Medical and Dental Council Registration and Medical Licence Renewal in Ghana

Practising medicine or dentistry in Ghana without a valid licence from the Medical and Dental Council is a criminal offence. The Council regulates the profession, maintains the registers, and requires every practitioner to renew their licence annually. For foreign-trained doctors, the path involves credential verification, a registration examination, and a mandatory clinical rotation. Here is the complete guide.

Part 1: Registration Pathways

The Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857) establishes the Medical and Dental Council and prohibits practice without registration . The Council maintains registers for medical practitioners, dental practitioners, physician assistants, and certified registered anaesthetists .

Provisional Registration (Newly Qualified)

Newly qualified doctors and dentists apply for provisional registration before housemanship. The application is completed online at mdconline.mdcghana.org and then submitted in person to an MDC office .

Requirements include :

• Diploma/Certificate(s) – certified copies (originals for inspection)

• Passport photograph (not more than 6 months old, formal attire, white background)

• Two letters of reference (referees in practice for at least 8 years and in good standing)

• Ethics and Induction Fees

Provisional registration fee: GH¢2,924 .

Submission is at the MDC Head Office in Accra or the Zonal Offices in Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi, Koforidua, or Sunyani.

Permanent Registration (After Housemanship)

Under Section 35 of Act 857, a person may apply for permanent registration after practising with provisional registration for a period determined by the Board and after successfully completing housemanship. Permanent registration is valid for the calendar year in which it was made and must be renewed before it expires .

Foreign-Trained Doctors and Dentists

Foreign-trained applicants must have their credentials primary-source verified through EPIC (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials), operated by ECFMG/Intealth, in partnership with the MDC. This applies to anyone who obtained their basic medical qualification outside Ghana and is applying for registration .

The EPIC process :

1. Confirm your medical school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (wdoms.org).

2. Set up a MyIntealth account.

3. Request an EPIC Portfolio and select the Medical and Dental Council Ghana as the recipient.

4. Upload each required credential and select the Council to receive an EPIC Report for each.

5. Ensure reports on all required credentials have been sent to the Council.

6. Submit your application to the Council only after all credentials are verified.

Registration Examination Requirements :

• Completed application form on the MDCG website with uploaded documents

• Original or certified true copies of medical/dental qualification certificates

• Medical school/university transcripts

• Recent passport-sized photograph

• Relevant pages of passport (for Ghanaian nationals)

• Front and back of Ghana Card (for Ghanaian citizens)

• Current CV

• Certificates used to apply for medical school (e.g., WASSCE/A-level)

• Certificate of Good Standing and valid licence from last regulator (if previously in practice)

• Valid residence permit and work permit (for non-Ghanaian nationals)

Clinical rotation: Foreign-trained candidates must undertake a mandatory clinical rotation for a minimum of six months before becoming eligible to write the examination for the first time. A comprehensive report from the supervising specialist is required .

The examination for general duty practitioners has two stages: Stage 1 is a theory examination of 200 multiple-choice questions; Stage 2 is an OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination). Passing both is required before applying for a licence.

Exemptions: Specialists from the West African sub-region holding West Africa Postgraduate College certificates, practitioners engaged by teaching hospitals, and candidates applying for limited registration of three months or less may be exempted from the examination, but must demonstrate English proficiency .

Part 2: Medical Licence Renewal

Annual Retention and CPD Requirements

Every registered practitioner must renew their licence annually. Under the Council’s CPD Policy, practitioners must accrue 15 credit points per annum from a minimum of 3 events from 3 categories .

CPD categories include clinical meetings, scientific conferences, online courses, research publications, ethics and law, management, and e-learning .

Sanctions for insufficient CPD :

• 10–14 credits: Make up the deficit in addition to the next year’s requirement, with a caution.

• 7–9 credits: Make up the deficit within six months of the ensuing year. Failure attracts disciplinary proceedings.

• Less than 7 credits: Immediate disciplinary proceedings.

House officers are exempt from CPD activities .

Diaspora practitioners: Those holding valid licences from their respective regulatory agencies do not need to present CPD points for renewal .

The 2026 Renewal Process

Annual Retention Fee: GH¢658.00 .

Payment methods :

1. Ecobank MoMo Pay: Dial *725#, select Merchant Payments, select Pay Merchant, enter Till Number 32632565, enter the amount, enter a description starting with your name and “Retention 2026” (e.g., “Dr. XXX – Retention 2026”), confirm and approve.

2. Ecobank Branch: Pay in person at any Ecobank branch. Account name: Medical and Dental Council. Account number: 1441001134216. Branch: Okponglo. Enter a specific description starting with your name.

Important: Cash is not received at any MDC office. The MoMo Pay confirmation or pay-in slip must bear the name of the practitioner whose licence is being renewed .

Online renewal: After payment, go to the practitioners’ portal at portal.mdcghana.org, complete the renewal form, and upload a snapshot of the MoMo Pay confirmation or pay-in slip .

Deadline: Payment should be made not later than 31st December of the preceding year (e.g., 31st December 2025 for 2026 renewal) .

Revalidation of Records

In 2024, the Council introduced a revalidation exercise requiring practitioners to provide new passport-size photographs (white background), update personal information, and provide next-of-kin details. Portals of those who did not update were disabled. Practitioners must revalidate their records every three years .

Restoration After Non-Renewal

Practitioners who have not renewed their registration for more than two years must apply for Restoration of Name. The restoration form requires a current licence, additional qualification certificates, a statutory declaration stating reasons, current CV, passport photo, Certificate of Good Standing (where applicable), letters of reference, CPDs attended during the preceding 24 months, and an administrative cost of $400.00 .

Quick Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I register as a medical doctor in Ghana?
Newly qualified doctors apply for provisional registration online at mdconline.mdcghana.org, then submit printed forms and documents to an MDC office. After housemanship, apply for permanent registration .

2. What is the provisional registration fee?
The fee is GH¢2,924 .

3. How do foreign-trained doctors register in Ghana?
They must have credentials verified through EPIC (ECFMG/Intealth), pass the MDC registration examination, and complete a six-month clinical rotation before the exam .

4. How much is medical licence renewal in 2026?
The annual retention fee is GH¢658.00 .

5. How many CPD points do I need to renew my medical licence?
15 credit points per annum from a minimum of 3 events .

6. How do I pay my renewal fee?
Use Ecobank MoMo Pay (*725#, Till Number 32632565) or pay at any Ecobank branch (Account 1441001134216). Cash is not accepted at MDC offices .

7. What happens if I don’t renew for more than two years?
You must apply for Restoration of Name, which requires a statutory declaration, CPD records, and an administrative cost of $400.00 .

8. Are house officers required to do CPD?
No. House officers are exempt from CPD activities .

9. What is the revalidation of records exercise?
The MDC requires practitioners to update their records (photo, personal info, next of kin) every three years. Portals of those who do not comply are disabled .

10. Do diaspora practitioners need CPD points for renewal?
No. Those holding valid licences from their respective regulatory agencies do not need to present CPD points .

11. What is the CPD sanction if I fall short?
10–14 credits: make up the deficit with a caution. 7–9 credits: make up within six months or face disciplinary proceedings. Less than 7: immediate disciplinary proceedings .

12. Where are MDC offices located?
Head Office in Accra, with Zonal Offices in Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi, Koforidua, and Sunyani

Source: Accra Street Journal

Last Updated on October 29, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

accrastreetjournal.com/