Estonia

Part One

| Professional recognition in your country

1.1. Which organisation recognises doctors eligible to practice in your country?

In case your country has more then one organisation which can provide professional recognition, please attach to this survey a simple list of names and websites where we can acquire more information.

NAME: ESTONIAN HEALTH BOARD
TYPE OF ORGANISATION (PROFESSIONAL, GOVERNMENT, ETC.) TRADE UNION AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATION PART OF GOVERNMENT
ADDRESS: PALDISKI MNT 81, TALLINN, 10617, ESTONIA
PHONE NUMBER: REGISTER OF WORKING PERMITS: +372 6509858
FAX: NO FAX
CONTACT PERSON: LIINA SAAR, LIINA.SAAR@TERVISEAMET.EE
E-MAIL: KESK@TERVISEAMET.EE
WEBSITE (S): HTTP://WWW.TERVISEAMET.EE/EN/INFORMATION.HTML

1.2. What requirements/documents are necessary for a foreign doctor to practice medicine?

i.e. language skills, medical degree, insurance, immigration status.

For the professional recognition: The application, document proving the qualification, passport or other ID, marital document (if the names on the ID and the medical degree document doesn’t match).

If you are a specialist then a document proving the specialization. For the workplace - officially a language certification proving you can speak Estonian at C-level (does not always apply).

If a document proving the qualification/specialization is not on that list – https://www.riigiteataja.ee/aktilisa/1150/1201/6003/Horvaatia_nr_42_lisa... - then you need to provide a certificate from a competent organization which confirms that European Economic Area or Switzerland who issued the document regards this as equivalent to the diploma listed in the list referred to.

1.3. Are there any application deadlines (if so, when)?

Furthermore, how long does the professional recognition procedure usually take?

No deadlines within the year. The recognition procedure takes usually 2-3 months.

1.4. Are there any sort of examinations/interviews to apply for Medical Professional Recognition?

If you have a MD from EU, Switzerland or European Economic Area, then you usually don’t need an examination. If the committee wants to specify applicant degree or assess the curriculum from the University presented by the applicant, this will be evaluated and if the degree or curriculum does not match required standard, an examination will be suggested.

1.5.1. What kind of professional medical degrees are there in your country?

Degree in Medicine (MD) and Degree in Dentistry (DD). Postgraduate specialist training (residency) and PhD are done separately.

1.5.2. How do you access each degree?

The medical degree may be obtained in English, for which you need to apply for a place at University of Tartu.

The admission requirements are provided here: https://ut.ee/en/curriculum/medicine.

For residency you also need to apply at University of Tartu.

The postgraduate medical training consists of 44 different specialities and is carried out in different facilities around Estonia. Further information is provided here.

https://meditsiiniteadused.ut.ee/en/content/postgraduate-specialist-medi...

Part Two

| Training in your country

2.1. Which organisation is responsible for medical training in your country?

In case your country has more than one organisation with this function, please attach to this survey a simple list of names and websites where we can acquire more information.

NAME: UNIVERSITY OF TARTU, FACULTY OF MEDICINE
ADDRESS RAVILA 19, 50411, TARTU, TARTU MAAKOND, ESTONIA
TYPE OF ORGANISATION (PROFESSIONAL, GOVERNMENT, ETC.): UNIVERSITY
PHONE NUMBER: (+372) 737 5326
FAX: NOT LISTED
CONTACT PERSON:
E-MAIL: MED@UT.EE
WEBSITE: HTTPS://MEDITSIINITEADUSED.UT.EE/EN HTTPS://MEDITSIINITEADUSED.UT.EE/EN/RESIDENCY

2.2. Besides professional recognition, is there any other requirement for a doctor to start his training/begin to work (i.e. examination, clerkship, internship)? Namely, which documents/examinations are necessary when applying for training/job?

The preconditions to enter residency training in University of Tartu are:

• degree in medicine, equivalent to the program in University of Tartu
• internship, if graduated university before 2003
• knowledge of Estonian language
• foreign residents need a working permit or permanent living permit
• documents which certify the registration at Estonian Health Board as a physician or dentist

2.2.1. Where are training positions advertised?

Web: https://meditsiiniteadused.ut.ee/en/residency
Local newspaper - Postimees

2.3. Are there any application deadlines (if so, which)?

The entrance examinations take place once a year, at the end of June. In case after the first entry there are still places vacant the University will have the examinations again for the vacant places in August.

2.4. How do applicants choose what and where they would like to train?

The applicants must choose one principal training-base for their specialization programme, but can rearrange the training cycles within one year and through their residency programme. As the residency programmes differ in the rotation intervals and duration of different cycles, we can not point out one specific system. All these agreements and residency curriculum plans are negotiated and signed by head of the specific residency programme.

If planning to apply for a specific programme, please contact dean's office to get in touch with the head of programme directly.

2.5. Is there a fee/tuition for attending a training programme?

No fee for residency programmes.

2.6. Do trainees receive a salary during training?

Yes

2.6.1. Moreover, what is the current salary and is overtime paid?

Residents are paid monthly salaries of 2521,83 euros according to contracts, signed with hospitals for their training period. Overtime is paid in money or additional free time.

2.6.2. What type of contracts are there? How long are the working and on-calls times?

Residents have a special status of doctor-resident, but the working contract is general employee-employer contract and varies between the hospitals. Working hours are limited to 40h per week and 3-4 on-call shifts per month are required by the residency programme. On-call hours range 12-24h.

2.6.3. Are sick leave, vacation days, maternity leave, voluntary work allowed and do they entail a reduction of salary?

Sick leave, vacation days and maternity leave are regulated by Estonian legislation and residents are all subjected to that as all the other people working in Estonia. Sick leave, vacation days and maternity leave are paid. Voluntary work do not count as training and working as a resident so this is not paid.

Where else can we find more information? Estonian legislation in English: https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/

2.7. In general terms, how is the training assessment done?

i.e. exams, evaluations, interviews, appraisal

The final examination completing residency training is given in front of a committee, whose members are the current professionals of the specialty upon graduation. If passed, the resident will be granted the title of a medical specialist in the field studied.

Where else can we find more information? https://meditsiiniteadused.ut.ee/en/residency

Part Three

| Other details about training/working in your country

3.1. Is mobility possible inside and outside the country during your training?

Yes it is, some programmes even require mobility inside the country. If a resident wants to do part of the training outside Estonia you have to have a special agreement with your head of programme.

3.2. How many trainees are there in your country?

Divided, if possible, by in each speciality.

The exact overview is known by the Medical Faculty and the ministry of social affairs.
The total number of active residents in training ranges 550-600. The number is constantly changing as maternity leave/doctoral studies/heath related changes of trainee status.

3.3. What are the success, training drop-out and post-training employment rates?

There are no statistics about that in Estonia.

3.4. Is there an accreditation procedure for training centres (and do they include visitations)?

There is no compulsory accreditation procedure for training centres.
Some residency programmes and training centres have passed the individual programme-based evaluation and external visitations.

3.5. Is there any national recertification/revalidation scheme to practice?

Not applicable.

3.6. Are there any differences in the application procedure according to the country of origin of a trainee?

The preconditions to enter residency training in University of Tartu are:

• degree in medicine, equivalent to the program in University of Tartu
• internship, if graduated university before 2003
• knowledge of Estonian language
• foreign resident needs a working permit or permanent living permit
• documents which certify the registration at Estonian Health Board as a physician or dentist

Neutral, If all degree and language criteria are met, everyone should have a chance to follow specialization training.

3.7.1. Are there any restrictions for a foreign doctor who is undergoing training in your country to work there afterwards?

No, there is not

3.7.2. Moreover, is it possible for a trainee undergoing training in another EU/EEA country to do part of his training in your country? If so, what are the necessary requirements/documents?

These are rare cases, but most probably it can be done. For specifics please contact Tartu University’s Specialist for Residency Halja Suss: halja.suss@ut.ee

3.8. Please summarise the general timeline between the time where a doctor has just graduated until he has attained a final senior post as an independent medical doctor.

In other words, please describe, in general terms, the training of a junior doctor in your country.

The duration of residency is 3 to 5 years according to speciality.

Where else can we find more information? https://meditsiiniteadused.ut.ee/en/residency

3.9. Is it compulsory to have malpractice (or any other) insurance?

3.10. What is the general perspective/position on immigration of medical trainees to your country?

Neutral, If all degree and language criterias are met, everyone should have a chance to follow specialization training.

3.11. What is the general perspective/position on emigration of medical trainees to foreign countries?

Negative, doctors are considered to owe their expensive training to their country and people.

3.12. Are there any restrictions in your country to comply with the consolidated version of EU 2005/36?

Not applicable

3.13. Which organisation(s) specialise in assisting doctors in legal and work matters?

i.e. trade unions, medical chambers, other organizations.

Trade union - Estonian Medical Association