Evidence of qualifications from France

Find out what evidence you need to provide if you are a qualified doctor from France.

Please note that our Relevant European Qualifications list is based on the Directive of Recognition of Professional Qualifications (the Directive) on the 31 December 2020 .

 
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Provisional registration

Provisional registration

You can’t apply for provisional registration if you qualified in France.

Your country’s regulator

Conseil National de L'Ordre de Médecins
180 Boulevard Haussmann
75008 Paris
France

Tel: +33 153 893 200
Fax: +33 153 893 344

Full registration

Full registration with a licence to practise

To apply for full registration with a licence to practise if you have previously held provisional registration with us you will need to send to us a Certificat de compétence clinique awarded by your French university.

If you have never held provisional registration, the documents you will need to send to us depend on the date you completed your basic medical training.

I completed my medical degree 

On or after 20 December 1976

Provide:

A Diplôme d’État de docteur en Médicine.

OR:

A Diplôme de fin de deuxième cycle des études médicales issued by a French university.

OR:

A Diplôme de formation approfondie en sciences médicales AND a Certificat de compétence clinique issued by a French university.

 

Before 20 December 1976

In addition to the above, you need to also provide one of the following:

  • A document confirming that the training leading to the award of your French primary medical qualification meets the standards detailed in Article 24 of the Directive.

OR:

  • A document confirming that you have effectively and lawfully been engaged in actual medical practice for at least three consecutive years during the five years preceding the award of the certificate (as detailed in Article 23.1 of the Directive) issued by Conseil National de L'Ordre de Médecins or the competent authority of the EEA country (or Switzerland), where you are now working.

The title of my degree is not the same as the one in the Relevant European qualification list

If the title of your French degree is not the same as above, you will also need to provide a document from the Conseil National de L’Ordre de Médecins. This document must confirm that your qualification is treated the same as Diplôme de fin de deuxième cycle des études médicales, as detailed in Article 23.6 of the Directive.

Your country’s regulator

Conseil National de L'Ordre de Médecins
180 Boulevard Haussmann
75008 Paris
France

Tel: +33 153 893 200
Fax: +33 153 893 344

Specialist registration

Entry onto the Specialist Register 

I have a Relevant European Specialist qualification

Your specialty must be listed on our Relevant European qualification list by the country that awarded it. If your specialist qualification is listed, but you do not already hold full registration you should apply for full registration with a licence to practise and entry onto the Specialist Register at the same time.

I completed my specialist training on or after 20 December 1976

You must provide one of the following.

  • A Certificat d’études specialisées de médicine (CES – certificate of specialist studies in medicine).
  • A Diplome d’études spécialisées complémentaires qualifiant de médicine (DESC) issued by a French University.
  • An Attestation de médicine spécialiste qualifié; (certificate of qualified specialist) issued by Conseil National de L’Ordre de Médecins.

I completed my specialist training before 20 December 1976

You do not hold a Relevant European Specialist qualification. Please read our guidance on joining the UK specialist or GP register with Portfolio.

I don’t have a specialist qualification on the Relevant European qualification list

You do not hold a Relevant European Specialist qualification. Please read our guidance on joining the UK specialist register with Portfolio. 

The title of my specialty or specialist certificate is not the same

If the title of your specialist certificate is not the same as the one above or the specialty listed is not the same as the specialty on our Relevant European qualification list, please read our guidance on joining the UK specialist register with Portfolio.

Your country’s regulator

Conseil National de L'Ordre de Médecins
180 Boulevard Haussmann
75008 Paris
France

Tel: +33 153 893 200
Fax: +33 153 893 344

GP registration

Entry onto the GP Register 

I completed my GP training on or after 31 December 1994

Provide a diplôme d'études spécialisées de médicine générale accompagnés du diplôme d'Etat de docteur en médecine issued by a French university.

I completed my GP training before 31 December 1994

You do not hold a Relevant European GP qualification. Please read our guidance on joining the UK GP register with Portfolio.

I don’t have a GP qualification listed on the Relevant European qualification list

You do not hold a Relevant European GP qualification. Please read our guidance on joining the UK GP register with Portfolio.

Your country’s regulator

Conseil National de L'Ordre de Médecins
180 Boulevard Haussmann
75008 Paris
France

Tel: +33 153 893 200
Fax: +33 153 893 344