The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has partnered with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) to enhance the process through which verification of medical credentials of international practitioners applying for registration to practice medicine in South Africa.
The HPCSA will require practitioners who obtained their basic medical qualification outside of South Africa to use ECFMG’s Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPICSM) to have their medical credentials verified. Currently, HPCSA uses ECFMG’s International Credentials Services (EICS) for this purpose. EPIC’s web-based process will provide us with the same rigorous primary-source verification of medical credentials that it has been receiving through EICS, while also offering practitioners an advantage not available through EICS.
As of 1 August 2016, new applicants who obtained their basic medical qualification outside of South Africa will be required to establish an EPIC account, if they do not have one already. Practitioners will be required to upload their credentials to EPIC for verification. Until that time, applicants are required to continue to submit their credentials for verification through EICS using the current process. Applicants who have submitted their credentials for primary-source verification through EICS prior, may continue through the EICS process until either their credentials are verified or attempts to have them verified have been exhausted.
The HPCSA and ECFMG are pleased to make this transition of using EPIC for primarysource verification of medical credentials. EPIC is an innovative, on-line service that practitioners can use throughout their careers. Through EPIC, practitioners will be able to build a digital career portfolio of the primary-source verified credentials related to their medical education, training, and registration/license. They can then use EPIC to request reports verifying the authenticity of their credentials be provided to any organisation in the world, including medical regulatory authorities and potential employers, such as hospitals and academic institutions. For more information on EPIC, visit www.ecfmgepic.org.
The following are the application forms you need to complete:
| Education | |
| Checklist for ECFMG Epic Report verifications Education | View document |
| Documents required for registration in the category Education | View document |
| Military Service | |
| Checklist for ECFMG Epic Report verifications Military Service | View document |
| Documents required for registration in the category Military Service | View document |
| Postgraduate Studies | |
| Checklist for ECFMG Epic Report verifications Postgraduate Studies | View document |
| Documents required for registration in the category Postgraduate Studies | View document |
| Volunteer Service | |
| Checklist for ECFMG Epic Report verifications Volunteer Service | View document |
| Documents required for registration in the category Volunteer Service | View document |
| Public Service Specialist | |
| Documents required for registration in the category Public Service Specialist | View document |
| Checklist for ECFMG Epic Report verifications Public Service Specialist | View document |
| Medical Practitioner | |
| Checklist for ECFMG Epic Report verifications MP | View document |
| Documents required for registration in the category Medical Practitioner | View document |
| Checklist for ECFMG Epic Report verifications Interns | View Document |
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Did you know : International Scholarships 2024
There are several international scholarships available for South Africans to study abroad. Here are a few examples:
- Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program: This program provides fully funded scholarships to study at selected universities in Africa, Europe, and North America. It is open to African students, including South Africans, who are committed to giving back to their communities.
- Commonwealth Scholarships: The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission offers scholarships for postgraduate study in the UK for citizens of Commonwealth countries, including South Africa. The scholarships cover tuition fees, travel costs, and a living allowance.
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program: The Fulbright program offers scholarships for South Africans to study at U.S. universities for a Master’s or PhD degree. The scholarship covers tuition, travel, living expenses, and health insurance.
- Erasmus+ Programme: The Erasmus+ programme offers scholarships for South Africans to study in Europe for a Master’s or PhD degree. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel, and living expenses.
- Australia Awards Scholarships: The Australian government offers scholarships for South Africans to study at Australian universities. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel costs, and a living allowance.
These are just a few examples of the many international scholarships available to South Africans. It is important to research the eligibility requirements and application deadlines for each scholarship program.