The right level to test knowledge, but areas could do more

An exact copy. Many foreign-educated doctors who want to start working in Sweden unfortunately find it difficult to enter the system. It has been repeatedly said that the requirements will be very high and that the last exam is more difficult than the previous ones.

The knowledge test route, also called the National Board of Health and Welfare's route to certification, is based on the applicant having the knowledge and skills required to be able to work as a licensed doctor in Sweden. This means that you must be able to work independently as a licensed doctor and be entrusted with these tasks within the Swedish healthcare system, which maintains high quality, is scientifically based and is very advanced when it comes to implementing modern methods. It is also important to be able to work in teams and apply person-centred methods.

Those who pass the knowledge test must have knowledge and abilities at the required level to be able to work in Swedish health care. Within the education system, this level is the knowledge and skills that newly graduated doctors will have after 6 years in the medical program. There is a level that will be tested by a knowledge test. Good language skills are a prerequisite for being able to interact with patients and being able to work in the Swedish system. If you have not yet reached the language level required to pass the test or have deficiencies in your basic skills, there is no reason to seek approval via the knowledge test route. Then you have to make new attempts or resort to one of the available supplementary courses.

There are already preparation courses for the theoretical part exam, but there is a lack of opportunities for those preparing for the practical part exam to practice the practical parts in many places. There, regions can make a good contribution to those in the immediate area by arranging one- or two-day courses in their clinical training centres, for example, in CPR, suturing, principles of health care and repeating basic clinical examination methods.

For those who find it difficult to pass the knowledge test route, there is additional training for doctors. Further education is currently preparing to undertake vocational training, but planning is underway to lead to certification, in the same way as regular medical programmes.

Since the introduction of the knowledge test in 2016, 925 doctors have passed the theoretical test first and then the practical test with a passing result. We are very proud of them and are convinced that many will follow in their footsteps.