How Long Is Medical Residency In South Africa

What is Medical Residency?

A resident physician is a recent medical school graduate who is enrolled in a graduate medical education (GME) training program called a medical residency. In clinics and hospitals, resident doctors are often referred to as residents, while 1st-year residents are commonly referred to as interns.

In order to continue their study and training in a particular area of medicine, residents work in hospitals, clinics, or medical offices. A resident may perform such a job for anywhere from 3 to 7 years, depending upon the medical specialty that they have chosen.

How Long Is Medical Residency In South Africa?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as medical residency programs can vary greatly in length depending on the specialty chosen. However, most medical residencies in South Africa last between three and six years.

A typical residency training program lasts four and a half years. Residency training programs last three years on average, while programs lasting seven years are more common.

Residency applications are handled through The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and the MyERAS system for the majority of specialties. The SF Match service is used for both aesthetic and plastic surgery.

As a result, each residency has graduated levels of responsibility. You will feel more at ease taking on more responsibility as you gain more knowledge, expertise, and skill. As a result of your residency, you will be in charge of both your interns and junior residents.

The stipends offered by residency programs vary little between specialties and are increased with each training year.

Do medical residents get paid in South Africa?

The average resident salary in South Africa is R 720 000 per year or R 369 per hour.

Is medical residency required?

For doctors who are pursuing a career in patient care, a medical residency is a requirement. Technically speaking, you’ll earn your MD at your medical school graduation. There are some nonclinical positions available for physicians without residency experience, but most graduates will go on to complete residency training. 

In fact, completing a postgraduate residency program that’s accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is one of the requirements for obtaining a medical license in the US. As a resident physician, you’ll receive supervised, hands-on training alongside a team of other health practitioners.

Through direct exposure to specialized services, a variety of care settings, diverse patient cases, and cutting-edge research, you’ll become adequately prepared to treat all patients, regardless of which medical specialty you pursue.   

How do you apply to residency programs?

Medical students begin their residency matching process during their final year of medical school. It’s during that last year of study that aspiring physicians choose which type of medicine they want to practice. 

“The Match” is short for the National Residency Matching Program’s Main Residency Match, a system used to place medical students into US residency programs. The process begins when applicants apply to programs using the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). 

How can a foreigner get permanent residency in South Africa?

You can also apply for permanent residency if you:

  1. are in possession of a permanent work offer in South Africa.
  2. have exceptional skills and qualifications.
  3. intend to establish a business in South Africa.
  4. qualify as a refugee in terms of Section 27(c) of the Refugees Act.
  5. qualify as a retired person.

What are the benefits of permanent residency in South Africa?

The permanent residency also comes with an RSA ID number. This makes it easier to participate in administrative activities like investing in retirement annuities and applying for home loans.

Plus, your immediate family can join you in South Africa, and your spouse or partner may be able to apply for permission to work.