The commencement of Part 11 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 – Maintenance of Professional Competence places a new statutory duty on doctors to maintain their professional competence.  From 1st May 2011 all doctors on the Specialist and General Divisions of the Medical Register will be legally obliged to participate in a Professional Competence Scheme.

Under the auspices of RCPI, the following constituent Training Bodies have been formally accredited for the purpose of operating Professional Competence Schemes on behalf of the Medical Council:

• Faculty of Occupational Medicine, RCPI
• Faculty of Paediatrics, RCPI
• Faculty of Pathology, RCPI
• Faculty of Public Health Medicine, RCPI
• Institute of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, RCPI
• Irish Committee on Higher Medical Training, RCPI

An online application form is available on to facilitate enrolment on Professional Competence Schemes being operated by RCPI’s Training Bodies.  Enrolment will be a two-step process: applicants will initially complete and submit the relevant online application form, and; once this has been received and validated, applicants will be advised how to pay the annual fee.

All Schemes under the auspices of RCPI will require an annual fee of €250 and Fellows, Members and Licentiates of RCPI and any of its Faculties or Institute will be entitled to a discount as follows:

• 20% discount to Fellows, Members or Licentiates of the College and its Faculties or Institute in good standing, resulting in a fee of €200.
• 30% discount to Fellows, Members or Licentiates with dual membership of one or more of RCPI, its Faculties or Institute in good standing, resulting in a fee of €175.

Full details of RCPI’s Professional Competence Schemes are available on the Professional Competence section of the RCPI website.

Doctors who are not Members or Fellows of RCPI’s Training Bodies can align themselves with the RCPI Training Body appropriate to their medical specialty for the express purpose of enrolling in a Professional Competence Scheme.  Please click on the relevant link below for further details on the Schemes being operated through RCPI, including eligibility criteria.

Specialist Division Schemes

General Division Schemes

For further assistance and guidance please contact RCPI’s Professional Competence Department either by telephone on (01) 8639700 or by email to professionalcompetence@rcpi.ie