Doctor/Physician

Published

Friday 19 August 2011

Last updated:

Monday 6 February 2012

Many doctors in Sweden (about 80 percent) are employed by a county or municipality at a hospital or medical center. Others work in private practice, are company doctors or work in research and development. Most doctors eventually become specialists

Education for this profession in Sweden

About 1300 students are enrolled in the medical degree program each year. New students are admitted to the program twice a year based primarily on grades or the results of the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test. Because medical degrees are in great demand, admission requirements are tough.

An undergraduate medical degree includes theoretical studies combined with supervised practice at the clinics of hospitals and medical centers. The faculty of medicine at each university is in charge of setting study plan requirements at that university. The work forms in the medical program are intended to stimulate independent activity and deep-seated learning on the part of the students. Group work and hands-on elements are being given a greater focus along with independent information gathering and self-studies. Together with the students, the study block organizers are responsible for detailed structuring and for choosing work forms.

After obtaining an undergraduate medical degree, the student continues his/her education by serving as an intern and then a resident. While serving as an intern and resident, the doctor is employed and receives a salary.

The purpose of the internship is to supplement the undergraduate medical education with practical experience that is required for all doctors, regardless of which specialty they choose in the future. To complete the internship, the student must pass a test known as the "AT-prov". He or she then receives a medical license from the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen).

After receiving a medical license, the doctor can begin residency, which hopefully leads to specialist qualification.

The profession is regulated in Sweden. What does that mean

In Sweden, doctors have the sole right to practice the profession and the professional title of doctor (physician) is protected. This means that only individuals who are licensed, have special authorization or have undergone the prescribed practical internship can practice the profession and use the title.

How is your education assessed/evaluated in Sweden?

With an education from Sweden

If you studied to become a doctor in Sweden, you must have a medical degree and have passed your internship in order to obtain a medical license from the National Board of Health and Welfare. You must have a medical license in order work independently as a doctor. A specialist education program of at least five years is required in order to work as a specialist (including the specialty of family medicine).

In order to work as an EU-licensed doctor with a Swedish education, you must have two years of professional experience working as a doctor under supervision after obtaining a medical license. Read more about EU-licensed doctors.

With an education from within the EU/EEA

If you studied to become a doctor in an EU/EEA country, EC Directive 2005/36/EC requires that member states recognize the professional qualifications gained in another member state. Read more here.

If you have a medical license in Sweden and completed a specialist education program in another EU or EEA country, EC Directive 2005/36/EC regulates the possibility of obtaining a Swedish certificate of specialist expertise. The certificate of specialist expertise is issued in accordance with the Directive's regulations for mandatory and automatic recognition if the specialty is listed in Annex V of the Directive. Annex V lists the names of the new medical specialties and the minimum education program lengths.

The Swedish specialty family medicine requires a five-year specialist education program and must not be confused with the EU-defined level for EU-licensed doctor, which is a doctor with general medical education and three years of continued education (in Sweden – 2 years of professional experience after internship; see above).

With an education from a non-EU/EEA country

As a doctor from outside of the EU, you must first have good knowledge of the Swedish language. You must then either pass a medical knowledge test and complete an internship or complete a period of probation before you can apply for a Swedish license. Which alternative applies for you depends on whether you have specialist expertise and/or significant professional experience in a specialty. Read more here.

The National Board of Health and Welfare is the government agency responsible for receiving and processing applications for the assessment of educational qualifications. For a limited period of time, it is possible to work as a doctor without a Swedish medical license provided that the National Board of Health and Welfare has issued a provision for this. Read more here.

What support is available from Saco (Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations)?

Swedish Medical Association

The Swedish Medical Association (Sveriges Läkarförbund) is the union and professional organization for medical practitioners. Important issues for the association include doctors' work environment, salaries, working hours, training and research. The Swedish Medical Association also plays a key role in influencing the development of healthcare in Sweden. Approximately 90 percent of Sweden's doctors belong to the Swedish Medical Association.

If you have a medical license from the EU/EEA, your medical license must first be approved by the Swedish Board of Health and Welfare before you can join the Swedish Medical Association. Medical students are invited to join the Swedish Medical Students Association (Medicine Studerandes Förbund). Read more in this broschure.

If you have a medical license from a country outside of the EU/EEA, you must first apply to the National Board of Health and Welfare to have your academic and clinical credentials approved before you can join the Swedish Medical Association. Membership costs SEK 250 per year until your academic and clinical credentials have been approved. After that, membership costs between SEK 200 and 400 per month depending on what stage of your career you are in. If you have any questions you are welcome to contact us by e-mail or phone.

With so many members and prospective members with foreign medical educations, the Swedish Medical Association considers it vital to work to ensure that all doctors get the introduction and supplementary education that enables each individual to get to the right level in the Swedish labor market as quickly as possible.

The Swedish Medical Association works systematically and strategically with professional and union-related issues for doctors. Issues related to the introduction of doctors with foreign degrees into the workplace and the healthcare sector are handled from an educational perspective, a work environment perspective and a labor law perspective. Supplementary education and medical Swedish are issues that are particularly important for doctors with a foreign degree.

The Swedish Medical Association provides individual counseling and support for members in all matters associated with being a doctor. Such support can include advice to members who are looking for an internship spot or who need help in the supplementation process. The Swedish Medical Association also has a colleague network that you can turn to for advice or support in matters related to work or job placement.

Salary

All doctors work with an individualized salary system and negotiate the salary upon being hired. Since the salary is individual and differentiated, salaries vary depending on individual merits and accomplishments as well as other factors, such as market forces.

The average salary for 2009 was about SEK 27,000 per month for interns and about SEK 38,000 per month for residents. Specialists had an average salary of about SEK 50,000 per month while senior physicians had about SEK 59,000 per month.

In addition, most doctors receive additional pay for on-call duty and emergency services.

Useful knowledge about the Swedish labor market and job hunting

The reforms recently implemented to allow free choice of medical center have made it easier for doctors to start their own practices, improving development opportunities.

There is currently a shortage of specialists, particularly in family medicine, geriatrics, psychiatry and company health service. In the upcoming years, there will be a great increase in the number of people retiring and the shortage of specialists is expected to increase even more.

What other career alternatives can be found in your professional/educational area if you cannot practice your profession?

A medical degree is also a good foundation for a career in the pharmaceutical industry, environmental and healthcare fields and healthcare administration. Becoming a researcher or working in the pharmaceutical industry are also common alternative career choices for doctors.

Doctor/Physician

Education for this profession in Sweden

The profession is regulated in Sweden. What does that mean

How is your education assessed/evaluated in Sweden?

With an education from Sweden

With an education from within the EU/EEA

With an education from a non-EU/EEA country

What support is available from Saco (Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations)?

Swedish Medical Association

Salary

Useful knowledge about the Swedish labor market and job hunting

What other career alternatives can be found in your professional/educational area if you cannot practice your profession?

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Saco

Doctor/Physician

Education for this profession in Sweden

The profession is regulated in Sweden. What does that mean

How is your education assessed/evaluated in Sweden?

With an education from Sweden

With an education from within the EU/EEA

With an education from a non-EU/EEA country

What support is available from Saco (Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations)?

Swedish Medical Association

Salary

Useful knowledge about the Swedish labor market and job hunting

What other career alternatives can be found in your professional/educational area if you cannot practice your profession?

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Print

Intervjuer

Har du en fråga till oss?