued by a doctor (overseas) is recognised by the SMC?

A10. Such matters are not under SMC’s purview. You may wish to check with your employer on the company’s policies regarding the recognition of overseas medical certificate and hospitalisation leave.

Q11. What is “Secretariat of healthcare Professional Boards”?

A11. With effect from 1 Jan 2020, SMC is supported by the Secretariat of healthcare Professional Boards (SPB) for its secretariat and operational functions. The registration and regulation of medical practitioners (doctors) continue to be governed by SMC, which retains autonomy and independence over professional and statutory matters, as provided for under the Medical Registration Act 1997.

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Useful Links

Feedback / Frequently Asked Questions

Medical Registration

General Registration

Q1. How do I update my particulars?

Q2. I have just obtained a new NRIC number (Singapore Permanent Resident status) and am unable to log in to PRS via singpass. What should I do?

Q3. What is COPS? How do I request for a copy of the COPS?

Q4. Who should I approach to obtain a copy of my certificate of experience?

International Medical Graduates (IMGS)

Q5. I am an International Medical Graduate. What are the criteria for me to be registered as a doctor in Singapore?

Q6. How do I submit an application for medical registration with SMC?

Q7. Can I still apply for SMC registration if my basic medical qualification is not in the SMC’s list of registrable basic medical qualification?

Q8. If my medical qualification is neither in the SMC’s list of registrable basic nor the postgraduate medical qualification, are there any other options to apply for SMC registration?

Q9. Are the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) examination applicable for registration with SMC?

Q10. Can a new foreign-trained doctor apply for full registration directly?.

Q11. Can a new foreign-trained doctor join the private sector directly?

Q12. How do I apply for clinical fellowship in Singapore?

Q13. How do I apply for residency training in Singapore?

Q14. How do I find an SMC-approved healthcare institution for employment?

Q15. I am an International Medical Graduate and would like to open my own clinic in Singapore. What are the criteria?

Conditional Registration

Q16. Can I apply for conditional registration if I have not been in active clinical practice for more than 3 years?

Provisional Registration

Q17. I am an International Medical Graduate. How can I get a provisional licence in Singapore and start the postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) programme?

Full Registration

Q18. When can conditionally registered doctors apply for full registration?

Q19. Who should I approach to obtain the testimonials for my full registration application?

Specialist Registration

Q20. I have graduated as a medical doctor, completed specialist training overseas and am interested to work in Singapore as a specialist. What types of documentation or certifications do I need in order to work in Singapore?

Family Physician Registration

Q21. I have obtained a Family Medicine (FM) qualification and am interested in finding out about Family Physician Accreditation?

Display of Qualifications

Q22. How do I know what are the qualifications that SMC allows for display and the requirements for such application? How do I register my postgraduate or additional qualifications? / How can I display them?

Q23. What designations are allowed for display by a Specialist in private practice?

Temporary Registration

Q24. I am a visiting foreign registered surgeon who is engaged to assist practising surgeons at a local hospital for a short-term period. How do I apply for medical registration and practising certificate?

Q25. I am a foreign-trained doctor currently staying in Singapore. I would like to provide some health talks to local residents. Do I need to be registered with SMC?

Q26. I wish to provide telehealth / telemedicine / tele services as a General Practitioner for patients who are residing in another country during my stay in Singapore. Do I need to register with SMC?

Re-registration/No-Pay-Leave/LOCUM

Q27. I was previously registered with SMC. Can I apply for registration with SMC again?

Q28. I am a registered doctor planning to go on No-Pay Leave (NPL). What are the procedures involved?

Q29. I am doing locum work. How do I update my employment and practice place details?

Supervisory Framework

Q1. What are the criteria to be a supervisor under SMC’s supervisory framework?

Q2. Can part-time fully-registered doctors be appointed as SMC’s supervisors?

Q3. What is my current level of supervision? How can I progress to the next level of supervision? What are the criteria for progression?

Q4. I am a conditionally registered doctor. How do I request to change my supervisor? Must the supervisor be trained and approved by SMC?

Practising Certificate (PC)

Q1. Do I need a PC to practise in Singapore? How do I apply for it?

Q2. My PC is expiring soon. Will it be renewed automatically?

Q3. I cannot renew my PC online and received the following message: “Note: Your register must meet all renewal criteria below.” Why?

Q4. My employment will cease before my PC validity ends. I have applied for a one-year PC. Why does the PC application fee remain the same?

Q5. How do I make payment for my PC renewal application?

Q6. I have successfully submitted my PC renewal application but was not prompted for payment. Why?

Q7. My PC application has been approved. How do I view and download my e-PC?

Q8. I have made payment for my PC renewal. How can I obtain a receipt? (Applicable only to doctors who paid for their own PC)

Q9.I lost my hardcopy PC (this will be for PC until 31 Dec 2023 only). How do I replace it?

Q10. I wish to cease practice. Should I renew my PC? Will I still be registered with the SMC if I do not renew my PC?

Q11. My PC has lapsed. How do I apply for a new PC?

Q12. I am currently on register but without a valid PC. I would like to reinstate my PC to practise. What is required of me to proceed?

Continuing Professional/Medical Education – For Doctors

Q1. How do I view my CPE report?

Q2. How do I submit credit claims?

Q3. Why are my CPE points not reflected?

Q4. What are the categories for accumulation of CPE claims?

Q5. How may I attach documents when the application is routed to me for attachment of supporting documents?

Mandatory Medical Ethics CME

Q1. Why was Medical Ethics Core points for CME implemented by SMC to renew doctors’ practising certificates?

Q2. How many Medical Ethics CME Core points will I need to accrue?

Q3. What if I am applying for the reduced practice lower CME requirement Practising Certificate (PC)?

Q4. When do I need to start accumulating Medical Ethics CME Core points?

Q5. Who are SMC’s approved Medical Ethics CME providers? How do I find out about their Medical Ethics programmes?

Q6. I am not a member of AMS, CFPS or SMA (PBs). Can I participate in the Medical Ethics CME organised by them?

Q7. How can I know whether there are fees to participate in the PBs’ Medical Ethics courses?

Q8. What kind of CME are they organising for doctors to obtain Medical Ethics CME Core points?

Q9. What topics are covered in the Medical Ethics CME?

Continuing Professional/Medical Education – For CME Providers

Q1. How to submit attendance or add attendance records after submission of attendance?

Q2. How do I amend sessions due to change of dates?

Q22. How do I know what are the qualifications that SMC allows for display and the requirements for such application?
How do I register my postgraduate or additional qualifications? / How can I display them?