A guide to living and

working in Ireland
for doctors
 So you want to work in Ireland?
Is it your dream to work as a doctor in Ireland? We’ve put together a guide to help you on your way.
The first thing you need to know is that doctors who want to work in Ireland must register
with the Medical Council (MC).
To do so, overseas-trained doctors must first take an English test such as OET, to prove that they
have the right level of English.
There’s a lot to think about as well as registration, including applying for a work visa, registering for
tax and arranging things like accommodation and a bank account.
It might seem a bit overwhelming right now, but if you take it one step at a time and do your
research, you can get to live your dream of working in Ireland soon.
This guide contains:
1. An introduction to Ireland’s Medical Council (MC)
2. Information about taking OET as proof of English proficiency
3. Introduction to working and living in Ireland
4. Useful Links
5. Contact Us

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 1. An Introduction to the Medical Council (MC) of Ireland
The Medical Council regulates medical doctors in the Republic of Ireland. The Council is
responsible for making sure that doctors in the Republic of Ireland have the right training,
education and skills.
Therefore, all doctors must register with the Medical Council to be able to work in Ireland,
so that the Medical Council can make sure doctors have the necessary skills, including good
enough English, to do their job well.  
The Medical Council has strict requirements for medical qualifications and proof that doctors’
English is good enough – for more information, take a look at their website.
You can now take OET to prove to the Medical Council that your English is good enough
for them to allow you to register for work in Ireland.
All nurses and midwives wanting to work in Ireland must first register with the MC.
To find out more about how to register with the Medical Council, go to: http://www.
medicalcouncil.ie/Registration-Applications/First-Time-Applicants/.

2. Information about taking OET as proof of English proficiency

If you studied medicine overseas, you will need to take an English test to register and work in
Ireland. We recommend OET, an international English language test that assesses the language
proficiency of healthcare professionals who want to register and practise in an English-speaking
environment.  

Why do doctors choose OET? 

You can find out more about OET on the
Doctors who want to work in Ireland choose
website:
OET for many reasons: 
Why choose OET?
»» OET is recognised by Ireland’s Medical
Council How is OET different to general or
»» OET helps you prove you have the academic English tests?
right level of English, while at the Who accepts OET as proof of English
same time learning the kind of proficiency?
language you’ll need every day at
What’s in the test?
work 
»» OET uses real healthcare scenarios so How is OET scored?
you’ll feel more confident on test day  Where and when can I take OET?
»» OET is widely recognised and well How do I apply to take OET?
respected 
How can I prepare for test?
»» It’s easy to prepare for the test using
the OET Preparation Portal  Shop for OET preparation materials
»» OET tests all four language skills Success stories
– listening, reading, writing and
To find out more about OET, go to:
speaking. 
www.occupationalenglishtest.org

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3. Introduction to working
and living in Ireland
Moving to a new country and starting
a new life is exciting and scary at the
same time.
We recommend that you do as much
research as possible before you arrive
– the more prepared you are, the
smoother your move will be. Below you
will find some pointers on what you
need to do and where you need to go to
apply, as well as an explanation of some
systems and terms you might not be
familiar with.
 3.1 Applying to work in Ireland
Once registration with the Medical Council is complete, doctors can search for jobs with the
Health Service Executive or on other healthcare recruitment websites.
Jobs are also advertised in local and national newspapers, healthcare journals and employer
websites. Once you find a suitable job vacancy, make sure you read the job description carefully
and take your time to apply for it.
As a part of recruitment process, you may be asked to take aptitude tests. These are basically
tests that are designed to test the skills you will need for work. You are also likely to have a
health assessment and criminal record check.

3.2 Getting an Irish employment permit

If you are from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland, once you have a contract
to work in Ireland you will need to apply for an employment permit via the Irish Naturalisation
and Immigration service.

3.3 Registering for income tax in Ireland

To work in Ireland you will need to register for tax and get a Personal Public Service Number
(PPSN). This is a unique reference number assigned to individuals who work in Ireland for all
dealings with public service agencies, including the tax office.
You can apply for a PPSN and register for income tax here.

3.4 Finding accommodation

You can rent an entire home or look for shared accommodation, which will include a room in a
house or apartment where you share a kitchen, bathroom and lounge. There are several options
listed below. Usually rented accommodation is fully furnished, and this is clearly stated in the
advert. In Ireland tenants have specific rights and responsibilities, which you can view on this
website.
Types of accommodation:
»» Studios have a bed, sofa and kitchen all in one room with a separate bathroom.
»» Flats are apartments with 1 or more separate bedrooms and usually several flats share a
common entrance from the street.
»» Houses and maisonettes have their own entrance from the street.
»» Alternatively, you can look for a shared accommodation (a room in a house sharing a
kitchen, bathroom and lounge).
Start looking for houses in the area you before you move and get an idea of rent and the areas
you would like to live. You may need to stay in hotels or backpacker hostels when you first
arrive, so you can inspect accommodation and make an application to rent.
Transport can be time consuming and expensive, so you will need to investigate how long it
takes to get to work from your selected accommodation. Find out if it is near a train station,
bus line or if you are able to walk and then use a mapping website to work out your route.

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 When you first arrive, make sure you have enough funds to pay the following initial costs
before you start work:
»» Temporary accommodation when you arrive.
»» Bond/deposit and your first month’s rent – rent is paid in advance.
»» Mobile phone and internet access
»» Council tax
»» Transport
»» Food

3.5 Utility bills

Water, gas and electric bills will normally need to be paid monthly. To find out more, take a look
at the energy company websites and compare them to see which suits your need best.

3.6 Transport
You may need to rely on public transport to commute to work and you can use the following links
to get an idea of the cost and time of travel:

Train Services:  Bus Services: 

http://www.irishrail.ie/ http://www.buseireann.ie/

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 3.7 Bank accounts
Your salary will be paid into an Irish bank account. To open a bank account in Ireland, in most
cases, you will be required to provide proof of identity and proof of an Ireland address (for
example a utility bill or rental contract). To find the best bank for your purposes, visit different Irish
bank websites and make sure you understand the benefits, terms and conditions of your selected
bank account before you apply.

3.8 Language
The languages spoken in Ireland are mainly English and Irish Gaelic.

3.9 Climate
Temperatures range between 6 degrees Celsius in the winter and 25 degrees in the summer.
Rain is common and occurs throughout the year.

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 4. Useful links
Medical Council (MC)
Occupational English Test (OET)
OET Preparation Portal 
Irish employment permit

4.1 Source links

Medical Council (MC)
Occupational English Test (OET)
Health service executive (HSE)
Irish employment permit
Irish tax and customs
Citizen information, Ireland

6. Contact us
If you have a question about OET, go to the Helpdesk.