The general medical and specialty certification processes in Sweden differ upon the country where the primary and/or specialty qualification was attained.

• Doctors educated in EU/EEA, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein are subject to EU-legislation and thus are entitled to Swedish certification corresponding to their level of education in respective home country. More information can be found at Swedish Medical Association website and National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) website.
• Doctors from countries other than aforementioned, (“3rd country“), are subject to additional evaluation and/or training in accordance with the requirements set up by National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). More information at Swedish Medical Association website. To get the specialist qualification recognized in Sweden it is mandatory to work as a specialty resident/specialty trainee (ST-läkare) in Sweden for one or more years, depending on the level of competence and length of training/working as a specialist in the country or origin.

Specialty training (ST-tjänstgöring)

Before starting specialty training in Sweden or reckognition of specialty training done in another country the doctor has to hold a Swedish license to practice medicine (läkarlegitimation) issued by Socialstyrelsen.

The general rule is that specialty training in Sweden has to last for at least five years and meet all the objectives for doctors’ specialty training defined by Socialstyrelsen.

Description of the objectives for doctors’ specialty training in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine.

• If the doctor´s license to practice medicine in Sweden is issued after May 1st, 2015 the Objectives are defined by National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) according to SOFS 2015:8.  See Description of the objectives for doctors’ specialty training Anesthesia and Intensive Care
• If the doctor´s license to practice medicine in Sweden is issued before May 1st, 2015 and it is expected that the specialty training is fully accomplished before April 30th, 2022 the Objectives are defined by National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) according to SOFS 2008:17.  See Competence Requirements (Utbildningsbok enligt SOSFS 2008:17)

Updated Feb 11th, 2019