Overview
Specialist accreditation is the check that lets a person work in medicine or pharmacy in Russia. Under Federal Law No. 323-FZ, the right to practise medicine goes to people who trained at Russian educational organisations and have passed specialist accreditation. For pharmacy, the same applies to people with a pharmaceutical education, with a narrow exception for some rural medical units.
The Methodological Center for Specialist Accreditation (fmza.ru) publishes the methods, instructions and assessment materials. An accreditation commission carries out the procedure. Since 1 January 2023 it has been governed by the Regulation on specialist accreditation approved by Ministry of Health Order No. 709n of 28 October 2022.
The centre stresses that accreditation is not the same as the old certification of doctors every five years. Practising doctors are expected to keep learning through continuing medical education, earning points for educational activities.
Who can apply
Accreditation is for people who have completed professional medical or pharmaceutical education and want to practise in a specific specialty. The centre's materials separate the following routes:
Primary accreditation after higher education (specialitet or bachelor level) or secondary vocational education.
Primary specialised accreditation after master's, residency or additional professional education, and for secondary vocational education.
Accreditation of foreign specialists, which has a preliminary stage.
Exam pattern
The stages differ by route. Per the centre's instructions for the procedure:
Primary accreditation, higher education
| Stage | What it is |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Testing |
| Stage 2 | Assessment of practical skills in simulated conditions |
| Stage 3 | Solving situational (case) tasks |
Primary specialised accreditation
| Stage | What it is |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Testing |
| Stage 2 | Practice-oriented stage |
Nursing (Sestrinskoe delo)
The centre lists two components for nursing: testing and assessment of practical skills in simulated conditions. An older notice on the site describes the exam for mid-level medical staff roles as having three parts: testing, an interview and practical skills.
Other specialties
Chemist-expert of a medical organisation and medical physicist are listed with two components each: testing and assessment of practical skills in simulated conditions.
Syllabus
The centre publishes assessment materials for each specialty it covers, including pharmacy, dentistry, paediatrics, general medicine (Lechebnoe delo), preventive medicine, medical biophysics, medical biochemistry and medical cybernetics. Depending on the specialty, these include test items, lists of practical skills and situational tasks. A rehearsal exam is also offered for most of them.
Marking and results
A person counts as having passed accreditation from the moment the data is entered in the unified state healthcare information system. On request, the person receives a paper accreditation certificate, an extract confirming accreditation, or both. The two documents carry equal legal force.
Important dates
The law says accreditation is carried out by the commission after the person finishes the relevant education programme, and at least once every five years. The centre's instruction for the preliminary stage is dated 2026, and the instructions for the other stages are dated 2023 to 2025. Specific exam dates are set locally, so check with your institution or the centre.
How to apply
The centre's materials include instructions for educational organisations on organising primary accreditation for their graduates, and instructions for the accreditation commission. For the exact application steps in your case, follow the guidance of your educational organisation and the centre's procedure instructions.
Preparation tips
Use the published test items and lists of practical skills for your specialty.
Take the rehearsal exam where one is offered for your specialty.
Read the centre's instruction for each stage you will sit, and the briefing for candidates before the testing stage.
Is accreditation the same as certification?
No. The centre states that accreditation is not equivalent to certification. It replaced the five-year recertification of doctors, and practising doctors are expected to keep learning through continuing medical education points.
Which regulation governs the procedure?
Since 1 January 2023, the Regulation on specialist accreditation approved by Ministry of Health Order No. 709n of 28 October 2022.
What proves that I have passed?
You count as accredited once your data is entered in the unified state healthcare information system. You can request a paper certificate or an extract, which have equal legal force.