Enrol on a Professional Competence Scheme

Overview

We offer six Professional Competence Schemes for doctors on the Specialist Division of the Medical Council Register.

If you’re not sure what type of registration you hold, you can check this using the Irish Medical Council Search for a Registered Doctor service.

Were you enrolled for 2023-2024?

If you were enrolled on a Professional Competence Scheme during 2023-2024, you don’t need to complete another application for 2024-2025. You are required to renew your enrolment each year.

• Read more about How to Renew

Back to top

Entry Requirements

To enrol on one of our Professional Competence Specialist Division Schemes, you must hold Irish Medical Council registration in a corresponding specialty.

More than one specialty?

If you have more than one registered specialty, you only need to enrol on one Professional Competence Scheme. Choose the Scheme that is most appropriate to your current practice.

Ready to apply?
You will be asked to log into our website. If you already have log-in details for our website, you should log in using that username and password. Please do not create a new account for our website if you already have existing log-in details.

Faculty of Occupational Medicine: you must be a registered specialist in Occupational Medicine.

• Enrol on the Faculty of Occupational Medicine Specialist Division Professional Competence Scheme

Faculty of Paediatrics: you must be a registered specialist in Paediatrics or Paediatric Cardiology.

• Enrol on the Faculty of Paediatrics Specialist Division Professional Competence Scheme

Faculty of Pathology: you must be a registered specialist in one of the following:

• Chemical Pathology
• Clinical Microbiology
• Haematology
• Histopathology
• Immunology
• Neuropathology
  
  
• Enrol on the Faculty of Pathology Specialist Division Professional Competence Scheme

Faculty of Public Health Medicine: you must be a registered specialist in Public Health Medicine.

• Enrol on the Faculty of Public Health Medicine Specialist Division Professional Competence Scheme

Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: you must be a registered specialist in Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

• Enrol on the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Specialist Division Professional Competence Scheme

Institute of Medicine: you must be a registered specialist in one of the following:

• Cardiology
• Clinical Genetics
• Clinical Neurophysiology
• Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• Dermatology
• Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus
• Gastroenterology
• General (Internal) Medicine
• Genitourinary Medicine
• Geriatric Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Oncology
• Nephrology
• Neurology
• Palliative Medicine
• Pharmaceutical Medicine
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Respiratory Medicine
• Rheumatology
  
  
• Enrol on the Institute of Medicine Specialist Division Professional Competence Scheme

Back to top

Enrolment Fee

The enrolment fee for a professional competence scheme is €250. If your an annual subscription fee for membership of RCPI or one of our faculties is up to date, you will be entitled to a discount. The method of payment is credit or debit card, taken at the end of the online application process.

3D security on credit card payments in Europe: It is now a requirement that your city and postcode (Eircode) are contained in an address. When completing your application, please make sure you have entered your full address and postcode before you proceed through to payment of your enrolment fee. Check your Eircode here.

Direct Debit: If you choose this method, it is important that you complete the application form as far as the payment stage, and then email professionalcompetence@rcpi.ie to notify us you have submitted a direct debit. We will then be able to complete the last step of the application for you.

• Click this link to submit a direct debit mandate

Back to top

What Happens After I Enrol?

Once your enrolment is complete, we will set up your ePortfolio for Professional Competence and send you instructions on how to use it to record and monitor your progress throughout the year.

Back to top

Contact Us

We have a highly experienced professional competence support team. They are always happy to answer your questions and advise you on how to maintain professional competence.  The fastest way to contact this department is by logging in to our support desk here.

• If you need help with your ePortfolio, we can arrange a convenient time to work with you to ensure your records are up to date.
• If you need advice on how to apply for CPD approval for your event submit your event title and proposed date and we will talk you through what you need to do.
• Contact the professional competence team at professionalcompetence@rcpi.ie.  If you would like a callback, please let us know the best time and phone number to call you.
• Alternatively, you might like to visit Professional Competence FAQs

Back to top