Cypriot GP trained in UK faces delays over post-Brexit qualification rules
A Cyprus-based doctor who completed her GP training in Britain after Brexit found her qualifications were not fully recognised, as new rules require extra training or paid experience.
A Cypriot doctor who trained as a GP in the UK has run into bureaucratic obstacles over the recognition of her qualifications, as reported by Cyprus Mail. The 34-year-old, referred to as Anna, studied medicine at the University of Nicosia before moving to Britain for her supervised practical training. After completing her residency, she returned to Cyprus in August 2024 to start her career — only to find that her training was not fully accepted.
“The only reason they rejected my training was Brexit,” she told the Cyprus Mail. Anna began her GP rotation in the UK in August 2021, a few months after Brexit came into effect. Her practical training in the UK lasted three years, while Cyprus at the time required four years of such training. Since 2025, the requirement has increased to five years.
The Cyprus Medical Council (CMC), which is responsible for recognising doctors’ qualifications, said it is aware of the problem and is working on a solution. It cited the law on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU: EU citizens who started their studies or specialist training before Brexit retain the right to have their qualifications recognised. Those who began after Brexit fall under different rules, which require a longer training period than the UK provides.
To help affected doctors, the CMC has decided to accept paid professional experience in the specialty obtained after the UK specialist qualification (CCT), provided it matches the missing training period. If that is not possible, applicants must complete the specialty training programme offered in Cyprus under the Cyprus-Greece bilateral agreement, including entrance exams.
What it means for residents
For UK-trained doctors and patients in Cyprus, the recognition gap may delay the arrival of additional GPs in the public and private systems. It also affects anyone planning a medical career abroad and returning home.
- Check your training start date If you began specialist training in the UK before Brexit, you likely retain automatic recognition rights. Starting after Brexit means your application will be assessed under stricter rules.
- Keep proof of paid experience According to the CMC, paid work in the specialty after obtaining the UK qualification can cover the missing training period, so retain certificates and payslips.
- Prepare for possible extra training If your experience does not match the gap, you may need to sit entrance exams and complete additional years in Cyprus under the bilateral programme with Greece.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
