Nigerian doctors in South Africa are governed by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), a professional body for health care practitioners in South Africa. HPCSA is registered as a statutory professional body with the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA).
As of July 2018, HPCSA confirmed that 680 Nigerian doctors in South Africa were registered in South Africa.
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The mandate of HPCSA
HPCSA guides and regulates all health professions in South Africa. It’s commissioned to manage and oversee registration, education and training, professional conduct and ethical behaviour, ensuring continuing professional development and fostering compliance with healthcare standards among health professionals across South Africa.
NOTE: All individuals who
practise any of the health care professions incorporated within the scope of the HPCSA are obliged by the Health Professions Act No. 56 of 1974 to register with the Council. Failure to do so constitutes a criminal offence.
The Health Professions Council of South Africa confers the following designations:
- Medical Practitioners
- Dental Practitioners
- Psychologists
- Oral Hygienists
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Therapists
Internships and community service for Nigerian doctors in South Africa
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. The purpose of board examinations is to measure the academic and clinical competence and capacity of foreign qualified practitioners (Nigerian doctors in South Africa qualified in Nigeria) to enter the profession for community service, supervised practice or independent practice. They may subsequently be required to perform supervised practice for up to two years of internship.
HPCSA will determine the duration and domains of internship training or supervised practice for foreign qualified practitioners based on norms set for the same. After completing two years of internship, the doctor will be registered by the HPCSA as a doctor and will need to complete a year in the Department of Health service (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, must complete one year of community service (HPCSA Bulletin, 2017).
Verification of Qualifications of Nigerian Doctors in South Africa
The Health Professions Council of South Africa uses the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) to verify international practitioners’ medical credentials (e.g. Nigerian doctors in South Africa) applying for registration to practice medicine in South Africa.
ECFMG is a global leader in health care—serving physicians, medical, education and regulatory communities, health care consumers, and those researching issues in medical education and health workforce planning.
Nigerian doctors in South Africa and the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
Step 1: The HPCSA requires practitioners who obtained their basic medical qualification outside of South Africa to use ECFMG’s Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC) to have their medical credentials verified (e.g. Nigerian doctors in South Africa)
All new applicants who obtained their basic medical qualification outside of South Africa must establish an EPIC
account if they do not have one already.
Step 2: Practitioners are required to upload their credentials to EPIC for verification.
Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials
EPIC is an innovative, online service that practitioners can use throughout their careers. Through EPIC, practitioners will build a digital career portfolio of the primary-source verified credentials related to their medical education, training, and registration/license. They can then use EPIC to request reports verifying their credentials’ authenticity be provided to any
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From Nigeria good day sir/madam,please I will like to know morning eabout hpcsaduring the period of internship will the doctor be paid and how much,2,how will a doctor registration ter for vetficstuon through epicsm,thanks omeje
From Nigeria good day sir/madam,please I will like to know about hpcs ,during the period of internship by a foreign trained doctor, will the doctor be paid ?and how much,2,when will a doctor commence registration is it on arrival from outside sa. for vetficstion through epicsm,thanks omeje
Hi Christopher,
According to this UCT resource, you may not be paid for your internship. Depending on your personal
circumstance, I think the most important question is if you will be accepted for an internship.
Compliments of the day, kindly guide me on how to commence the process of registration with HPCSA having been a Nigerian trained medical graduate. I’m also willing to know the cost implications of required examinations and how long it could take in the minimum.