Overseas Graduates
Registration Guide
Every person who obtained their medical degree outside Sri Lanka must follow the same four-step process before they can practise medicine here: degree approval, ERPM examination, provisional registration, and internship.
Step 1
Degree Certificate Approval
Step 2
Pass the ERPM Exam
Step 3
Provisional Registration
Step 4
Internship & Full Registration
Degree Certificate Approval
Submit your overseas degree to SLMC for review and approval — the mandatory first step.
Learn moreERPM Examination
Sit and pass the Examination for Registration of Practitioners of Medicine.
Learn moreProvisional Registration
Apply for provisional SLMC registration after passing the ERPM.
Learn moreInternship & Full Reg
Complete your internship year in Sri Lanka and obtain full SLMC registration.
Learn moreDegree Certificate Approval
Before anything else, every overseas graduate must submit their degree certificate to SLMC for official review. SLMC assesses whether your degree and the institution that awarded it meet the standards required for registration to practise medicine in Sri Lanka. This step is mandatory for all applicants — there are no exceptions.
How to Submit Your Degree for Approval
Obtain your original degree certificate
You must have completed your MBBS or equivalent primary medical degree. Postgraduate degrees alone are not accepted as a substitute.
Authenticate your documents
Documents must be authenticated by the Sri Lankan High Commission or Embassy in the country of issue, or apostilled under The Hague Convention. Documents in languages other than English require a certified English translation.
Complete the application form
Collect the degree approval application form from the SLMC Registration Division or download it from the e-Services portal.
Submit to SLMC with the prescribed fee
Hand in authenticated originals and certified copies of your degree, transcripts, and identity documents together with the completed form and processing fee.
Receive SLMC written decision
SLMC will notify you in writing. If your degree is approved, you proceed to the ERPM examination (Step 2).
Online Service Available
Download the degree approval form and submit supporting documents via the SLMC e-Services portal.
Documents Required
- Original primary medical degree certificate (MBBS or equivalent)
- Full official academic transcript showing all subjects and grades
- Proof of identity — National Identity Card or valid passport (original + certified copy)
- Authentication by Sri Lankan High Commission / Embassy or Hague Apostille
- Certified English translation (if original documents are in another language)
- Two recent passport-sized colour photographs
- Completed SLMC degree approval application form
- Payment receipt for the prescribed processing fee
What SLMC evaluates
- Whether the awarding institution is on the official SLMC-recognised list
- Whether the degree is a primary medical qualification conferring the right to practise in the awarding country
- Whether the programme included adequate clinical training in a recognised teaching hospital
- Distance-learning or online-only medical degrees are not accepted
- Postgraduate degrees (MD, PhD, etc.) do not substitute for a primary medical degree
ERPM Examination
After your degree is approved by SLMC, you must sit and pass the ERPM — Examination for Registration of Practitioners of Medicine. This examination confirms that your clinical knowledge and skills meet the standard of a newly-graduated doctor from a Sri Lankan faculty. Passing the ERPM is a mandatory requirement for all overseas graduates before provisional registration is granted.
ERPM Examination Structure
Written Paper — Basic Sciences
Tests foundational medical sciences: anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, and microbiology.
Written Paper — Clinical Medicine
Clinical scenarios covering medicine, surgery, obstetrics & gynaecology, and paediatrics at the level of a newly-graduated MBBS doctor.
Clinical Examination (OSCE)
Objective Structured Clinical Examination — history taking, physical examination, data interpretation, and clinical reasoning stations.
Pass Mark & Re-sits
Each component must be passed separately. Candidates who fail may re-sit failed components. Contact SLMC for the current re-sit policy and maximum attempt limits.
Check Exam Schedule & Apply
ERPM exam dates and application forms are available via the SLMC e-Services portal.
How to Apply for the ERPM
- Receive written confirmation from SLMC that your degree has been approved and you are eligible to sit the ERPM
- Collect or download the ERPM application form from SLMC
- Submit the completed form with certified copies of your degree, transcripts, and identity document
- Pay the prescribed ERPM examination fee and keep your receipt
- Await confirmation from SLMC of your examination date, time, and centre
- Collect your admission slip / hall ticket from SLMC before the examination date
Preparation: The ERPM is set at the standard of a newly-graduated Sri Lankan MBBS doctor. Prepare using local undergraduate clinical medicine texts and Sri Lankan treatment guidelines. Contact SLMC for recommended study resources and past papers.
Important Rules
- You cannot sit the ERPM before receiving written degree approval from SLMC
- Passing the ERPM does not automatically grant registration — you must then separately apply for provisional registration
- The ERPM is conducted entirely in English
- Postgraduate qualifications do not exempt you from the ERPM
- Candidates who fail multiple attempts may face additional conditions imposed by the SLMC Council
Provisional Registration
After passing the ERPM, you apply to SLMC for provisional registration. Provisional registration allows you to work as a house officer (intern) in an SLMC-approved Sri Lankan hospital under the direct supervision of a fully-registered consultant. You may not practise independently on provisional registration.
Application Process
Obtain your ERPM pass notification
SLMC issues a written notification confirming you have passed all components of the ERPM. Keep the original.
Complete the provisional registration form
Collect or download the provisional registration application form from SLMC. Fill in all sections accurately.
Submit your full document package
See the documents checklist on the right. Both originals and certified copies are required.
Pay the registration fee
Pay the prescribed provisional registration fee at the SLMC cashier or via the e-Services portal.
Collect your certificate
Your provisional registration certificate is issued after verification. Do not begin internship before receiving this certificate.
Apply for Provisional Registration Online
Download the application form and submit your documents via the SLMC e-Services portal.
Documents Required — Provisional Registration
- Completed SLMC provisional registration application form
- ERPM pass notification letter from SLMC
- SLMC degree approval letter
- Original primary medical degree certificate
- Full official academic transcript
- Certificate of good standing from the regulatory authority in your country of qualification (where applicable)
- National Identity Card or valid passport (original + certified copy)
- Two recent passport-sized colour photographs
- Payment receipt for the provisional registration fee
Note: Provisional registration is valid only for the duration of your internship. It is not transferable and cannot be used for private or locum practice.
Internship & Full Registration
With provisional registration in hand, you complete a one-year compulsory internship in an SLMC-approved hospital in Sri Lanka. After all rotations are certified by your supervising consultants, you apply for full SLMC registration — which entitles you to practise independently anywhere in Sri Lanka.
Internship Rotations Required
Medicine — 3 months
General internal medicine ward under a consultant physician at an SLMC-approved hospital.
Surgery — 3 months
Surgical ward under a consultant surgeon. Includes pre- and post-operative care and theatre duties.
Obstetrics & Gynaecology — 3 months
Labour ward and gynaecological wards under a consultant O&G specialist.
Paediatrics — 3 months
Paediatric ward under a consultant paediatrician, including neonatal and emergency paediatric care.
Verify Your Registration Status
After full registration, your name appears in the official SLMC Medical Register — searchable online by the public and employers.
Documents for Full Registration
- Completed SLMC full registration application form
- All four signed consultant internship performance reports
- Hospital director's / medical superintendent's certification of completion
- Original provisional registration certificate
- Updated identity document (NIC or passport)
- Two recent passport-sized photographs
- Payment receipt for the full registration fee
After Full Registration
- You may practise medicine independently anywhere in Sri Lanka
- You may open or work in a registered private clinic or hospital
- You may prescribe medicines without supervision
- You may apply for specialist postgraduate training via the PGIM
- Registration must be renewed every year before 31 December
- Late renewal attracts a penalty fee — do not let your registration lapse
Legal warning: Practising medicine in Sri Lanka without a valid SLMC registration is a criminal offence under the Medical Ordinance No. 26 of 1927. Do not begin any clinical work before your provisional registration certificate has been issued by SLMC.
Sri Lanka Medical Council
Ready to Begin Your Application?
Start by submitting your degree certificate for SLMC approval. Our Registration Division is available to guide you through every step.