In Sweden medical education and training are organised in three phases: undergraduate education, pre-registration training and specialist training.
Basic undergraduate medical education takes 5 1/2 years (at least 40 weeks of full time studies per year).
After graduation follows a compulsory training programme (internship) of at least 18 months. This first stage of clinical training comprises surgery (3–6 months), internal medicine (3–6 months), psychiatry (three months) and family medicine (six months). The doctor’s knowledge and skills are assessed by the senior colleagues and tested in a written examination under supervision of the universities. After successful completion of this programme the doctor obtains his licence to practise (full registration), which is granted by the National Board of Health and Welfare.
Once the doctor has got a licence to practise, the doctor is entitled to apply for a post to start his/her specialist training. The specialist training has a duration of minimum five years and is carried out in a salaried position with medical responsibility.
There are currently 62 recognized specialties in Sweden. For each of these specialties there is an official description of the training objectives in terms of required knowledge, skills and attitudes. These descriptions have been made by the various specialist societies (within the Swedish Medical Association and the Swedish Society of Medicine) and are authorised by the National Board of Health and Welfare. The junior doctor is entitled to have an individual training programme, specifying the required practical training in various departments together with additional theoretical education. He/she is also entitled to have a personal tutor (a recognised specialist) who will give professional guidance during the specialist training.
The head of the department (clinical medical director) has the ultimate responsibility for the specialist training. He/she also has the legal responsibility to assess when the doctor has achieved the training objectives set up for the specialist training and thus should be recognised as a specialist. The head of the department states his/her opinion by issuing an
official certificate. The National Board of Health and Welfare will then – upon application – grant the doctor the formal qualification as a specialist.
Clinical skill and theoretical knowledge are evaluated continually through the whole period of specialist training. Thus the doctor is not required to take a formal final examination before being granted qualification as a specialist. However, some specialist societies have introduced voluntary examinations.
The Swedish Medical Association, in cooperation with the Swedish Society of Medicine, runs a programme to review and evaluate the quality of training in different departments all over the country. Participation is voluntary.
Continuing medical education is not formalised. There is, however, a variety of courses, seminars etc available, mainly organised by the various specialist societies.