Norway

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: The Norwegian Directorate of Health     
Type of organisation (professional, government, etc.) Trade union and professional organisation: Government 
Address: Universitetsgata 2, 0164 Oslo, Norway     
Phone number: 81020050       
Website (s): https://helsedirektoratet.no

1.2. What requirements/documents are necessary for a foreign doctor to practice medicine?
i.e. language skills, medical degree, insurance, immigration status.

It is mandatory to apply for an authorisation to practice medicine.
The following documents are needed to apply  for  authorisation from doctors with education from the nordic countries:
Diploma
Transcript / Diploma Supplement
A detailed overview of the curriculum showing the specific subject content (not only the name of the subject) and the duration of the education. 

The theoretical content must be stated in the learning objectives for each individual subject and the scope of each subject must be expressed in ECTS or the number of hours for each subject. The number of work placements / clinical practice studies and each period's length, objective, venue and evaluation results must also be stated.

The curriculum has to be printed by the educational institution in the applicants name, and be valid for the years the applicant studied, e.g. if you studied from 2010 – 2015 the curriculum has to cover those years.

The curriculum also needs to provide detailed contact information to the educational institution.
Authorization from the country the applicant graduated from, or from another EU /EEA country (optional)
Work certificate (optional)
The following documents are needed to applyfor authorisation from doctors with education from EU/EEA:
Under the Professional Qualifications Directive (Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament) there is a system of automatic recognition of profession qualification for medical practitioner:
Diploma
Transcript / Diploma Supplement
Authorization from the country the applicant graduated from, or from another EU /EEA country if acquired.
Work certificate (optional)
Education as Medical Practitioner from the EU / EEA with mandatory integrated practice: If you have graduated from one of the following countries, it is mandatory to complete the integrated practice which is necessary to get auhorisation in the training country, before applying for authorisation in Norway: Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Portugal, United Kingdom, Sweden.
Alternatively, until l 31. december 2018 you can get a so called "LIS1-lisens" to perform the integrated practice (previously called  turnus, now called LIS1) in Norway.        
  
Where else can we find more information?
https://helsedirektoratet.no/english/authorisation-and-license-for-healt...

1.3. Are there any application deadlines (if so, when)?
Furthermore, how long does the professional recognition procedure usually take?

There are no deadlines.
The time required to process your application is usually:
Applicants educated within the Nordic countries: 6 weeks
Applicants educated within EU/EEA: 4 months    
Applicants educated outside the EU/EEA: 7 months
Where else can we find more information?     
https://helsedirektoratet.no/english/authorisation-and-license-for-healt...

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

No                     
Where else can we find more information?  
https://helsedirektoratet.no/english/authorisation-and-license-for-healt...

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

Professional education in medicine -  6 years

1.5.2. How do you access each degree?

You apply with your average grade of your high school diploma.

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: The Norwegian Directorate of Health     
Type of organisation (professional, government, etc.) Trade union and professional organisation: Government 
Address: Universitetsgata 2, 0164 Oslo, Norway     
Phone number: 81020050     
Website (s): https://helsedirektoratet.no

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?

When starting a internship (LIS-1) you are required to have:
A Norwegian authorization to practice medicine, or LIS1 licence
Sufficient language knowledge for proper professional practice
When completed LIS-1, you can directly apply for a training position in the field you wish to specialize in. Training to become a specialist requires a minimum of five years training – more in some specialties.

2.2.1. Where are training positions advertised?

Internships (LIS-1 positions): https://candidate.webcruiter.com/nb-no/Home/companyadverts?&link_source_...

A lot of training positions for specialties are published in the Journal of The Norwegian Medical Association (Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening). The journal is published twice monthly and the printed edition is in Norwegian language only. Otherwise www.legejobber.no          

Where else can we find more information?     
https://helsedirektoratet.no/autorisasjon-utdanning-og-godkjenning/spesi...

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

For internships there are two intakes per year.
Spring 2018: positions are advertised on the 15th of february. The deadline is 1st of march. Startup in the fall.
Fall 2018: positions are advertised on the 31st of august. The deadline is 16th og september. Startup in the spring.
Regular training positions are advertised regularly when there are vacancies.

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

Usually it depends on what sort of training position that are available.

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

No

2.6. Do trainees receive a salary during training?

Yes

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

 

The salary for training positions depend on how many years of training the doctor has completed:  
Category A: 0-2 years completed specialist training 521.000 norwegian kroner

Category B: 2-4 years completed specialist training 560.500 norwegian kroner

Category C: More than 4 years completed specialist training 602.000 norwegian kroner

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

Both fixed term contracts and permanent contracts.

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

Yes these vacancies are allowed, and they do not entail a reduction of salary

2.7. In general terms, how is the training assessment done?
i.e. exams, evaluations, interviews, appraisal

It is mandatory to present a certificate for every position when applying for the specialty diploma. This assessment certificate is filled out and signed by the department manager, as well as the attending physician of the department. Furthermore, every candidate has a supervisor/mentor appointed to him/her in every training position, that also takes part in the assessment.

Part Three

| Other details about training/working in your country

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

Yes

Where else can we find more information?
https://helsedirektoratet.no/english/authorisation-and-license-for-healt...

3.2. How many trainees are there in your country?
Divided, if possible, by in each speciality.

Divided, if possible, by in each speciality.

Approximately 6300 in hospitals, unknown in primary health care sector
                        
Where else can we find more information?     
http://legeforeningen.no/Emner/Andre-emner/Legestatistikk/Yrkesaktive-le...

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

The Norwegian medical association do not have data available
            
Where else can we find more information? https://www.ssb.no/en/

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

Every specialty has a so called specialty committee appointed by the Norwegian Medical Association. This committee visits and assesses all training departments for each specialty. The committees then recommend training departments that meet the criteria's to be formally accredited by the Norwegian Directorate of Health.
In order to be acknowledged as a training department for specialty training, the department must fill the following requirements:
a maximum of two training positions per specialist
organized theoretical lessons (a minimum of two lessons per week) that are designed to contribute to the academic development of all the doctors in the department
an established education committee
Every acknowledged training department must hand in a report containing information regarding their specialty training program each year. The specialty committees revisit every department on a regular basis for re-assessment.
Where else can we find more information?      https://helsedirektoratet.no/Documents/Godkjenning%20og%20autorisasjon/S...

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

The only national mandatory recertification that exists is for general practitioners.   
Where else can we find more information?       
https://helsedirektoratet.no/autorisasjon-utdanning-og-godkjenning/spesi...

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

No

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

No

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?

Yes, same requirements as in question 1.2

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.

Internship: 1 year in hospital and 6 months as a general practitioner.
Specialty training: requires a minimum of five years of training (longer in some specialties)
When finished specialty training, the doctor must apply for a formal approval of his training. After this he/she can start in a senior post as an independent medical doctor

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

In Norway patient injuries claims are covered by the Norwegian Patient Injury Compensation (called NPE in Norwegian). In return all enterprises offering health care must pay contributions to NPE. The state pays subsidies for all activities in the public health service, and the activities of the hospital doctors are thus covered. The requirement to contribute to the NPE  also includes the private practitioners. Most family doctors are under the definition of a public health service because they work by an agreement with the municipality. The municipality finance such enterprises by joint contributions.
In addition the Norwegian Medical Association offers a liability insurance for all members. This insurance is voluntary, i.e. it is up to the doctor whether he/she wants to draw this kind of insurance. The insurance includes claims that fall outside the scope of the NPE. The liability insurance offered thorough the Norwegian Medical Association covers (1) all medical treatment given in the Nordic countries, (2) urgent medical care given world wide and (3) short term employment world wide (three months). The insurance also includes legal assistance.

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

Regardless of nationality, approximately 42% of active doctors < 70 years have had their medical training in a foreign country.

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

The Norwegian medical association do not have data available

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

No

3.13. Which organisation(s) specialise in assisting doctors in legal and work matters?
i.e. trade unions, medical chambers, other organizations.

 

  The Norwegian Medical Association