A Clinician's Guide to Registering as a Specialist

And why timing might be everything

The Medical Act of 1971 and its amendment in 2012 requires doctors to be registered on the National Specialist register (NSR) in order to practice as a specialist. It is akin to the GMC’s own specialist register.

Full registration with the MMC and NSR are requirements before working as a consultant in a Malaysian private hospital.

What is the criteria to register as a specialist?

A specialist in Malaysia is a medical practitioner who has

1. Full Registration with the MMC

2. Attended specialized training in a specialty in a recognised training institution

3. Holds a recognised specialist qualification

4. Proven to the MMC that he/she is fit and of good character

Each specialty and subspecialty will have it’s own criteria on what is an acceptable “specialist qualification” and what is a “recognised training institution”.

You can find the criteria in the link here.

For example, the criteria to be registered as an Anaesthetist in Malaysia is as follows:

1. Full Registration with MMC

2. Current Annual Practising Certificate

3. Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetist - FRCA (Eng)

4. Minimum of 12 months of supervised working experience after obtaining specialist qualification ie FRCA in Anaesthesia

How do you apply to be on the NSR...

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