Are you ready for registrar training?

Specialising in South Africa is rewarding but competitive — and the path has real hurdles worth knowing before you commit. These five questions help you gauge your readiness and set realistic expectations about registrar posts, research, and the alternatives.

Question 1 of 50%

Specialising means several more years on a competitive registrar post, often after time as a medical officer first. How does that sit?

The realities to plan for

Registrar (specialty-training) posts in South Africa are competitive and limited, and many doctors spend time as medical officers before securing one. Most pathways also include a compulsory MMed research dissertation, which delays qualification for a large share of trainees. In 2025, many qualified doctors reported difficulty finding posts at all.

Family Medicine / GP is a recognised specialty in its own right, in high demand, and worth serious consideration — explore the pathways and colleges in our training resource.

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Are you ready for registrar training?

Question 1 of 50%

Specialising means several more years on a competitive registrar post, often after time as a medical officer first. How does that sit?

The realities to plan for

Family Medicine / GP is a recognised specialty in its own right, in high demand, and worth serious consideration — explore the pathways and colleges in our training resource.