Guidance

How to become a MCA approved doctor

Find out about MCA's recruitment process for approved doctors (ADs).

Published 6 May 2014
Last updated 16 August 2018 — see all updates

• From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Overview

This guidance for doctors takes you through:

• MCA’s general criteria for ADs
• types of AD
• how to apply for appointment as an AD

MCA’s recruitment system has been established in agreement with maritime employers and seafarer’s trade union organisations.

It aims to serve the seafarers working on UK vessels, and holding UK Certificates of Competency (CoCs).

MCA is recruiting for ADs in

• Birmingham 7th September

• Orkney area - ongoing

Criteria for appointment as an AD

The appointment of Approved Doctors to carry out ENG1 seafarer medical examinations is restricted to areas where a demand for at least 50 examinations in a year has been demonstrated.

The most suitable candidate is appointed based on qualifications, experience and location.

The full recruitment procedure is detailed in ‘chapter 2 - the role of an approved doctor’, in MCA’s approved doctor’s manual.

The categories of ADs

General list doctors are:

• available to all seafarers
• spread over a wide geographical network
• mainly appointed on a replacement basis

Vacancies are advertised locally using the local CCG; MCA keeps a file on those who have expressed an interest in becoming an AD. You’ll then be invited to apply to make sure of fair and open competition.

All the applications are reviewed by MCA’s chief medical adviser.

Company doctors are:

• appointed at the request of companies with vessels on the UK flag, subject to the MCA chief medical adviser’s scrutiny of qualifications and experience
• only able to do medicals on those employed by the shipping company
• usually contractors to major shipping companies, or providing services to a ship management or crewing company
• expected to provide a full occupational medical service for the shipping company

Apply to become an approved doctor

Download the application form to become an approved doctor, then send your completed application to the address on the form.

Speculative applications (meaning those not part of a recruitment process started by MCA) will be notified if a specific vacancy comes up.

The chief medical adviser will review your application, then it’ll be acknowledged by the medical administration team.

Further information

• ‘The Ship Captain’s Medical Guide’
• merchant shipping notice (MSN)1839
• Seafarers: medical certification

Published 6 May 2014
Last updated 16 August 2018 + show all updates

1. 16 August 2018 Updated page to advise MCA is recruiting ADs in Birmingham till 7th September 2018.
2. 19 July 2018 Updated recruitment taking place in, Birmingham and Caithness till the 13th August.
3. 27 April 2018 Updated recruitment for Blackpool and surrounding area – closing date 21 May 2018
4. 24 April 2018 Updated recruitment, Cornwall – closing date 21 May 2018
5. 3 April 2018 Updated approved doctors recruitment, Southampton – closing date 23 April 2018
6. 13 March 2018 Updated to notify of recruitment taking place in Edinburgh – closing date 8 April 2018
7. 5 February 2018 Updated AD recruitment section
8. 19 October 2017 Updated recruitment; South Coast Devon – closing date 8 December 2017
9. 2 October 2017 Recruitment update; Anglesey, Bangor and Holyhead area – closing date 27 October 2017
10. 5 September 2017 Updated recruitment: Whitby - closing date 6 October 2017
11. 4 September 2017 Updated Recruiting in Middlesbrough area – closing date 15th September 2017
12. 9 August 2017 Updated - recruiting in Liverpool, Wirral and Chester area – closing date 6 September 2017
13. 22 June 2017 Recruiting update; Portsmouth/Southsea area - closing date 21 July 2017
14. 16 June 2017 Recruitment update; Horley Gatwick area - Closing Date 10 July 2017
15. 1 June 2017 Updated recruitment; Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Banff and surrounding areas – closing date 21June 2017
16. 15 May 2017 Updated recruiting in Aberdeen area - closing date 2 June 2017
17. 9 May 2017 Updated recruiting Northern Ireland, Kilkeel and surrounding areas – Closing date 2 June 2017
18. 8 May 2017 Updated recruiting Southampton and Surrounding Areas – Closing date 2 June 2017
19. 16 December 2016 MCA is recruiting for ADs in St Austell Area - Closing Date 20 January 2017. Immingham vacancy is now closed.
20. 25 November 2016 Update recruiting - Immingham Area - Closing Date 15 December 2016
21. 8 November 2016 Updated - Bristol area recruitment closed
22. 3 October 2016 Doctors vacancy removed
23. 26 September 2016 New Approved Doctor vacancy - Bristol area
24. 22 August 2016 Added Dartmouth area to current vacancies
25. 25 July 2016 Update - recruitment closed in London area.
26. 18 July 2016 Update - recruitment closed in Manchester area.
27. 4 July 2016 Updated - Southampton area recruitment closed.
28. 17 June 2016 Oban and Lancaster/Morecambe trawls removed
29. 16 June 2016 Closing date for London updated
30. 10 June 2016 New Approved Doctor recruitment area added, Manchester
31. 25 May 2016 Update to recruitment areas:; Southampton Area
32. 24 May 2016 Closing date for Oban updated
33. 3 May 2016 Update to recruitment areas; Lancaster/ Morecambe Area - Closing Date 27 May 2016
34. 7 April 2016 New date for recruitment in Orkney
35. 1 March 2016 Added details of the vacancy in the Lowestoft area.
36. 9 February 2016 Update MCA now recruiting in Glasgow Area - Closing Date 4 March 2016
37. 27 November 2015 Updated; No recruitment campaigns at this time.
38. 13 October 2015 Updated recruitment; Portsmouth/Southsea Area - Closing Date 27th October 2015
39. 7 October 2015 Updated Recruitment: Mallorca to close 8th Nov 2015
40. 2 October 2015 Update: Recruitment in Liverpool Area - Closing Date 26th October 2015
41. 17 September 2015 No current recruitment campaigns
42. 28 August 2015 Holly Head campaign closed 21 August 2015
43. 11 August 2015 Trawls at Edinburgh & Grangemouth; and Ipswich now closed.
44. 30 July 2015 Update recruitment; London - Closing Date 12 September 2015
45. 23 July 2015 Update recruitment of approved doctors; Holyhead - Closing Date 21 August 20152015
46. 21 July 2015 Update recruitment; Aberdeen - Closing Date 12 September 2015
47. 13 July 2015 Updated MCA approved doctors recruitment - Ipswich - Closing Date 10 August 2015
48. 10 July 2015 Updated to include recruitment in Edinburgh and Grangemouth Area
49. 24 June 2015 Updated MSN 1822 replaced by MSN 1839
50. 30 April 2015 MCA is not currently recruiting approved doctors.
51. 23 March 2015 Update Plymouth - Closing Date 15th April 2015 with additional information; Letter to Plymouth Practicitioners 20.03.2015
52. 10 March 2015 Updated recruitment; Isle of Wight - Closing Date 31 March 2015
53. 2 March 2015 Updated MCA recruitment areas; Liverpool - Closing Date 31 March 2015
54. 13 February 2015 Updated Recruiting: Pembrokeshire - Closing Date 6 March 2015
55. 6 February 2015 Updated: Currently recruiting approved doctors in Great Yarmouth - Closing Date 6 March 2015
56. 16 December 2014 Colchester vacancy date extended 16 12 14
57. 11 December 2014 Recruitment campaign for Shetland added 10th December 2014. Two closed campaigns removed.
58. 25 November 2014 AD vacancies updated 25 11 14
59. 24 November 2014 AD vacancies updated (24 11 14)
60. 12 November 2014 AD vacancies updated 12 11 14
61. 16 October 2014 AD vacancies updated (16 10 14)
62. 25 September 2014 AD vacancies updated (22 09 14)
63. 17 September 2014 Update to vacancies (17 09 14)
64. 30 July 2014 Updated with AD vacancy details (30/07/14)
65. 10 July 2014 Deatils of new AD vacancies added
66. 26 June 2014 MCA AD vacancies updated 26 06 14
67. 6 May 2014 First published.

Topics

• Ship crew health and safety

Guidance and regulation

1. MCA approved doctors UK based
   • Guidance
2. MCA approved doctors for overseas
   • Guidance
3. The approved doctor's manual
   • Guidance