Scandinavia...??

[ThecalDrug]

I've been following this threads concerning registration in different Scandinavian countries.
I have been thinking about moving to Europe myself. I would like to hear from Shreypete and others doing some serious research about this.

How do you register to practice in Sweden or Denmark as a third country trained specialist?
Just so you know what my situation is: I graduated from Poland in 2004 (U.S. citizen though), will finish Anesthesiology residency in march '09 in NY and will complete pain management fellowship in july 2010, also in NY, then I would like to move to Europe.

I know the Danish site has an application + required document list but I would like to know if anyone actually gets to practice via this route.

Also, the Swedish site says this:
Foreign medical graduates are unable to work – temporarily or permanently – in the medical profession without passing a complementary training program in Sweden. This program involves courses and tests in the Swedish language, a medical exam as well as practice and introductory courses in the medical legislation of this country. However, due to the lack of resources to provide this complementary training, the Board is unable to offer this compulsory program to other foreign medical graduates than those who have gained status as residents in Sweden.

Do you know if this complementary training is still exclusively offered to residents of Sweden? Has this changed?

I greatly appreciate your input. Feel free to PM me. Thanks!

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[shreypete]

I would suggest this site for starters:

http://residency-database.helmsic.gr/Sweden
http://residency-database.helmsic.gr/Denmark

It's a residency database site where past residents have posted some basic info. regarding how the residency programs are set up in those countries.

If you have any other questions, I'd be more than happy to find them out.

 

[NewGuyBob]

Hey Shrey I think ThecalDrug is almost done with residency in the U.S. and what he wants to know is how can he practice in those countries.
I have no clue so I'll let the best of you to come up with some ideas...

 

[Manarola]

Do you understand a scandinavian language? If so, this is an interesting read: http://www.legeforeningen.no/asset/34019/1/34019_1.pdf

 

[shreypete]

Here are some sites that might interest you:

http://www.safh.no/english/index.html
http://www.nokut.no/sw13104.asp#516_9478
http://www.escardio.org/communities/councils/ccp/membership/associations/Pages/norway.aspx
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/archive/index.php/t-180668.html
http://www.stfm.org/fmhub/fm2006/May/Jonathan365.pdf
http://www.uemo.org/natsec/norway.htm


You basically have to take an exam similar to the USMLE and you will also need to have taken the Norwegian language exam, The Bergen test which is a clear-cut rule (unlike in Sweden). Once you've done this, then you will have to undergo some additional training (Can last from 6 months to however long the head of the program decides based on evaluating you).

Typically, getting jobs in big cities like Oslo, Tromso, Bergen are quite hard as they are filled with the EU graduates from Norway and the neighboring countries (Sweden, Finland) but you can take a try. It is easier to get a job in the smaller cities (rurual towns etc) and they still do offer good working conditions and financial benefits.

I would recommend that you get in touch with a hospital depending on the area you'd like or perhaps call the Norwegian medical council to find out more regarding your query. Because the rules differ for different specialists and I'm not very sure of them for each field. But the above requirements I've mentioned are usually mandatory for practice in Norway.

Good luck!