foreign doctors in norway

[lanna1]

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Hi!
I'm a medical doctor who had the education in a non EU country. I'm an from Latin America but also an Italian citizen. I m starting to learn Norwegian and I would like to live in Norway. I already read a lot about what I should do.
Is there anybody who had the Bergenstest and the OSCE???
I would like to know more info about the OSCE.
It would be great to be in contact with anybody who did it or will do it.
Regards Lana1

 

[slight365]

Would you be able to share what you know and the steps that you already went through?

For the knowledge base, Norway isn't an EU member, BUT they do participate in the EC, so certain privileges are extended to EU citizens.

 

[shreypete]

Hi!
I'm a medical doctor who had the education in a non EU country. I'm an from Latin America but also an Italian citizen. I m starting to learn Norwegian and I would like to live in Norway. I already read a lot about what I should do.
Is there anybody who had the Bergenstest and the OSCE???
I would like to know more info about the OSCE.
It would be great to be in contact with anybody who did it or will do it.
Regards Lana1

Well may I ask how you're going about preparing for the Bergens test? I think the best to way to do it is to go to Norway and sign up at a university (in which case you have to get up to level 3 before you can take it) or take language courses at some other commercial language center (according to the ALTE guidelines. They do charge 850 Kr. now (it used to be cheaper back when my uncle took it). As you might already know, the test is out of 750 and you need to score 500 or higher. This site should help you more on some Norwegian exercised (although it's in Norwegian): http://herpaberget.cappelendamm.no/

The 2nd other exam is the OSCE and it's similar to the Holland Clinical Assessment exam/USMLE Step 2/PLAB OSCE exam wherein, there are a set of stations and you have to complete a specific task within the time limit. There is also an MCQ part combined with short answer questions that will be included under the theoretical section. Pretty much all the clinical subjects are tested and as you guessed right, it's entirely in Norwegian, which means that you will also have undergone a Medical Norwegian course (most probably at the University of Oslo) prior to taking the OSCE exam (also taken at the same univ.) You also should apply early (considering only 80 students get to take it).

Regarding the difficulty of the exam, well it really depends on how well you're medical knowledge in Norwegian is and how good a command of your language is. I've heard that the Bergens exam is doable with lots of hard work but the OSCE exam is quite a nightmare (as they test a lot of minuscule details which might be considered rather trivial). I don't know how it is this year but when my frien got in (around 2005; he moved from Sweden), he told me that around 50 applicants didn't make it. Most foreigners who usually end up going to Norway are the Swedes, Danes and other EU citizens. Since you're an EU citizen, getting a work permit/residence permit would be a lot easier upon completion of the exams. But did you do obtain your medical degree from Italy or from a Latin American country (in which case it would be rather hard)? If you've graduated from an EU school, then you will most likely not need to do the exam and can directly get the degree registered once you've done the Bergens Test (and then you can directly proceed to doing the Turnus.)

I cannot but emphasize on the importance of courses taken at the University of Oslo (as the university administers the OSCE exam) or also at the Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology (as this university is planning on making a set of questions available for preparation) and also keep updating/revising your medical knowledge as you go along. You should also look into Sweden as they don't have any strict language requirements like Norway (although they do require a good competence of the language too; they just don't require any documentation to prove one's linguistic competence) or perhaps Denmark --both of which are opening up to foreigners slowly.

 

[macmarty]

I know from a friend that the Bergenstest can be quite difficult - so there's a lot of work to do. You have to have really good language skills to have a realistic chance to pass the tests. May I ask why you want to live in Norway?

 

[lanna1]

All I know so far I read at University of Oslo website, nokut and safh.no.
You should check it for more info.

 

[dr india]

can any body help me?
i ve done M.B.B.S and my wife ve done BPT[bacheular of physiotherapy] from india.....we both r interested to do our masters from norway.
i m interested in doing masters in internal medicine or dermatology .on the other hand she is interested in masters of physiotherapy.
we searched a lot but got nothing regarding norway .can any 1 help me out ,whts the procedure to apply for masters in norway?where to apply for?do we ve to clear any licence exam or we can get direct admission?
also after finishing our course if we wish to practise in norway,do we have to clear any licence exam ?
i have heard that for practising medicine need to clear licence exam but there is no need for practising physiotherapy.is there anything like that !
also suggest me some other countries except norway,india and russia,where i can do my specilization without clearing any licence exam i.e where i can get direct admission

 

[Skin Doc]

Hi Shreypete, wanted to know if u could offer some insight in a specialist (dermatologist) trained in the US practicing in Norway?

 

[Manarola]

lanna1 - be expected to repeat a few years of your education. Sign up for summer intensive Norwegian at UiO (look at 6,000 NOK per module (there are 3 to 4 modules) then another 20,000 NOK for medical Norwegian), expect to do that for a year, then you'll also need to take certain courses in forensic medicine and such that they often require of Non-EU educated students (providing they approve the rest of your education). I would recommend signing up for a Master's in English (this way your Norwegian classes, except medical Norwegian, are free and you are doing something while waiting on the authorities). HiO has a master's in Int'l Health Policy, and UiO has a dozen or so programmes in English. Also, you may have to redo your internship year. And at this point, it's also worth noting there's a new proposal to change the turnus/internship year so that each hospitals can decide who to hire (rather than the government having the responsibility as it is now). This isn't good news for foreign applicants, but if your interest is working in Finnmark doing primary care, then you probably have nothing to worry about.

Skin Doc - just curious but why would you consider leaving a U.S. Derm career to go to Norway? Specialist jobs aren't plentiful and the pay is nowhere near U.S. standards. You'd need to contact safh.no and submit an application to find out how they would view your education/specialization. They can be quite weird in assessing Non-EU education and I know that Norwegian doctors who've done specialization in the U.S. have been denied the ability to practice as specialists when coming back to Norway. If you're interested in research though, it's an easier process and it's just to contact a research group.

 

[smallworld]

Manarola, could you please explain a little on the research part you were talking about. I'm really keen on Norway. Coming from asia, studied in Russia and living in Germany but nothing is happening here. So I thought i'd try Norway. I googled some jobs in the research field for Norway but the most were with private pharmaceutical companies and they were contract based for about a year or 2.

Would really like to know alot more about Norway than is available. Turns out that foreign drs will have to do the OSCE exam if required but why do you say that she might have to repeat medical school? When I called Oslo, they told me to go to the SAFH and make an application. Following which, the most likely step is the OSCE (if I already know a good level of Norwegian - Bergen Test) and then taking courses in Forensics and Pharmacotherapy as well, if I dont have them.

But they couldnt tell me more and the more calls I made, the more dead ends I found. The only thing they could tell me for sure was the OSCE exam at Oslo Uni and the application at SAFH. Do this rules apply for research positions as well??

I'm told that 96% of Norwegians speak English and most research positions require only an excellent command of the English Language. Is this true? Is there anyway to do research, with the Universities and not private pharmaceutical companies or the like??

Thanks

 

[Manarola]

Manarola, could you please explain a little on the research part you were talking about. I'm really keen on Norway....

...when I called Oslo, they told me to go to the SAFH and make an application. Following which, the most likely step is the OSCE (if I already know a good level of Norwegian - Bergen Test) and then taking courses in Forensics and Pharmacotherapy as well, if I dont have them.

....The only thing they could tell me for sure was the OSCE exam at Oslo Uni and the application at SAFH. Do this rules apply for research positions as well??

Thanks

In my opinion, SAFH sort of serves a gatekeeper role in its recognition of professional education. They have to approve EU education so if you have medical education from the EU, then it's no problem. If you don't you could face a number of hurdles, one of which, is to repeat portions of your original medical education (I had a friend form Brazil who had to repeat almost 3 years worth). The rules on this are always changing too which makes it more problematic. What I do know, is that everyone wants to come to Norway and the Norwegians aren't too keen on that. SAFH is inundated with applications, so just to have them process the application could take a long time. I'm just saying, do NOT expect it to be a smooth process if you come from outside the EU.

Research is a different story altogether. There isn't a language requirement, and Norwegians tend to not apply for a lot of these positions because they pay less. Many jobs are based on the grant period, so you'd be looking at continually applying for positions every 2-3 years (5 if you're lucky). But, depending on the research you're doing, SAFH authorization may not be necessary. If you are really interested in Norway, I would try to find research groups which would benefit from your competence. Contact them directly, or go to the university or hospital web pages for vacant posts (not all are listed though which is why I say contact specific researchers). If you have something that interests them, then it's an easier route.

 

[dr india]

hello shreypete,
i m new to this forum.plzz help me.i ve done mbbs from india and my wife is a physiotherapist.we r planning to move norway as our condition in india is really not well.i ve saeched a lot on net but stll confused where to apply and how.plzz give answers to my following questions.sory 4 long list:-
1)what r steps to apply 4 residency in norway? can i apply from india or i ve to move to norway 1st?
2)can i apply directly to medical board or do i need to clear 1st language test?
3)what is berger test?
4)what r steps to do specialization (internal medicine or dermatology ) or fellowship in norway?do it need to clear some entrance test?if so plzz suggest me some other options to do same without any entrance test eitther in norway or sweden?
5)what r steps for registration as a physiotherapist in norway?is there any entrace exam 4 them to register or to do masters ?
looking forward to ur precious help,
regards

 

[shreypete]

Hey, I think you've posted a similar reply in another thread (regarding Sweden). The rules are mostly the same for the Scandinavian lot.

You have to first take language courses and then take the Bergen language test (which is actually quite hard.) Once you're done, you then need to take additional courses in Norwegian health care and government. Then, you have to take another exam, called the OSCE (Objective Structures Clinical Skills Exam) which is entirely related to medicine and only if you do well on that exam can you proceed with the internship.

Do keep in mind that getting employed after finishing a residency there is not an easy task for non-EU citizens. Even getting into a residency is usually quite hard, more so in Norway that in Sweden. So, it almost next to impossible as a non-EU citizen.

 

[Adam86]

Hi, have been searching a while for info on foreign doctors in Norway so am extremely pleased to find this site! Im a medical student in Australia, and am looking into moving to Norway after medical school as I have a Norwegian girlfriend and we would like to move there. I have British citizenship and hopefully will have fairly good Norwegian language skills by the time we move across, and am obviously fluent in english. Just wondering how far the move into the Norwegian Health System will set back my specialist training, and get an idea of the degree of recognition of Australian medical qualifications. Basically I would like to know how hard it is for a non EU trained junior doctor, with citizenship in an EU country, to get recognised in Norway and how far would the move set back the age at which i could become a consultant in my chosen field.

 

[shreypete]

I think the best think you should do is to contact the Norwegian medical authorities and ask them your questions (because the requirements keep changing in a rather unpredictable way.)

But I think you will probably get a year exemption for your residency and you might have to redo the rest of the residency in Norway. I'm not sure if they recognize Australian medical qualifications directly.

 

[dr india]

1st of all thanks a lot 4 above information.
i have one more query.as i told u before i did my MBBS from india.and i m planning to move to norway.
how much total time(in years) it would take 4 getting licence in norway.

one of my cousin who is also a doctor in india is going to marry a norwergein citizen girl.would it be helpfull in getting residency.as u told before that getting the same is next to impossible for non EU IMG'S.

 

[shreypete]

Yes, indeed, becoming a permanent citizen ultimately leads to citizenship (over a period of time) and once you become a citizen, you "might" find it easier (I say might because you're still a non-EU grad, so you'd still have to clear the medical examinations and get your degree recognized.)

Regarding the number of years it would take to get a licence in Norway, it really varies. If you're an EU citizen, then it should happen right away. If not, then it could take anywhere from 4 months-1 year (or more.)

 

[ipetrovic2010]

There is the great site which is coming soon www.tinsof.com
You can test your self before you take a real bergentest.

 

[Richardh]

great website actually! thanks for the info!

 

[lexiee]

If I'm a EU citizen, with education fro EU, does all this apply too? I just started some Norwegian courses. Is there anything else I should consider doing?

Btw thanks, this forum is really helpful

You have to first take language courses and then take the Bergen language test (which is actually quite hard.) Once you're done, you then need to take additional courses in Norwegian health care and government. Then, you have to take another exam, called the OSCE (Objective Structures Clinical Skills Exam) which is entirely related to medicine and only if you do well on that exam can you proceed with the internship.

Do keep in mind that getting employed after finishing a residency there is not an easy task for non-EU citizens. Even getting into a residency is usually quite hard, more so in Norway that in Sweden. So, it almost next to impossible as a non-EU citizen.[/QUOTE]

 

[dratm]

Hey Guys

Thanks very much for this helpful website. I will be grateful if you could answer my enquires here:

I am EU doctor qualified for EU member state country. I have got licence to practice in Norway and Sweden as well. I have qualified in 2005 and I have completed my foundation training 2 years internship in the UK, also I am due to complete my basic surgical training 2 years in the UK. As you're aware getting into surgical run through speciality training programme in the UK very difficult as your chances consider nearly to none. I am seriously considering immigrate to Norway to complete my training as I have heard that it's one of the finest training programmes among Europe.

I have a deep interest in Trauma and Orthopaedic or 2nd option General Surgery. Could anyone in this form give me a realistic figure how is my chances of getting into speciality training programme in Norway and where is the easiest place to start with?

I have to mention that I have organised a week of Clinical attachment(unpaid) in Bergen Hospital to get to know the system before move totally to Norway, and I have started to learn the language but I am still in beginner level 🙂 I found the language very similar to English so far(optimistic opinion).

I appreciate your help guys and thx for your help in advance.

 

[asqa]

hi..i m a new member here..can u please guide me as i m a pakistani national nd graduated in pakistan in 2010..nd i have done my 12 months housejob(internship)frm pakistan..my spouse is norwegian national so i have to continue my carrier in norway.one of my friends told me tht if i pass plab examination frm uk thn norwegian medical board can give me relaxation for osce exam..is it so?kindly help me about that.i have searched alot regarding this but still i m not so sure about that..i hope you will guide me ...thanks in advance 🙂

 

[kurdish@medstudent]

Hello to everyone,

I'm a medical student in bulgaria and about to finish medicine (in my last year). Im doing the language so I hope to be ready to pass the exam by the time I accomplish my degree. I would like to specialise in Oncology and I wonder what the chances I have to get into this specialty field? I think since I am going to graduate in a eu country I wouldn't need to do internship for some time.

If anyone can share what he or she knows will be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Jainy thakkar]

Hii
I have done mbbs from india and i want to do postgraduation from norway
What are the steps? Pls guide me
Heres my email
[email protected]

 

[NİLOYA]

Hi!
I'm a medical doctor who had the education in a non EU country. I'm an from Latin America but also an Italian citizen. I m starting to learn Norwegian and I would like to live in Norway. I already read a lot about what I should do.
Is there anybody who had the Bergenstest and the OSCE???
I would like to know more info about the OSCE.
It would be great to be in contact with anybody who did it or will do it.
Regards Lana1

hello lanna what did you do ıt? I want to learn actually I want to work in Norway as a doctor. Can you share your experience please?

 

[Naila Amjad]

hi..i m a new member here..can u please guide me as i m a pakistani national nd graduated in pakistan in 2010..nd i have done my 12 months housejob(internship)frm pakistan..my spouse is norwegian national so i have to continue my carrier in norway.one of my friends told me tht if i pass plab examination frm uk thn norwegian medical board can give me relaxation for osce exam..is it so?kindly help me about that.i have searched alot regarding this but still i m not so sure about that..i hope you will guide me ...thanks in advance 🙂

Hii! I just read ur post!
Did u find the answer to ur question by any means?
have u managed to work in norway ??

 

[Bandar Black]

Hii! I just read ur post!
Did u find the answer to ur question by any means?
have u managed to work in norway ??

Hello Naila, you and I seem to be in a similar situation. Were you able to find any updated info? I am pretty set on this goal and would love to share what I know so far. Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you would like. My email is salman.icri at gmail