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Criteria for HPCSA-accredited intern posts

Doctors trained in South Africa need to complete two years of internship, with no exam at the end of their internship, but the completion of a logbook after rotation in all prescribed domains.

Doctors trained abroad need to apply to the HPCSA for registration. Some may be exempted from a board exam, while others may have to write the exam. They may subsequently be required to perform supervised practice for up to two years or internship. The duration and domains of internship training or supervised practice for foreign qualified practitioners will be determined by HPCSA based on norms set for the same.

After successful completion of two years internship, the doctor will be registered by the HPCSA as a doctor, and will need to complete a year in the service of the DOH. This is known as community service. The DOH determines all community service posts and no supervision is required. All healthcare professionals, including dieticians, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, are obliged to complete one year of community service.

For more information, go to the HPCSA website or follow the following links:

To view the an introduction to the guidelines for internship training, click here.

For more specific information see the following resources:

Last Updated on 1 November 2017 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs