Skip to main content

Before you start work in Ireland

From registering with the Medical Council to immunisations to medical protection, there are lots of things you will need to organise or think about before your first day at work. If you are coming to Ireland for the first time, you should also see our Moving to Ireland page for more guidance about the requirements you will have to meet.

Lighthouse in Ireland Country Landscape

Checks and steps before your first day

Prior to taking up a post in Ireland your employer will require the following:

  • Evidence of Registration with the Irish Medical Council
  • Satisfactory police vetting (your Medical Manpower Department will seek this and should uploaded a copy to your NER account)
  • Two references (one of which must be from the most recent supervising consultant or employer). Your employer may seek these directly or request you to provide them
  • Confirmation of completion of Pre- employment Health Assessment
  • A valid English language certification (if applicable), which should be uploaded to the correct section of your NER account
  • Evidence of the required visa to work in Ireland (where applicable)
  • Signed acceptance of post offered

Prior to taking up post you should:

  • Use the NCHD Handbook for helpful advice before you arrive in Ireland.
  • Create a National Employment Record (NER) account, complete all relevant sections and upload documents as require eg.:
    • The NER hire form
    • Occupational health questionnaire and supporting documentation (if necessary)
    • Up-to-date curriculum vitae
    • Evidence of qualifications and certificates
    • English language test results (if applicable)
  • Have a valid work permit (if applicable), which should be uploaded to the correct section of your NER account
  • Have received a copy of the national agreed contract of employment for NCHDs, to be signed by you and your employer. The contract will included details such as:
    • Start date / end date
    • Role
    • Leave entitlements
    • Other entitlements eg. Training Supports,
    • Pay details including salary and other payments
    • Clinical Indemnity Scheme
    • Policies and information.
  • Receive communication from your employer with details of who you should contact on day one and at what time you should attend.

If you are moving to Ireland for the first time, you should also ensure you have:

  • Accommodation
  • An Irish bank account
  • An Irish mobile phone
  • A personal public service (PPS) number
  • An active Revenue myAccount (if you have not worked in Ireland before, register your first employment by selecting ‘Update Job and Pension details’ in myAccount)
  • Attended the local immigration office to ensure you have the correct immigration permission/stamp.

See more about the requirements for doctors coming to work in Ireland from abroad.

Induction checklist

You should receive a full induction 24 to 48 hours before your start date.
During this induction, you should have:

  • Received your personnel number
  • Received your identity badge
  • Received and signed your contract (with review of pay scale)
  • Met your assigned line manager or supervising consultant
  • Received technology login details and operating skills in:
    • Radiology
    • Access and use of systems to order tests (for example, the laboratory)
    • Local electronic patient record (EPR) or online medical record repositories
    • Discharge summary
    • Handover systems, where available
    • Pharmacy systems, where available
  • Received a work email address
  • Received library access
  • Received a site tour of NCHD facilities including rest space, on-call rooms, administrative area, lockers, canteens, educational space, etc.
  • Received specific information such as:
    • Indemnity systems and coverage
    • Haemovigilance
    • Local cardiac arrest procedures and training schedule
    • Coroners contact and local policies
  • Access to scrubs
  • Met other team members and department colleagues, such as educational leads and administrators, Medical Manpower Department manager, and NCHD support officers
  • Received a schedule of teaching:
    • Further induction programmes and dates
    • Weekly hospital-wide conferences
    • Research, audit, and quality improvement (QI) resources and support

More information about employment requirements

The following information is for all doctors, regardless of whether they are already based in Ireland or are coming here for the first time to continue their training.