Vietnam: Determining the time for direct medical examination and treatment to issue a medical practicing certificate

Before obtaining a medical practice certificate, holders of professional diplomas in health granted or recognized in Vietnam must practice at medical examination and treatment establishments. Certification of the practice duration shall follow regulations of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2009 of Vietnam, Circular No. 41/2015/TT-BYT, Circular No. 41/2011/TT- BYT and Official Dispatch No. 6705/BYT-KCB.

Certification of practice period for doctors:

For a doctor who starts conducting medical examination and treatment before January 01, 2012:

- If he/she has conducted medical examination and treatment for at least 18 consecutive months in medical examination and treatment facilities, he/she may obtain certification of adequate practice period;

- If he/she has conducted medical examination and treatment for less than 18 consecutive months in medical examination and treatment facilities, his/her period of conducting medical examination and treatment before January 1, 2012, shall be counted as his/her practice period (counting from the date of signing a labor contract or obtaining a recruitment decision). He/she shall continue practicing till this period reaches full 18 months in order to obtain certification of adequate practice period;

- If he/she has conducted medical examination and treatment for at least 18 months in medical examination and treatment facilities but later has ceased conducting medical examination and treatment for 2 years by the date of filing an application for a practicing certificate and has a certificate of continuous updating of medical knowledge, he/she is not required to conduct practicing activities again. In case he/she has no certificate of continuous updating of medical knowledge, he/she shall conduct practicing activities under Clause 1, Article 24 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment;

Doctors who start conducting medical examination and treatment from January 01, 2012 onward, shall conduct practicing activities under Clause 1, Article 24 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.

Certification of practice period for assistant doctors:

For an assistant doctor who starts conducting medical examination and treatment before January 01, 2012:

- If he/she conducts medical examination and treatment for at least 12 consecutive months in medical examination and treatment facilities, he/she may obtain certification of adequate practice period;

- If he/she conducts medical examination and treatment for less than 12 consecutive months in medical examination and treatment facilities, his/her period of conducting medical examination and treatment before January 1, 2012, shall be counted as his/her practice period (counting from the date of signing a labor contract or obtaining a recruitment decision), and he/she shall continue conducting practicing activities till his/her practice period reaches full 12 months in order to obtain certification of adequate practice period;

- If he/she had conducted medical examination and treatment for at least 12 months in medical examination and treatment facilities but later has ceased conducting medical examination and treatment for 2 years by the date of filing an application for a practicing certificate, he/she shall conduct practicing activities under Clause 1, Article 24 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment;

Assistant doctors who start conducting medical examination and treatment from January 01, 2012 onward shall conduct practicing activities under Clause 1, Article 24 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.

Certification of practice period for midwives, technicians and sanatorium nurses:

For a midwife, technician or sanatorium nurse who starts conducting medical examination and treatment before January 01, 2012:

- If he/she has conducted medical examination and treatment for at least 9 consecutive months in medical examination and treatment facilities, he/she may obtain certification of adequate practice period;

- If he/she has conducted medical examination and treatment for less than 9 consecutive months in medical examination and treatment facilities, his/her period of conducting medical examination and treatment before January 1, 2012, shall be counted as his/her practice period (counting from the date of signing a labor contract or obtaining a recruitment decision), and he/she shall continue conducting practicing activities till his/her practice period reaches full 9 months in order to obtain certification of adequate practice period;

- If he/she has conducted medical examination and treatment for at least 9 months in medical examination and treatment facilities but later has ceased conducting medical examination and treatment for 2 years by the date of filing an application for a practicing certificate, he/she shall conduct practicing activities under Clause 1, Article 24 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.

The one who has the power to certify the practice period of a practitioner working for a medical center (preventive medical centers, medical centers of districts or medical centers of ministries or departments), medical authority or organization shall be an official who has a long-term employment contract:

- In case of a medical center, authority or organization having their own medical facility: the working time of a practitioner is certified by the head of such center, authority or organization, and and this practitioner shall have a decision on medical facility enclosed;

- In case of a medical center, authority or organization having no medical facilities: the practice period of a practitioner shall be certified by the head of certifying agency and have an document about work assignment enclosed;

- With regard to a practitioner having obtained a practicing certificate and performing medical examination and treatment from January 01, 2012 up to now, he/she shall follow regulations in clause 1 , Article 24 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.

Midwives, technicians and sanatorium nurses who start conducting medical examination and treatment from January 1, 2012 onward, shall conduct practicing activities under Clause 1, Article 24 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.

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